In the last years, prior to the 2004 Olympics in Athens there has been a strong desire to evolve commercially
and aesthetically. The restructuring work and the pedestrianisation combined with the high quality of
life have contributed to further increasing the business development, which had already taken place in
previous years.
Nowadays Athens can claim to have become the new European shopping capital.
The city houses some of the biggest and most luxurious shopping centres of the continent as well as a
large number of designer boutiques. There are also thousands of small shops overflowing with merchandise from
all over the world. This is because as well as reclaiming its role of cultural centre, Athens has also become
the new reference point for immigrants from the Balkans, Asia Minor and Africa. This has given it a new
atmosphere similar to that of great metropolitan cities, like New York.
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