Lavreotiki extends to the southeast of Attica. The area has signs of habitation from the Neolithic period, as people were always attracted by the rich subsoil. Probably the very name «Lavrion» comes from the word «Lavra» or «lavri», which means alley, paved street. The word can also be found in the great ancient Greek poems by Homer (8th century B.C.), meaning the corridor, or a passage. Since the mines' exploitation has stopped, and until the mid 19th century, there aren't any signs human presence in the area. In fact, the town of Lavrio is a modern town, founded in the late 19th century by European exploiters. Currently, Lavrio has about 10000-11000 residents, while in summer the population of the region is significantly increased. Until 20 years ago, Lavrio was a industrial town, with a population of more than 20,000 inhabitants. Each point of Lavreotiki, either in town or in the suburbs, has something important to show about the Greek industrial and architectural development; a visit to Lavrio seems like a training seminar on the evolution of Greek culture from antiquity to the present day.