Athens, places to visit?

The cradle of classical civilisation

Athens is the legendary cradle of classical civilisation with a wealth of valuablemonuments ranging from the Acropolis to the Parthenon and from the Arch of Hadrian to the University.

Athens always surprises and amazes for its artistic riches, the same riches that, for many years, have seen life being given to a vast and incomparable flourish of talent in all fields of thought and art.

Just one visit to the Acropolis is enough to understand this - it is a work of art that still today takes your breath away.

The Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike (known previously as Apteros Nike or Victory without wings), the Erechtheion (the most sacred Temple of Athens), and on the highest level of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, considered the most perfect work of Greek architecture.

An entire area that can only be reached by foot. But it's worth it.

But it is well worth while, and not only from an artistic point of view (the Acropolis Museum contains a unique collection of Archaic sculptures), but also because the Acropolis dominates the whole city and the views extend far out to sea.

The Dionysiou Aeropagitou is a pedestrian street that, in a few hundred metres, gently descends from the Acropolis to the Plaka, the second must-see destination on arrival in Athens.

The Placa of Athens

The Plaka, the city’s historical neighbourhood and pedestrian area, is in fact Athens’ tourist district par excellence with a vast selection of typical Greek taverns, bars, shops and traditional folk shows.

Constitution Square in Athens

While the Plaka is the old district, Constitution Square is, instead, the centre of the other, more modern facet of Athens. Situated right in front of the Parliament Building, it is famous for the changing of the guard, which attracts hundreds of tourists every hour. All around, instead, are luxurious modern buildings, while on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, the main road of this elegant district, the ultramodern Embassy of the United States and the Hilton Hotel, surely one of Athens’ most luxurious hotels, both stand out from the other buildings.

It is impossible to list, even only briefly, all the places and monuments to visit, but certainly you cannot leave the Greek capital without having seen University Road (Panepistimou), along which three majestic Neoclassical buildings stand: the Academy, the National Library and, in the middle, the prestigious university.

Other must-see destinations: the National Archaeological Museum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Byzantine Athens, the Panathenaic Stadium and the Port of Piraeus.

Tipical greek dishes

The Greek cuisine, rich in authentic flavors and aromas, has a history of around 4,000 years.
Beside the most popular dishes such as moussaka (aubergine-based flan, potatoes and minced meat in several layers), souvlaki (grilled meat and vegetable skewers) and the famous Greek "choriatiki" salad, the Greek cuisine offers a great variety of delicious and healthy dishes that can fully satisfy all palates.
The secrets of this cuisine are essentially: the use of fresh and good quality ingredients, the correct use of aromas and spices, all seasoned with the famous Greek olive oil, used on all dishes.

Text by Claudia Esposito

Update by Nicolò Villa

Avion Tourism Magazine
Photos: Sisterscom.com, Shutterstock
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Video: www.visitgreece.gr

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Where to sleep in Athens

Athens is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.

STARS

Hotels for stars, differentiated by type of services:

DISTRICTS

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LANDMARKS

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Ancient Agora

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Athens Airport (ATH)

Where to go in Athens

Monuments in Athens

OLYMPIEION

The Olympieion of Athens includes the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Roman baths, classical houses as well as a section of the ancient city’s fortification wall. The temple of Olympian Zeus was founded by Deukalionas, a mythical ancestor of the Greeks. A new construction of the temple was later assigned to the Roman architect Decimus Cossutius by the king of Syria Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The construction of the temple, which ranks among the biggest in antiquity, was completed in 131 AD and is of Corinthian order.

HADRIAN’S ΑRCH

Following the construction of the Temple of Zeus, the Athenians, in 131 AD, in honour of Emperor Hadrian, built the Hadrian's Arch in Aithens on the northwestern perimeter of the temple. The arch, built of Pentelic marble, bears two inscriptions on the architrave over the arch. One inscription, facing the Acropolis and the old town (facing west), says: “This is Athens, the city of Theseus”. The other inscription, facing the sanctuary, (facing east), says: “This is the city of Hadrian, not Theseus”.

KOLONAKI SQUARE

Philikis Etairias Square
The area of Kolonaki Square in Athens, that was not developed before the 1880’s, is where Athenians and foreign visitors enjoy a break at one of the numerous cafes of the square. In Kolonaki you will find parks and attractive buildings, built predominantly in the neoclassical and modernist architectural style, lending the area a distinguished character. It is considered the “aristocratic” neighbourhood of Athens.

THE ANCIENT THEATRE OF DIONYSOS

Dionyssiou Areopagitou Str
The Theatre of Dionysos in Athens is the most ancient theatre of the world. In this theatre, the most famous ancient Greek poets, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, and Sophocles saw premiere performances of their plays. The auditorium and the proscenium were made of wood but in the 4^th Century BC they were reconstructed using marble. According to experts, the theatre had a capacity of 17,000 people.

THE ΑCROPOLIS

The Acropolis of Athens is the symbol of the city and a visit is a unique experience. The sacred rock, linking the fabulous ancient civilisation with the modern city and the monuments on the Sacred Rock date back to the Prehistoric era. The grandeur and beauty of the Sacred Rock attract Greek and foreign visitors from all over the world.

THE PARTHENON

The Parthenon of Athens is an architectural masterpiece of great renown. This unique temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, was built of Pentelic marble. The Parthenon of the classical era was built on the remains of the monumental earlier Parthenon, an archaic temple built in the late 6^th Century BC.

Museums in Athens

NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

Dionyssiou Areopagitou Street
The new Acropolis Museum of Athens is one of the most important contemporary works of architecture in the city. Its construction, designed by architects B. Tschumi and Mih. Fotiadis was completed in 2007. It is made of steel, glass and concrete. The last level, the Parthenon room, has the dimensions of the Parthenon and it has been rotated by 23 degrees in relation to the rest of the building so that the visitor would have an immediate view of the monument.
www.theacropolismuseum.gr

NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is a stately building constructed in the late 19^th century, and was designed by L. Lange and Ern. Ziller. The Ionian style propylaea are adorned with clay statues, the copies of ancient works. Athenians like to stroll in the attractive garden in front of the museum, especially in summer.
www.namuseum.gr

ΒYZANTINE AND CHRISTIAN MUSEUM

The Byzantine and Christian Museum of Athens is a neorenaissance style building, constructed at the bank of the river. It was the residence of S. de Marbois-Lebrun, known as the “Duchess of Plaisance”. The building was designed by St. Kleanthis and following the death of the duchess in 1854, the mansion was acquired by the Greek state. It hauses the museum since 1930 and two new wings were built in 1952 and 1994.
www.byzantinemuseum.gr

Tour in Athens and surroundings

MOUNT PΑRNITHA

Mount Parnitha is the highest mountain in Attica (1.400 m) and one of the most beautiful mountains of Greece that it is located 30 kilometres northwest of Athens.

Mount Parnitha’s National Park has an area of more than 300 square kilometres. It is a home to 30 species of mammals and 120 bird species. Walk on one of hundreds of footpaths, take a mountain bike ride or explore dozens of small caves and visit a lot of beautiful churches and monasteries.

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