Why Lavreotiki is the perfect day trip from Athens

Only a abbreviated thrust from Athens, the Lavreotiki portion is simply a surviving depository that tin captivate adjacent the astir demanding visitor. Visitors tin research the Souriza Valley archaeological ιστοσελίδα successful the National Park, location to the mines that erstwhile fueled the economical emergence of past Athens; visit the past theater of Thorikos, 1 of the oldest successful Greece; and observe the concern monuments near down by the French Mining Company of Lavrio, present portion of the Lavrio Technological and Cultural Park. Add to this the town’s neoclassical charm, its food tavernas, hidden coves, and, of course, the sunset astatine the Temple of Poseidon astatine adjacent Sounio, and the effect is simply a destination that rewards each benignant of traveler.

Ancient washing installation successful the Souriza Valley. The crushed ore was transported there to beryllium cleaned with water. [Julia Klimi]

A travel done time

You tin scope Lavrio by road, driving on Lavriou Avenue. Just earlier entering the town, a motion connected the near points toward the archaeological ιστοσελίδα of Thorikos. In spring, the scenery is scattered with wildflowers – anemones, daisies, and asphodels – framing 1 of the oldest theaters successful Greece . Unlike the typical semicircular design, the theater of Thorikos is elliptical. Built betwixt 525 and 480 BC astatine the ft of Velatouri Hill, it consists of a rectangular orchestra and 21 rows of seats. From the uppermost tier, visitors tin bask sweeping views crossed the olive groves, the town of Lavrio, and the past harbor.

Within the archaeological site, the remains of houses, scattered columns from the Temple of Demeter, the cemetery, and an past ore-washing installation hint astatine its humanities importance.

Lavrio’s concern past lives connected successful its architectural heritage, seen present successful the facilities of the French Company.

Excavations, which began successful 1963 by the Belgian School of Archaeology, brought to light, among different finds, the celebrated mining assemblage that was archetypal opened astatine the extremity of the Neolithic period. According to mining technologist Dr Petros Tzafiris, this was where mining enactment successful the portion archetypal began. It is considered the oldest and astir important mining and metallurgical halfway successful Europe. Remarkably, this peculiar assemblage remained successful productive use, without interruption, until the 5th-7th period AD.

Interest successful Lavrio’s archaeological wealth was revived successful 1861 by mining technologist Andreas Cordellas and his Italian workfellow Giovanni Battista Serpieri, starring to the exploitation of caller mineral veins. The archetypal mill was established successful 1864 under the sanction Roux Serpieri Fraissynet C.E., which was σύντομα renamed the Hellenic Company of Lavrio Metallurgy. Following the Lavriotika quality – a ineligible struggle betwixt the institution and the Greek state that led to the archetypal stock marketplace ungraded successful Greek past – the institution was divided into the Hellenic Company of Lavrio Metallurgy and the Kamariza Mines. In 1876, the second gave way to the French Mining Company of Lavrio.

These companies marked the commencement of dense manufacture successful Greece and, astatine the time, were the largest successful the Balkans, transforming Lavrio into 1 of the world’s astir important mining centers.

The erstwhile office of the French Company, with its timepiece tower, present location the Lavrio Technological and Cultural Park. [Julia Klimi]

At the entranceway to the town lies the Lavrio Technological and Cultural Park, a protected monument since 1992. Today it is managed by the National Technical University of Athens, which has overseen its cautious restoration, bringing renewed beingness to the region’s concern heritage. The buildings are striking, particularly the Serpieri Residence, the Pharmacy and the Machine Shop. Soon, the ιστοσελίδα will besides big Greece’s caller nationalist supercomputer, “Daedalus,” 1 of the world’s astir almighty systems and 1 of the EU’s 7 AI Factories. On weekends, visitors tin stroll done the grounds and unbend astatine the café.

The Town Hall and Lavrio Marina, where it’s well worth enjoying a java oregon a solid of wine with a view of the sea. [Julia Klimi]

Just past the park, the archetypal roadworthy connected the close leads to Aghios Konstantinos (Kamariza), the bosom of the mining region, some successful antiquity and successful much caller times. In the halfway of the colony stands an imposing mining tower, known locally arsenic a “gavria,” which houses the Kamariza Mineralogical Museum. Here, visitors tin respect uncommon minerals from the Lavreotiki world successful bonzer colors and shapes. The tower stands supra the entranceway to the Serpieri shaft, which descends 65 meters and connects to tunnels stretching for dozens of kilometers. Its two lifts and pulley system erstwhile lowered workers underground and brought ore to the surface. From there, it was transported by railway to the French Wharf – still a defining diagnostic of the larboard of Lavrio today  – where it was loaded onto ships.

From the small square of Aghios Konstantinos, travel the motion toward “Chaos,” a heart-shaped sinkhole measuring much than 120 meters successful diameter and 55 meters successful depth, which was formed by the illness of a cave roof. A small farther on, the roadworthy leads to the ruins of the aged miners’ settlement. Following the way done the National Park, visitors tin bask the distinctive scenery and endemic flora, including the unique yellow-flowered Centaurea lavreotica.

The Asclepieion successful the Souriza Valley features well-preserved washing installations and cisterns. [Julia Klimi]

A stop astatine the small religion of Agia Triada is essential, arsenic it marks the starting constituent for the archaeological site, besides known arsenic the “E. Kakavogianni Excavation.” Two important routes, opened to the nationalist lone successful '22 by the Ministry of Culture, statesman here. The “Green Route” (1,994 m long) links the past metallurgical workshops of Drymos-Souriza with those of the past “Asklepiako” metallurgical complex. The “Blue Route” (360 m long) is suitable for wheelchair users. Along some routes, visitors will find informational signs and shaded resting areas beneath pergolas.

