Athens: A New Guide

by Elizabeth Speller

Beyond the breathtaking beauty of the Parthenon, Athens is still one of Europe’s lesser-known cities. A New Guide fully explores all the treasures of this ancient city?the bazaars and food markets of Monastiraki; tiny tucked-away Byzantine churches and rare gems of antiquity; the converted warehouses of the increasingly fashionable Psirri and Thiso; and perhaps the most beautiful metro station in the world at Syntagma, a fantasy of shimmering reflections and a showcase for recent archaeology. From its amber shops and patisseries, to one of the most outstanding museums in Europe, Athens is a true source of riches. Written for both the first-time visitor as well as the seasoned Hellenophile, this discerning guide also includes an up-to-date selection of cafés, restaurants, and hotels. Elizabeth Speller read Archeology and Classics at Cambridge, where she is currently a Visiting Scholar.

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Elizabeth Speller is a poet and author of four non-fiction books including a biography of Emperor Hadrian, companion guides to Rome and to Athens, and a memoir, Sunlight on the Garden. She has contributed to publications as varied as the Financial Times, Big Issue and Vogue and produced the libretto for a requiem for Linda McCartney, Farewell, composed by Michael Berkeley (OUP). She currently has a Royal Literary Fund Fellowship at Warwick and divides her life between Gloucestershire and Greece. She was a prize-winner in both the Ledbury and Bridport poetry competitions in 2008, and her poem, 'Finistere' was shortlisted for the Forward Poetry Prize in 2009. More profitably she is also a ghost blogger.