This trip was in my bucket list for a while and I just kept postponing. After having LONG and COLD winters in Massachusetts, I was really craving for a hot weather and vacation in a very HOT summer destinations. Voila I decided to make it happen this year!
With only two weeks to explore, I decided to travel only to Greece and some of the Cyclades islands. The target destinations were quite obvious, Athens, Mykonos, Delos and Santorini at least.
My trips must have a “learning” factor to top off the adventure. This trip was of particular importance since Greece is considered the cradle of Western Civilization, and as boring as it may sound I really wanted to visit those places that my history books talk about and experience the Hellenistic culture at length and walk in the Stoa (path/street) where Socrates walked hundreds of years ago…and let my imagination run…!
Let’s get started, in Athens my itinerary included top things to do such as the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s gate, the Zappeion and botanic gardens, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Lycabettus Hill, Filopappou Hill, Syntagma Square and Monastiraki Pláka, the Greek Parliament building (to see the change of guards), Hadrian’s library, the Panathenaic Stadium, and the National Archeological Museum & surroundings.
Athens:
If you only have one day or two, the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum must be in your itinerary. It’s recommended to visit the museum first and then the site, reason being is that the museum will give you ALL the historical information that once you are in the site you can easily relate. It’s like study your lesson and then go to a field trip or an internship.
An acropolis is a citadel located in a hill. The Acropolis of Athens is so prominent that it’s simply known as the Acropolis which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside you will find four ancient buildings: the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena; the Propylaia is the entrance or gateway to the Acropolis and it’s very perceptible how magnificent it was; the Erechtheion is the temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon; and the temple of Athena Nike dedicated to the goddess of Athena Nike. In the Erechtheion, you will see the Caryatids which are the famous pillar with female shape. It is advisable to visit the Acropolis late in the afternoon, so you can have the opportunity to see it during day light and at night.
Do you recall from history lesson the contest between Poseidon and Athena to gain supremacy of the city of Athens? The contest took place in the Acropolis. Poseidon hit a rock with his trident and a salt spring was formed while Athena created an Olive tree to symbolize peace and prosperity. Athenian people chose the Olive tree. Just right in one of the corners of the Erechtheion, there is an olive tree which honors this Greek myth, so fascinating…
The Acropolis museum is walking distance from the Acropolis. Alternatively, you can use the red bus hop on/off which covers the top attractions in Athens.
This museum is fairly new, it opened in 2009 and during its constructions they found more archaeological artifacts. In fact, right at the entrance you will see the exhibition underneath. This museum houses all the archaeological finding from the Acropolis. Five of the original Caryatids are exhibited here and the other one is in the British museum of London.
A second day can include the Temple of Zeus which is of Corinthian order and just a few steps away, you will find Hadrian’s gate. This gate is very beautiful at night. I would recommend an evening walk from Syntagma Square, passing Hadrian’s gate, to the archaeological promenade. There are plenty of places to eat along the promenade. I tried “O Gyros Pou Gyrevis”
If you are into Archaeology, or if you have two or three extra days in Athens, then a visit to the Ancient Agora and the Roman Agora is a must do!
An Agora is a place to gather, an open space for assemblies. The Ancient Agora is where Socrates taught to the young Athenian people. He walked in the Stoas of this Agora and he was here sentenced and poisoned. Actually, the Roman Agora, the Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s library and the flea market are in the Monastiraki area which is a GREAT area for restaurants. I tried the Greco Project. Just in front of the Ancient Agora you will find many awesome restaurants and in the evening they have traditional music. It’s great!
Roman Agora Photo Gallery:
Ancient Agora Photo Gallery:
I would also recommend a quick wandering around the Zappeion, a building used for important events and some European treaties have been signed off; he Greek Parliament where you can see the change of guard; and the Panathenaic Stadium which has a “U” shape and it’s the only stadium all built of marble and the only stadiums that celebrated 3 Olympics.
I also made a quick stop in Lycabettus Hill, in popular folklore it means the hill walked by wolves. From the top of the hill, you can observe the city and even the sea. It really offers a great view and a moderate hike. There is a cable car (teleferic) you can use if you dont feel like hiking. Filoppapou Hill offers some hike trails and here you will find Socrates jail.
Lastly, you can’t leave Athens without visiting the National Archeological Museum. One of the famous collections is a bronze Statue which is named: Artemision Zeus or Poseidon? ca 460 BC. There is no consensus among the archaeologists some of them say is Poseidon, other says is Zeus….In my opinion is Poseidon! my imagination tells me that he is looking and pointing at the Aegean Sea with his left hand trying to calm the waters and he holds the trident with his right hand ready to throw it onto the Sea (the trident is lost in the Aegean Sea and never recovered) ….. You can judge for yourself…
Key enthralling things I learned from Athens:
- Syntagama, Monastiraki Plaka: In plain English is Syntgama “Square.” In Greek, “Plaka” means “the neigborhood of the God” very mythological no?
- Parthenon: Along the years, the Parthenon served as a religious center; it was a mosque in 1460 and in the final decades of the sixth century it was converted into a Catholic church named “The Church of Parthenos Maria” I guess I have something in common with the Parthenon!
- Classical Order: There are three classical order in Ancient Greek architecture; Doric (like the Parthenon), Ionic (like the temple of Athena Nike or the Erechteion) and Corinthian (like the temple of Zeus)
- Nike: The Goddess Nike means victory, strength, and speed and she is depicted with wings. Nike, the sport brand uses half of the wing as its symbol brand. (I found it cool, the tourist guide explained this to us…)
- The Odeon of Herod Atticus: Located in the southwest slope of the Acropolis. This is the theater where Yanni the pianist performed. Remember “Yanni live at the Acropolis”?
- Theater of Dionysus: Located the Acropolis, it’s considered the first theater built in the world! Dionysus is the god of wine, wine-making, theater and religious ecstasy.
- Hadrian the emperor: His influence is perceptible in Athens, you have Hadrian’s gate, and Hadrian’s library among others. I found remarkable that Hadrian introduced the concept of taxes for olive products and the decree is engraved in the entrance gate in the Roman Agora
- Athens is an archaeological city in itself and there are excavations and exhibition even in the metro station, Syntagma station close to the Parliament has graves and other artifacts for exhibit.
Some useful information:
- The entrance fee to the Parthenon is 20 euros, but you can buy a combo ticket for 30 euros which will allow entrance to other archaeological sites like Hadrian’s Library, Ancient Agora, and Roman Agora. The ticket is not yet available to be purchased online, but it can be purchased in situ in one the archaeological sites mentioned above.
- The red bus (hop on/off) covers a circuit with the main attractions. The ticket is 20 Euros for 2 days.
- If yo go in July-August, be ready for HOT temperatures like 90 Fahrenheit, and it can feel like 100 in the Acropolis. If you are wearing sleeveless blouse, have a light jacket or something to put on your shoulders, the sun is STRONG…!
Is Athens in your bucket list? Check out my photo gallery to see if this is a destination that appeals you!
Athens Photo Gallery:
Acropolis:
Greek Parliament:
