A Visitor’s Guide to Athens

Athens is a magnificent city, a city that has undergone significant changes within the last few decades but you will find that its history, its culture and power has remained intact. The iconic Acropolis and Parthenon temple overlooks the city like a mother overseeing her children.

Athens is a marvellous city; cosmopolitan, sophisticated and proud of her history; most of it shrouded in mythology. You will find stylish restaurants, chic boutiques and luxury hotels throughout the city, coming back with impressed with its vibrancy.
Athens is a sprawling city with a maze of little streets – most of the historic sights are located in the historic centre. A number of the major sights are within walking distance of the Plateia Syntagmatos. You will see the Acropolis from just about anywhere.

The Acropolis is the first stop anyone goes to. This is the heart of the Athenians; a constant reminder of their proud history. The myth goes that Athena and Poseidon both wanted the city; they underwent a competition set by Zeus – whoever produced the most beneficial object for the city would get it. Poseidon produced a spring of seawater and a horse. Athena created an olive tree – the olives could be eaten and can also be made into olive oil. Zeus awarded Athena the city.

However, archaeology shows that the Acropolis, with its springs, drew Neolithic settlers to Athens; by 1400 BCE, the Acropolis had become a great city. Temples were first built during the Mycenaean period to Athena. In the late 6th century BCE the oracles told them that it should be the home of the gods and the people moved down to where the city is today.

During the battle of Salamis, all the temples were utterly destroyed. Pericles ordered a new set of temples to be built on the Acropolis. These temples have stood the test of time and are the symbol of the Greeks pride.

There are a number of routes you can take to the Acropolis; most people come up to it by Plaka but you can take the southern route.

There are so many things to see here. The Beule Gate and Monument of Agrippa is the first thing, then onto the Propylaia and the Panathenic Way before coming to the main attraction – the Temple of Athena Nike and the Parthenon, but don’t forget the Erechtheion. Descending down the southern route, you will see the Theatre of Dionysus, the Asclepion and Stoa of Eumenes, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Panagia Hrysospiliotissa and the Acropolis Museum.

There are many more things to see in Athens after you have visited the Acroppolis. The Ancient Agora is where the Greeks would meet in ancient times and the focal point for the city’s administration. Dating from the 6th century BCE, it was destroyed by the Persians but rebuilt. Archaeologists have excavated parts of the agora. The main sights here are the Temple of Hephaestus, the Church of the Holy Apostles, and the Stoa of Attalos.

If you head off to the Sacred Way, you will come to the Street of Tombs. This area was where the elite would be buried. The tombs you see are replicas, the originals are now in the National Archaeological Museum, but what you see is truly amazing.
Greece unfortunately fell victim to the military strength of the Romans so Athens has a strong Roman presence to it. For Roman Athens, you should head to the Tower of the Winds and the Roman Agora. This was built during the first century BCE and commissioned by Julius Caesar.

Hadrian’s Arch is a magnificent monument commissioned by the emperor Hadrian who loved Athens very much. It is made from Pentalic marble and was the dividing point of Athens and the Roman city. It was probably made to consecrate the erection of the Temple of Zeus.

The Temple of Zeus is another place to visit. It is the largest temple in Greece and construction originally began in the 6th century BCE by Peisistraois who had to abandon it when he ran out of funds to complete it. Other people tried to finish his work over the years but it wasn’t completed until Hadrian took charge. This means that it took 700 years to finish this project.

There are many other places you can go to explore the ancient world of Athens. Hadrian’s Library, the Roman Baths, the Panathenaic Stadium, the National Archaeological Museum, the Benaki Museum, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, the National Art Museum – all of these are wonderful places to visit and there are so many more places to explore.

Athens is a city of marvels; it hides within her bosom so many sights and attractions waiting for you to come and admire them. Upon leaving, you will find yourself wanting to come back and explore her all over again. She is a beautiful city and you will fall in love with her.