| Laurium Lavrio or Λαύριον | ||
 | ||
| State | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Attica | |
| Inhabitants | 9.891 (2001) | |
| POSTAL CODE | 195 xx | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Laurium is a passenger port on the southeastern coast ofAttica in Greece a short distance from Cape Sounion.
To know
Laurium is not particularly interesting from a tourist point of view despite the presence of some beaches in its vicinity. Unfortunately, a power plant just outside the town causes some pollution in addition to defacing the coast. However, it can happen that you embark on one of the infrequent ferries that leave Laurium for Cyclades or to the islands ofNorthern Aegean (Samothrace, Lemnos) and for the cities of Alexandroupolis is Kavala.Laurium was famous for its silver mines exploited since ancient times and closed definitively around 1990. The following years saw a mass emigration of its inhabitants. Today the center has recovered thanks to the strengthening of its port (to lighten the traffic of Piraeus) and the installation of a power plant.
Geographical notes
It is located about 60 km southeast of Athens, southeast of Keratea and north of Cape Sounio. Laurium is located in a bay where the island of Makronisos (in ancient times called Helena).
Suggested readings
- Édouard Ardaillon, "Les Mines du Laurion dans l'antiquité", No. Ixxvii. in Bibliothéque des Ecoles francaises d'Athênes et de Rome.
How to orient yourself
Laurium: full screen map.The port is located in the center, and grid roads cover the residential area.
How to get
By plane
The international airport of Athens it is located 35 km from Laurion, about 30 minutes by car. Laurion is connected to Athens (by car) thanks to the Laurion / Sounio Leoforos highway and then to the Attiki Odos. This journey takes about an hour
On the train
Laurion was the terminal station of the Athens-Lavrion railway, decommissioned in 1957, so today it is not possible to get there by train.
By bus
A bus service connects Laurium with theinternational airport of Athens. These depart in the arrivals area near exit nº 3. The price of a single journey is 4 €.
From Athens instead, buses to Laurium depart from the Mavromateon terminus, at the intersection of Alexandras Avenue and Patission.
How to get around
By car
The GR-89 state road passes through Laurium and ends in the south at Cape Sounion.
What see
- The fish and meat market (Ta psaradika). A picturesque market in a neoclassical building from 1885.
- Mining installations. They belonged to the "Compagnie Francaise des Mines du Laurium", or rather to the French company that in 1876 acquired the exploitation rights of the Laurium mines from the Serpieri family. In 1930 the mines passed to the Penaroya company. Permanently closed in 1992, the complex was acquired by the Greek state with the intention of using it as a museum and technology park.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Districts and neighborhoods of the Center: Omonia | Syntagma | Acropolis | Psirì | Exarcheia | Plaka | Monastiraki | Gkazi | Thisio | Kolonaki
Districts on the waterfront: Paleo Faliro | Alymos | Glyfada | Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni | Varkiza. Northern districts: Kifisià | Amarousio | Ports: Piraeus | Rafina | Laurium - Surroundings: Eleusis | Mount Parnitha. - Excursions: (1)Saronic Islands (Salamis | Aegina | Angistri | Poros | Hydra | Spetses). (2)Coast of Poseidon. (3) Coast ofAtticaOriental (Marathon, Nea Makri). (4)Delphi is Mount Parnassus.
