- Jewelry - the pride of the Greeks
- The most Greek souvenir
- Antique
- Not only souvenirs
- For lovers of creative gifts
- Pleasant trifles
- Religious attributes
- Goodies
Athens is a beautiful city with an incredibly rich history, remembered for a variety of monuments and impressions. All stones in it are steeped in history, and every corner reminds that European civilization was born here. Named after the most revered Greek goddess, the city lives up to its patroness - beauty and grandeur. You can live here for weeks to get to know all the ancient monuments and temples. Or you can spend just a couple of days on the way to one of the famous Greek resorts, and see only the most famous sights. In any case, I would like to bring something from legendary Athens to memory. What to bring from Athens?
Jewelry - the pride of the Greeks
Greek jewelry houses create real masterpieces with original designs. Here you can find jewelry in any style - from classic to antique style. Antique motifs surprise with weaving, thin lace drapery, Byzantine replicas. Products made of gold and platinum, as well as silver ones with filigree and natural stones, more often with turquoise, look equally elegant.
It is worth paying attention to cultured pearls. Products made from it look expensive, but are cheap. And the design of beads or earrings is extremely diverse.
The most Greek souvenir
In the cradle of civilization, democracy and philosophy, the memory of the great persons of antiquity is kept. Their busts made of marble, alabaster, clay and even bronze, very similar to prototypes, adorn all souvenir shops. Made not only with high quality, but very skillfully, these figurines look like museum pieces. The demand for them is stable - apparently many people want to decorate their home or office with a bust of Sophocles, Socrates or another famous thinker of antiquity. Statuettes of the Olympic gods and heroes of ancient Greek mythology are popular. Regular tourists make up entire collections of these small sculptures.
Among the ceramics, models or miniature fragments of famous Athenian temples and other monuments are worthy of attention. There are ceramics with images of antique masterpieces.
Antique
In legendary Athens, even today there is an opportunity to buy real antiques. The Plaka area could be called the local Arbat, if the labyrinth of Greek streets were not so confusing. But you can buy everything here, up to nineteenth-century silverware or antique clocks. Lovers of vintage items will find here an assortment worthy of museums. The main thing is to see real antiques in abundance of copper, bronze and ceramic products.
There is a similar flea market on Monastiraki Street. In addition to the souvenir and antiques, here you can find old books, first editions and other bibliographic rarities. If you come across a fake - do not be sad, all copies are of excellent quality.
Not only souvenirs
In the shopping centers of the Greek capital, the main European brands are collected, often with decent discounts. The main shopping street is Ermou. Here you can see shops of democratic European brands and leading Greek fashion designers. In the elite area of Kolonaki, boutiques with luxury clothing are concentrated.
During the sales season, prices drop to 70-80 percent. There are two big sales - summer, from mid-July, and winter, from mid-January.
Of course, the most memorable thing will be the famous Greek fur coat brought from the capital of Hellas. Connoisseurs prefer to go to "shubing" directly to Kastoria. But in Athens, there are many fur shops - from large to very small. And high competition among sellers affects prices. It often turns out that the difference in price is exactly the cost of a trip to Kastoria. In addition, bargaining in fur shops is quite appropriate.
For lovers of creative gifts
For such, the choice is wide. Hand-woven rugs, chess and backgammon made of olive wood, tapestries, embroidery … Hand-made products in Greece are varied, exquisite and beautiful. Linen napkins with Greek patterns, small pillows with national painting, woven leather bracelets and belts - everything will become an original and memorable gift. There are many originals, which are acquired as a keepsake by national musical instruments - bouzoukas and tumberleks. It will be rather a gift for yourself, not all friends will appreciate such a memorable souvenir that can make the household nervous.
Pleasant trifles
Even the smallest souvenirs in Greece always look stylish, original, they can be brought as a sign of attention to colleagues or friends. Interesting little things:
- coins imitating antique;
- natural stones, shells, sea sponges;
- key rings, magnets with ancient symbols;
- decorative cups, plates with recognizable images;
- natural olive soap with different fillers.
Religious attributes
First of all, these are icon lamps, the most ancient souvenir. They have been made in Athens since the first millennium. The lamps are what pilgrims brought from here in all ages.
In Athens, there are many religious goods stores where you can buy icons and crosses. Orthodox icons with history can be purchased at the so-called flea markets. As well as old religious books.
Goodies
Usually tourists tend to bring material things as a gift. Until they visit the Greek market, with its overwhelming abundance of olives, olive oil, seafood. The olive tree in the country is called a gift from the gods and everything that is obtained from it is appreciated. Real high quality olive oil is sold especially for tourists in metal packages of different sizes - so that it is convenient to carry.
In addition, you should pay attention to:
- oriental sweets;
- honey, from floral to orange;
- herbal teas;
- pistachios;
- Exotic fruits.
You can bring Metaxa cognac from alcohol as a gift. It has been known since 1888 thanks to Spyros Metaxa, the inventor of this famous drink. In stores, this cognac is sold in different aging - three, five and even seven-star.
