Editing Piraeus (section)

==Culture==

===Archaeological sites===
[[File:Eetioneia Gate (Piraeus)3.JPG|thumb|Part of Eetioneia, the ancient gate to the harbour and part of the fortification of Piraeus, built during the [[Peloponnesian War]].]]
Among the archaeological sites of Piraeus, parts of the ancient [[Themistocles|Themistoclean]] Walls and [[Eëtioneia]], a mole in the entrance to the harbour, are still preserved in good condition. Excavations in Pasalimani revealed the ''Skeuotheke'', an ancient structure where ship rigging equipment was stored, designed by architect [[Philon]]. In Kastella the ''Syrangion'' is to be found, which probably served as a sanctuary to the local hero ''Syrango'', and the Cave of Arethusa, both prehistoric. Ruins of the ancient city at the basement of the cathedral of Agia Triada and the ancient Theater of Zea next to the Archaeological Museum, the ancient ''neosoikoi'' in [[Bay of Zea|Zea]], Munichia and Kantharos [[Athenian navy|navy yard]], can also be seen.

====Bronze statues====
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The discovery of four bronze statues at a construction site near the Tinaneios Gardens in Piraeus, Greece on July 18, 1959 is still remembered by an entire generation as a momentous discovery in Modern Greek archaeology. The statues are now featured in the Piraeus Museum, and are largely responsible for the creation of the modern Archaeological Museum of Piraeus. While drilling in order to lay pipes, the Hydrex Company came across the hand of a bronze ''kouros'' (youth) at a depth of approximately 1.50 meters. Excavations began after the custodian of the local museum, Dimitrios Kalantonis, and the Director of the Archaeological Service, Yiannis Papdimitriou, were informed. Four noteworthy bronze statues were uncovered in the continuing excavations – the Archaic Apollo (the ''kouros'' whose hand had originally been seen), the large Artemis, a smaller Artemis, and a larger-than-life Athena. However, the enthusiasm for the dig led to poor documentation of the details and context of the finds, leaving rare photos taken by the media or public as the only record. There are multiple theories as to how the statues came to be carefully arranged within what is thought to have been a small square room. When and why the statues were apparently hidden is open to debate, along with their origins, date, and style. One early theory suggests that the statues had been stored near the harbour with the intention of being shipped to Italy; however, the presence of coins near the statues dating from a period of war opens up another possibility – that the statues were hidden for safe keeping, and then lost when the building was destroyed. Dating the concealment of the statues is another issue, as they may have been buried anytime between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD. The statue of the ''kouros'' was recognized to be of Apollo, and dated to the 5th century BC. The other three female statues, from the 4th century BC, show a different, more human, form of sculpture that sets them apart from their older companion.

===Leisure and entertainment===
[[File:Veakio-2 Piraeus.JPG|thumb|left|The ''Veakeio Theater'' (former ''Skylitseio'') on the hill of Kastella, with view to the [[Saronic Gulf]], [[Mount Hymettus]] and the southeastern part of Athens.]]
[[File:Peiraias teatr.jpg|thumb|The [[Piraeus Municipal Theatre]]]]
Piraeus provides a wide variety of entertainment. There are a lot of [[taverna]]s and restaurants in Piraeus, renowned for their cuisine. Most are spread along the coasts of Mikrolimano and Piraiki, specializing in seafood and attracting many visitors, including tourists. The nightlife of the city is vibrant, with numerous bars and nightclubs. Plenty of major shopping areas can be found on the central avenues of Piraeus, Iroon Polytechneiou and Grigoriou Labraki.

In the summer, the Maritime Festival take place, while the Three Kings' Way Festival marks the beginning of the carnival, with all the associated costumes and entertainment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetware.com/piraeus/three-kings-way-festival-gr-cen-trion.htm |title=Three King's Way Festival, Piraeus |access-date=2008-12-29 |publisher=www.planetware.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416160633/http://www.planetware.com/piraeus/three-kings-way-festival-gr-cen-trion.htm |archive-date=2007-04-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Municipal Theater has been the center of the arts in Piraeus, hosting a variety of cultural events including theater, dance and music events. The open air Veakeio Theater in Kastella is a popular destination during the summer and hosts concerts, folk music bands and Greek and foreign troupes, while the Menandreio Theater, widely known as Delfinario, is popular for hosting variety shows. Village Park, a large multipurpose center and part of the [[Village Cinemas]] built in suburban [[Agios Ioannis Renti]], attracts a large number of people from the whole of Athens, offering a diversity of shops, cafes, and restaurant, in addition to the twenty cinemas making it the largest cinema complex in Greece. Next to it, the Allou Fun Park is the most recent and largest amusement theme park in Athens, offering its numerous rides and attractions, restaurants and pastry shops.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.breathtakingathens.com/node/4393 |title=Allou Fun Park |access-date=2008-12-30 |publisher=www.breathtakingathens.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628083127/http://www.breathtakingathens.com/node/4393 |archive-date=2009-06-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Museums===
[[File:Hellenic Maritime Museum frontyard.jpg|thumb|External view of the [[Hellenic Maritime Museum]] in [[Freatida]].]]

