Acropolis
The flat hill, which in 1987 enrolled the World Heritage List of UNESCO features the buildings that became the iconic symbols of Athens and the Greek culture.
The central place is occupied by Partenon the temple to Athene – the Goddess of War ( known also by the name given by Romans – Nike ). The details and sculptures from the temple are preserved in adjacent building of Acropolis Museum. Propylee, the entry gate to the hill has the famous German follower – the Brandenburg Gate from Berlin. Acropolis has been also the place of theatre performances during the feasts celebrated in the name of son of Zeus, Dionysos.
The famous Greek writers, like Aischylos, Sophocles and Euripides once set their plays in the Dionysos Theatre. Today, during summer the modern time actors give the performances in nearby Herode’s Odeon.
Olympieion
Only few from once 104 monumental columns remained from the largest ancient temple in the Athens sacrificed to Zeus Olympios.
Legend has that it was Heracles who established the competitions for the glory of Zeus, named later after the sacred mountain Olymp.
Near the temple there are remains of ancient olympic stadium, which witnessed dozens of meetings, which inspired the idea of the present day Olympic Games, which were hosted back by Greece in 2004 ( on the modern venues ).
Ancient Agora
The centre of allow to discover the life in the ancient Athens. Agora was the place of political meetings, feasts, markets and theatre performances.
The main monuments to see here are the temple of Hephaestus, the church of Saint Apostels and Stoa of Attallos.
Kerameikos
The former potters’ quarter of the city, from which the English word “ceramic” is derived, became the site of an important cemetery and numerous funerary sculptures erected along the road out of the city.
National Museum of Archeology
An obligatory visit to everyone interested in Ancient Art. The exhibition features important items from some six thousand years old pre-Greek culture named after the Cyclades Islands,
the treasures from royal graves of Mycenaean Kings also the Greek sculptures up to the Byzantine times ( 4th century ).
Benaki Museum
The private collection of Benakis and other donations is hosted in marvelous building from the beginning of 20th century.
The displayed items, paintings, sculptures, national clothes and instruments allow to trace the whole Greek history starting from Ancient times to the present day.
Byzantine Museum
More faithful people will be interested in a divine collection of Byzantine Icons, Mosaics, Sculptures, Bibles and Garments in the 19th century villa Illissia.
The impressive is the number of displayed icons, including priceless both side painted icons from 14th and 15th centuries.
Lykavittos hill
Overlooking the city hill Lykavittos can be accessed on foot by the small path leading to the top, or much faster, by the cable car, which has the upper station near the church of St. George.
As the panoramic views are marvelous the whole day round, during tourist season the cable works till midnight.
The Goulandris Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art
The outstanding collection of antiquities belonging to th ancient cultures, who once lived on the Aegean Sea islands.
The utensils and art items include marble figurines and vessels, bronze tools and weapons, as well as pottery divided into three sections:
the Cycladic Culture of the Early Bronze Age, the Ancient Greek Art and the Cypriot Culture (the tribes from Cyprus).
Egina
The small island just 35 min by ferry from Athens offers the real Mediterranean holiday outside of tourist flocks invading the city.
[photo courtesy of christophandre]