In the Souriza Valley, visitors tin spot workshops from past mining activity. The ιστοσελίδα was made accessible to the nationalist done the “Development of Archaeological Routes” task by the Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica. [Julia Klimi]

Here, the past workshops operated arsenic follows: Once extracted, the ore was transported to washing installations – known successful antiquity arsenic “Kegchreones” – where it was crushed into smaller fragments. Water was then used to abstracted the material, arsenic the particles of silver-bearing pb ore were denser than the lighter metallic and waste materials. This cautious removal of impurities was indispensable for successful smelting and the accumulation of high-quality metal. Rainwater, collected and purified done a bid of settling tanks, was continuously recycled, ensuring businesslike use of resources. The refined worldly was then transferred to adjacent furnaces for smelting.

Power station astatine the Lavrio Technological Cultural Park (LTCP), within the erstwhile French Company facilities. [Julia Klimi]

It is hard not to bespeak connected however world past mightiness person unfolded without the wealth that the Lavrio mines brought to Athens. The invention of ore-washing technology successful the 6th period BC contributed to the tremendous accumulation of metallic and pb during the Classical period. This wealth financed the operation of the Athenian fleet – triremes, weapons, manpower, and supply networks – that defeated the Persians astatine the Battle of Salamis successful 480 BC and the Battle of Marathon successful 490 BC. It besides funded the gathering of the Parthenon successful 448 BC and supported the instauration of enduring works of creation and philosophy. Lavrio’s metallic was besides used to mint 1 of the astir almighty currencies of the past world: the Athenian tetradrachm, known arsenic the “owl” coin.

One of the neoclassical buildings successful the Nychtochori area, adjacent the sea. [Julia Klimi]

Strolling done the town

Lavrio is an iconic erstwhile concern town that has preserved overmuch of its architectural heritage. More than 80 neoclassical buildings survive, on with the facilities of the French and Hellenic mining companies, each of which person been designated protected monuments due to the fact that they bespeak the humanities discourse successful which the town was founded during the 2nd fractional of the 19th century.

Recently restored is the “Euterpi” taste venue, a 19th-century gathering with an awesome painted ceiling. Originally owned by the French Mining Company, it served arsenic a κοινωνικά space for workers and arsenic the imperishable location of the town’s brass band. Other notable neoclassical landmarks see the First Primary School, the Town Hall, the Clock Tower, the Fish Market and the workers’ lodging complexes. Those funny successful architecture should besides wander done the maze of constrictive streets successful Aghia Paraskevi, the vicinity built for employees of the French Company, where respective intact neoclassical houses with their archetypal extortion ornaments still survive.

The show cases of the Mineralogical Museum showcase astir 700 striking mineral specimens from the Lavrio mines, some of which are unique successful the world. [Julia Klimi]

Lavrio is besides location to the Mineralogical Museum of Lavrio, which houses astir 700 specimens from 115 mineral species successful striking colors from the surrounding area, arsenic well arsenic the Archaeological Museum of Lavrio, which traces the area’s agelong mining past done artifacts and elaborate reconstructions.

A abbreviated region away, an unexpected pouch of greenery draws the eye: the Palm Grove. First planted successful 1880 by the mining company, it primitively functioned arsenic an aboriginal biologic wastewater treatment system, arsenic the trees’ roots absorbed the settlement’s sewage. Today, it is location to astir 400 thenar trees.

At the food tavern “O Foros,” everything is exceptionally caller and afloat of flavor. [Julia Klimi]

Where to eat

At the French Wharf, 1 of the town’s defining landmarks, we stop to chat with Savvas, a fisherman mending his nets aboard his boat. “There whitethorn beryllium less food these days, but we emotion this work – the oversea is my life,” helium says.

We proceed connected to Veletakos, a traditional food taverna where the proprietor still goes sportfishing erstwhile oregon twice a week and his wife does the cooking. In summer, there is often unrecorded music, with guitar, bouzouki and singing.

Also fantabulous is Foros, adjacent the entranceway to town, arsenic well arsenic To Kafeneio tis Marias astatine the food market, where you tin bask small seafood dishes accompanied by tsipouro oregon ouzo.

Rerras has been operating for 80 years and is present tally by the founder’s grandson. It serves fantabulous dishes such arsenic yalantzi dolmades, food soup and perfectly fried fish.

Before leaving, marque sure to prime up the legendary “ergolavoi” (almond sweets) from Nitis Pastry Shop. The pastry store opened successful the precocious 19th century, alongside the French Mining Company, by the ancestors of its existent owner.

Sunset astatine the Temple of Poseidon, astatine Cape Sounio, is an unforgettable experience. [Julia Klimi]

With its singular geological and archaeological significance, Lavrio feels similar an open-air museum. However, it is besides perfect for relaxation by the sea. The cafés adjacent the aged timepiece tower and the promenade astir the French Wharf connection an unmistakably Greek atmosphere. On the way back, this clip pursuing the coastal road, marque sure to stop astatine the adjacent Temple of Poseidon and watch what whitethorn well beryllium the astir beauteous sunset successful the world – the cleanable way to extremity a time afloat of discoveries.

This nonfiction archetypal appeared successful Greece Is (www.greece-is.com), a Kathimerini publishing initiative.