Phaleron Bay

The Bay of Phaleron or Faliro (Greek: Όρμος Φαλήρου - Ormos Falirou) is a bay of the Aegean Sea on the coast of Attica, Greece. It was the main port for ancient Athens, before the port at Piraeus was constructed. It is about 6 km southwest of Athens city centre. The suburbs of Palaio Faliro, Kallithea, Moschato and Neo Faliro are situated along the bay. The Peace and Friendship Stadium is situated at the western end of the bay. The Poseidonos Avenue runs along the shore.

The bay includes the Faliro Marina in the southeast, which harbors hundreds of boats and yachts, and a small beach to the west. Phaleron Bay was extensively landscaped for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games: the waterfront was made into a broad water-themed Promenade, the beach volleyball venue and Tae-Kwon-Do Sports Pavilion were erected, and the Peace and Friendship Stadium was renovated. The intersections of Poseidonos Avenue with Andrea Syngrou Avenue and Kifissou Avenue were rebuilt as complex flyovers, while the land between the venues was landscaped with lawns and trees.

The Park of Maritime Tradition, a collection of preserved historic ships, is located next to the marina. At the southern tip is the permanent anchorage of the armored cruiser HS Averof (now a floating museum), which was the admiralty ship of the Hellenic Navy during the Balkan Wars and World War I. Other museum ships include the Hellenic Navy destroyer HS Velos (D16), the old cable ship Thalis o Milisios (Thales of Miletos) and Olympias, a modern reconstruction of an ancient trireme naval ship.

About 3,000 years ago, there were ceremonies related with the Eleusinian Mysteries on 16th Boedromion with the celebrants washing themselves in the sea at Phaleron.

Coordinates: 37°56′N 23°40′E / 37.933°N 23.667°E / 37.933; 23.667