Athens Riviera

Businessman Chrysanthos Panas takes us on a unique journey to the coastline stretching from Piraeus to Sounion.

Riviera, in Italian, means organized coastline. It also means the diamond bracelet. Fifteen years ago, I named the coastline from Piraeus to Sounion the Athens Riviera, which some considered arrogant. They said, “How can you compare Athens to the French or Italian Riviera?” I answered, “No, there is no comparison because we have the advantage of proximity at twenty minutes from the capital, the Acropolis, and the iconic museums of Athens. The southeast coastline offers sandy beaches, clear waters and thermal baths such as Lake Vouliagmeni.

It also has history and great treasures from antiquity. Thucydides was born in Alimos. On the beach of Asteras, you’ll find the ruins of the ancient Greek temple of Apollo Zoster, while the famous temple of Poseidon dominates in Sounion. A speedboat ride can take you to small island paradises. Aegina is twenty minutes away, Tzia a half-hour, and Hydra an hour. Island-hopping off the Argo-Saronic Gulf is unlike anything anywhere else.” Fortunately, the Athens Riviera has remained unchanged overtime, and its beauty is natural, not artificial. It is fortuitous that big foreign names, such as Four Seasons and One and Only, are coming to Greece. Magnificent projects are on tap for the old international airport in Elliniko, including a huge park – perhaps the largest in Europe!

My dream was to see this stretch of coastline become truly cosmopolitan. Over many years, I have listened to praise for Attica, and comments about its potential. I will never forget the words of Valentino, who described Kavouri as paradise, or those of Meryl Streep, who said, “I never expected that, when in Athens, I could have the feeling that I am on an island.”

TEXT : CHRYSANTHOS PANAS
PHOTOS : MARINA VERNICOS