Aegina has a population of 11,270 and is 17 nautical miles from Piraeus. The present-day harbor is the ancient city's commercial harbor. Today it is a busy, noisy meeting place of picturesque fishermen selling the day's catch and grocers, from whom you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Next to the harbor is the ancient town's military harbor, which some people have identified with the naval port.

The main road by the seaside is off-limits to vehicles on summer nights. The souvenir shops are busy at all hours of the day. Outstanding, among the island's original gift items, are the traditional water - jugs, which are used to carry and keep water cool.

Worth visiting, in the area of the port, is the chapel of Agios Nikolaos Thalassinos. Towards the inner land, there lies a town with some old neo-classical mansions, which have been restored and are now rented to visitors.

In Sp. Rodi Street stands the island's Museum of History and Folklore, which holds interesting exhibitions on the island's traditional life, as well as art exhibitions, lectures, and seminars.

Close by the church of Agios Nikolaos stands one of the island's oldest medieval buildings, the Tower of Marcellus. Nowadays it is used as an exhibition hall. Behind the tower is the old Liberopoulos home. When Aegina became the first capital of modern Greece it has also become the social center of the era. When Palea Hora was destroyed and the capital was moved back to the harbor town, one of the island's loveliest churches was erected, the Metropolis, which was built in 1806. Another building dating from Kapodistrias' era is the rectangular building of the Orphanage, behind the Saronikos playing - field, a huge edifice for its time.

The road leading towards Agios Nektarios passes from the rather unconventional Church of Faneromeni. On the other side of town, on Kolona hill, stands Aegina's prehistoric town. The first inhabitants of the area settled there around 3000 BC and the site was not abandoned for 2000 years, despite the numerous attacks the inhabitants had to face. The last town was built on the borders of the island's present-day capital and was fortified with walls.

During the 4th century AD, all of the temples, and Apollo's temple as well, were pulled down as symbols of idolatry. In its place, a large building with a water tank was built.

Unfortunately, Kolona's Archaeological Museum has been closed for some time for repairs. Many graves, most of them hewed out of rocks have been found in the area around the town. Kolona's beach is a wonderful place to swim, as well as the small sandy bays, which are formed along the seaside road. The seaside road that leads to Plakakia passes in front of the Wild Animal Treatment Center, which cares for animals and birds.

Worth visiting is the chapel of Agii Theodori, also known as Omorfi Eklissia, on the outskirts of town. A short distance to the south, in the Asomati area, stands the "Red Castle" known as the home of the English Historian G. Finley.

Nightlife in Aegina gets particularly lively during weekends when the Athenians travel to the island and in summer there are Atmospheric bars, places proposing live Greek music, pubs, and clubs that can be found in the capital or in the touristy and busy coastal resorts where the hotels are also located.

Aegina Useful Numbers

TOWN HALL OF AEGINA	22970-24444
CITIZEN SERVICE CENTER	22970-26222 22970-26223
INFORMATION DESK	22970-26967
HOSPITAL "SAINT DIONISIOS"	22970-24489 22970-29128
MEDICAL CENTER	22970-22222 22970-22886
LOCAL GZ'S	22970-71390
LOCAL GP'S	22970-32175
LOCAL POLICE STATION OF AEGINA	22970-23333
LOCAL POLICE MESAGROS-AGIA MARINA	22970-71201
TOURIST POLICE	22970-27777
AEGINA PORT AUTHORITY	22970-22328
AGIA MARINA PORT AUTHORITY	22970-32358
SOUVALA PORT AUTHORITY	22970-52188
FIRE BRIGADE OF AEGINA	22970-22172
FIRE BRIGADE OF AGIOI ASOMATOI	22970-22171
FOREST RANGERS	22970-22912
PORT AUTHORITIES INSURANCE INST.	22970-22272
JUSTICE APARTMENT	22970-22636
TAX OFFICE OF AEGINA	22970-22633
SOCIAL INSURANCE INSTITUTE	22970-22227
MORTGAGE REGISTRAR	22970-23806
ELECTRICITY COMPANY	22970-22737
TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER	22970-22121
EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE	6974751225-6
POST OFFICE	22970-22398
AGRICULTURAL UNION	22970-26400
MUSEUM OF FOLKLORE HISTORY	22970-26401
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM (KOLONA)	22970-22637
HISTORIC - FILE MUSEUM OF AEGINA	22970-26332
PUBLIC GYM	22970-25115
TIMETABLE OF SHIPS	22970-25951
FLYING DOLPHINS	22970-27462
LOCAL BUS SERVICE	22970-22787
TAXI (AEGINA)	22970-22635
TAXI (MESAGROS)	22970-71313
TAXI (SOUVALA)	6944343606
TAXI (KYPSELI)	6932328873
TAXI (AGIA MARINA)	2297032107
AIRPORT "VENIZELOS"	210-3530000
WEATHER FORECAST	1448
SHIP, AIRLINES, RAILWAY, BUS TIMETABLES	1440
POISONING TREATMENT CENTER	210-7793777
WATER TAXI	6944242177 6944535659 6937867785 6972229720