THE REGION|Antique sites|Athens-Acropolis Athens and the Acropolis In 1834, Athens became capital of modern Greece because of historical importance in classical antiques. During this period arose the polis (city) around the Acropolis hill. In two centuries the city has developed into an attractive modern city with incomparable charm. Today's metropolis of Athens with ist 3.5 million inhabitants (including suburbs and Piraeus) is the political, social, cultural and economic center of Greece. The Acropolis is the most famous symbol and a tourist attraction. It was the citadel and the religious center of the ancient city. Its monuments are imposing and unique in its beauty and the Parthenon is a synonym for architectural perfection.