Piraeus is home to several museums and other institutions of great interest within their field. The [[Archaeological Museum of Piraeus]] displays objects from [[classical antiquity]] found at the area of Piraeus and the greater coastal zone, typical of the history and culture of the ancient city. The city also houses the [[Hellenic Maritime Museum]], with exhibits relating to the nautical tradition of Greece, the Merchant Shipping History Institute Exhibition, the [[Panos Aravantinos Decor Museum]] and the Museum of Electric Railways, hosted in the [[Piraeus station]]. The [[Municipal Art Gallery of Piraeus|Municipal Art Gallery]] and the Municipal Library, one of the largest in Greece, are also prominent within the culture of Piraeus.

===Sport===
[[File:Peace and Friendship stadium 02 03 2014.JPG|thumb|left|[[Peace and Friendship Stadium]]]]
[[File:Karaiskakis Stadium Piraeus Olympiacos-Arsenal.jpg|thumb|Inside the [[Karaiskakis Stadium]]]]

Traditionally, Piraeus has played a major role in [[Sport in Greece|Greek sport]]. The city boasts one of the most popular and one of the most prestigious Greek [[Sports club|multisport clubs]], [[Olympiacos CFP]]. The other major club is [[Ethnikos Piraeus]], with a long athletic tradition, while other historic clubs are [[Atromitos Piraeus F.C.]] and [[Peiraikos Syndesmos]].

In [[Association football|football]], [[Olympiacos F.C.]] is the [[List of football clubs in Greece by major honours won|most successful football club in Greece]], having won by far more titles than any other Greek football club, and its ground is at the [[Karaiskakis Stadium]], in Neo [[Faliro]]. [[Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.]] had a longstanding presence in [[Super League Greece]] and also used the Karaiskakis Stadium as home ground, but in recent years the club has competed in lower divisions and currently plays home matches at the [[Helliniko Olympic Complex#Olympic Baseball Centre|Helleniko Stadium]], in [[Ellinikon]]. In [[basketball]], [[Olympiacos B.C.]] is the only major club from Piraeus, one of the most successful at domestic and European level, and its home arena is the [[Peace and Friendship Stadium]], while the [[volleyball]] department of the same club, [[Olympiacos S.C.]], is the dominant domestically and has made great success in European competitions as well. Piraeus rides really high in [[water polo]], where [[Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club|Ethnikos Piraeus]] and [[Olympiacos Water Polo Club|Olympiacos]] departments have entirely dominated in Greece; the first is considered the "Emperor" of the sport and the latter is the only Greek water polo club to have been crowned European Champion.

First class sporting facilities can be found in Piraeus. The Karaiskakis Stadium, built in 1885 as a bicycle track, enlarged in 1964 and completely rebuilt in 2004, is the second largest football venue in Greece with a capacity of 33,334 and one of the most modern in Europe. It hosted the [[1971 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final]] and several games of the [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics|football tournament]] in the [[2004 Summer Olympics]], while it was used as a velodrome in the [[1896 Summer Olympics]]. The Peace and Friendship Stadium, part of the [[Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex]] and built in 1985 opposite to the Karaiskakis Stadium, is the second largest indoor arena in the country and one of the most impressive around Europe,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.athens-today.com/e-olimpica_faliro.htm |title=Athens 21st Century – The Olympic Coastal Complex |access-date=2008-12-28 |publisher=athens-today.com}}</ref> having hosted multiply major international events in several sports, including the [[Volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|volleyball tournament]] in the 2004 Athens Olympics, the [[1998 FIBA World Championship]], the [[EuroBasket 1987]] and the Final Four of the [[FIBA European Championship 1992-93|Euroleague 1993]].

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="6"|Sport clubs based inside the bounders of Piraeus municipality
|-
!width="150"|Club
!width="120"|Founded
!Sports
!Achievements
|-
|[[Peiraikos Syndesmos]]||1893||[[Basketball]], [[Volleyball]], [[Track and Field]]||Panhellenic titles in women basketball 
|-
|[[Ethnikos Piraeus|Ethnikos]]||1923||[[Association football|Football]], Basketball, Volleyball, [[Water Polo]] and others||Panhellenic title in football, most time winner in Greek Water Polo
|-
|[[Olympiacos CFP|Olympiacos]]||1925||Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Water Polo, Track and Field and others || Arguably the most successful Greek club, many titles in several sports, most time winner in Greek football and men's volleyball
|-
|[[Atromitos Piraeus F.C.|Atromitos Piraeus]]||1926 ||Football || Presence in Gamma Ethniki
|-
|[[AOF Porfyras]]||1957||Basketball, Volleyball||Presence in A1 Ethniki volleyball women
|-
|}