*** Welcome to piglix ***

Peiraeus

Piraeus
Πειραιάς
View of Mikrolimano, Piraeus.
View of Mikrolimano, Piraeus.
Piraeus is located in Greece
Piraeus
Piraeus
Coordinates: 37°57′N 23°38′E / 37.950°N 23.633°E / 37.950; 23.633Coordinates: 37°57′N 23°38′E / 37.950°N 23.633°E / 37.950; 23.633
Country Greece
Administrative region Attica
Regional unit Piraeus
Government
 • Mayor Ioannis Moralis (since 2014)
Area
 • Urban 50.417 km2 (19.466 sq mi)
 • Municipality 10.865 km2 (4.195 sq mi)
Highest elevation 87 m (285 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Urban 448,997
 • Urban density 8,900/km2 (23,000/sq mi)
 • Municipality 163,688
 • Municipality density 15,000/km2 (39,000/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 185 xx
Area code(s) 21
Vehicle registration Υ
Website www.pireasnet.gr

Piraeus (/pˈrəs, pɪˈr.əs/; Greek: Πειραιάς Pireás [pireˈas], Ancient Greek: Πειραιεύς, Peiraieús, pronounced [peːrajeús]) is a port city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens urban area, 12 kilometres (7 miles) southwest from its city center (municipality of Athens), and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf.

According to the 2011 census, Piraeus had a population of 163,688 people within its administrative limits, making it the fourth largest municipality in Greece and the second largest within the urban area of the Greek capital, following the municipality of Athens. The municipality of Piraeus and several other suburban municipalities within the regional unit of Piraeus form the greater Piraeus area, with a total population of 448,997.

Piraeus has a long recorded history, dating to ancient Greece. The city was largely developed in the early 5th century BC, when it was selected to serve as the port city of classical Athens and was transformed into a prototype harbour, concentrating all the import and transit trade of Athens. During the Golden Age of Athens the Long Walls were constructed to connect Athens with Piraeus. Consequently, it became the chief harbour of ancient Greece, but declined gradually after the 4th century AD, growing once more in the 19th century, especially after Athens' declaration as the capital of Greece. In the modern era, Piraeus is a large city, bustling with activity and an integral part of Athens, acting as home to the country's biggest harbour and bearing all the characteristics of a huge marine and commercial-industrial centre.


...
Wikipedia

...