The world-renowned city of Athens, the capital of Greece, is the cradle of Western Civilization. The Acropolis aside, Athens has much more to offer its visitors than its historic sites: a wonderful climate with long, sunny days, the sun casting a brilliant light over the unique natural beauties of the Attica region; an exciting Athens Festival offering a variety of musical, theatrical and dance performances in ancient and modern open-air theatres; a splendid culinary experience in high-class restaurants or in traditional Greek taverns and an impressive variety of entertainment options in open-air bars or beach clubs for each visitor to choose from.

The success of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, has established the Greek capital as an ideal setting for the attendees of the 33^rd FEBS Congress & 11^th IUBMB Conference who will enjoy Greece’s Olympic hospitality and experience its newly deployed high-tech infrastructure.

Museums: Benaki Museum: Benaki boasts one of the most extensive collections in Greece, covering several periods ranging from the prehistoric, ancient and roman periods to the Byzantine and the neo-Hellenic period. Among its particularly interesting collections are those of Toys, Games, Chinese and Islamic art.
Museum of Cycladic Art: Devoted to the study and promotion of ancient Greek art, the Museum of Cycladic Art hosts two permanent collections. The Cycladic Collection, with marble statuettes and ceramic pots from the prehistoric period of the Cycladic islands (3200-2000 B.C.); and the Ancient Greek Collection, which exhibits objects of art from the 15^th century BC to the 4^th century AD. The museum also hosts several temporary collections in its new wing, which is housed in the magnificent neo-classical Stathatos Mansion.
National Archaeological Museum of Athens: The National Archaeological Museum of Athens with its numerous exhibits allows you to monitor the history of Ancient Greek art, which dates between the Neolithic period and the Roman period.
National Gallery of Athens: The National Gallery showcases Greek paintings and sculptures from the 19th century to the present. There are also 16^th-century artworks and contemporary pieces painted by European masters, including paintings by Picasso, Marquet, Utrillo as well as four El Greco paintings.
Byzantine Museum: The Byzantine Museum is dedicated exclusively to the art style, which flourished since the founding of the city of Constantinople (330 AC), the capital of the Byzantine Empire, until its fall in 1453. The museum has been recently restored and almost tripled in size.

Archaeological sites: The Acropolis The Parthenon, a monument that constitutes the symbol of Greece worldwide, towns the “sacred rock” of Athens, the Acropolis. The Parthenon, a marble temple dedicated to Goddess Athena, along with the other monuments of the Acropolis, are all excellent pieces of art, reflecting the Classical period and the Golden Age of ancient Athens in the 5^th and 4^th centuries BC. Near this archaeological site one can also visit the Museum of the Acropolis.
Herodeion (Odeion of Herodes Atticus) Built in 161 AD by Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes, the Odeon was built in the memory of his late wife. Today, concerts, plays and ballets are still performed in it. You can either admire its beauty and architecture in the morning or treat yourself with the lifetime experience of attending a concert. Herodeion’s natural setting of the Arcades in front, the Parthenon in the back and the moon up in the sky will certainly fascinate you!
Panathinaikon Stadion Originally built in the 4^th century BC for the athletic competitions of the Great Panathinaia (ancient Greek festivities), the Panathinaikon Stadion took its final form during its most recent restoration at the end of the 19^th century. It is made of marble and the Greeks also call it “Kallimarmaron” (meaning “made of beautiful marble”). It was the venue for the first modern Olympic Games, in 1896.
More information about museums and archaeological sites in Athens can be found at www.culture.gr. For current and upcoming cultural events please visit the culture guide on www.cultureguide.gr.

Dining: Greek cuisine provides a combination of Eastern and Western tastes. Most Greek specialties are served with sauces made with olive oil, which is both healthy and delicious. It is said that the Mediterranean Sea offers the tastiest fish in the world and the Greeks believe that the Aegean Sea has the most delicious fish in the Mediterranean. All you have to do is taste Greek fish to see for yourself.
Wine:  Greece is the place where the God Dionysos produced wine for the first time and Greeks have carried on this tradition. Aside from the typical «retsina», house wine, served in most Athenian taverns, visitors can try some of the many bottled Greek wines of superb quality, produced at selected vineyards cultivated only in Greece.
Nightlife:  Numerous music clubs, by the sea, on the beach or in the city centre offer international or traditional Greek entertainment.
Bouzouki:  It is the typical musical instrument of Greek folklore music. It originated with the songs of the Athenian underground movement during the early 1900's, enhanced by influences from the Greek Community in Asia Minor, and remains popular in most clubs of the city today. Bouzouki and other musical instruments can be admired and enjoyed at the Museum of Greek Folklore Musical Instruments, in Plaka.