Piraeus (Athens) - Mumbai (Bombay)

Piraeus, roughly translating to “the place over the passage”, is an important Greek port located within the Athens agglomeration, in the Attica Basin. It is 12 kilometers from the municipality of Athens, considered the fourth largest and is the third most populous amongst all the municipalities of Greece. Now a peninsula, Piraeus, originally a rocky island, was developed in early 5th Century B.C. when it was initially designated as Athens’ import and transit trade port. It is the largest marine-based shipping center of Greece, one of the largest ports in Europe, and considered the second largest passenger port in the world. Inhabited since the 26th Century, it wasn’t until the 6th Century B.C. that Piraeus began catching attention. The land of Piraeus was essentially impassable, flooded by the sea most of the year until centuries passed and the flooding ceased. By the 5th Century B.C. it became a navy base for the Athenian fleet for the natural harbors and the strategic potential they carried. Athenian general and politician Themistocles fortified Piraeus’ three harbors Kantharos, Zea and Munichia, created ship houses and completed his walls in 471 B.C., which led to the port becoming a great military and commercial harbor. There are many archaeological sites, points of interest and entertainment available in Piraeus. Most famous for its tavernas and cuisine, several popular events take place in Piraeus, such as the Ecocinema International Film Festival, the Maritime Festival, the Piraeus Rock Wave Festival and the Three Kings’ Way Festival. There are also many theaters, including the Municipal Theater, the open air Veakeio Theater, and the Menandreio Theater. Museums in Piraeus include the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, the Merchant Shipping History Institute Exhibition, the Panos Aravantinos Decor Museum, the Georgios Averof Museum Ship and the Museum of Electric Railways. Be sure to catch the panoramic views available from the hill of Kastella, overlooking Athens and the Saronic Gulf!

The Old City of Rhodes has been delegated a World Heritage Site. Some speculate that after the Acropolis of Athens and the Volcano of Santorini, Rhodes is one of the most impressive places in Greece. Wandering through the medieval city, especially on a warm evening, is one of life's treasures. The old city is closed to most traffic. The main streets and thoroughfares are full of shops and restaurants but the back streets are mostly residences. The massive walls of the city were rebuilt by the European order of Knights Hospitaller after the Turkish siege of 1480. The walls are 12 meters thick and the moat more than 21 meters wide. The length of the walls is about three miles and each section was defended by one of the Langues or tongues which corresponded to the languages spoken where the particular group of knights came from. SeaDream will dock close to the entrance of the walled city. We recommend you explore the old town and if you haven’t already done so, visit the Lindos Acropolis.