“Earth proudly wears the Parthenon as the best gem upon her zone.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Greece has been the cradle of Western civilization for centuries. Historically grounded, geographically overwhelming and well-placed, this was one country on my prime bucket list. The place has housed renowned mathematicians and intellectuals- Archimedes, Galileo, Aristotle and many more. Keep your camera handy as each and every monument is picture worthy.
Athens is the oldest European city with a history of more than 4000 years. It is the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, theater, music and poetry.
Day 1: Acropolis Area.
Acropolis- The ancient city of the Acropolis includes the:
- Parthenon
- Erechtheion
- Temple of Athena, Nike
- Areopagus (the Rock of Ares), which served as the high court of appeal for criminal and civil cases, during classical times.
- The Boulevyard with the Greek flag.
Constructed during the late 5th century BC during the ‘Golden Age of Athens’, the Acropolis was built to honour the city’s patron goddess Athena.
NOTE: Please wear comfortable walking shoes and carry a refillable water bottle. There are potable taps inside the temple.Do not forget to wear a hat/cap and put on some sun screen.
As you start an early uphill walk from the Monastariki Square, you will see Agora– the early settlements. Further you can also see the Areopagus where you get incredible pictures of Athens.
The ticket price is 20 Euros and you will have long queues in the month of July-August which are the peak travel months.
As you enter the gate, start your ascent and you find one of the legendary sites that sits beneath the slopes of the Acropolis, the stunning open-air theatre, Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The circular orchestra has now become a semi-circle, paved with black and white marble. With 35 rows, the marble auditorium extends slightly beyond a semi-circle that today seats 4680 people.
The next monument that catches your eye is the Propylaea– the entrance to the temple. I found myself quite emotional looking at the ruins and visualizing the beauty the monument once glorified.
The Porch of the Maidens sits at the rear of the elegant Erechtheion. Directly facing the Parthenon, the maidens were given the name ‘Caryatids’, after the young women from the village of Karyes.
The Temple of Athena Nike overlooks the entrance to the Acropolis and was constructed in 426BC. The temple was a replacement for a 6th century BC dedication to Athena Nike which was constructed of wood but destroyed by the Persians. It survived virtually intact for 2000 years, until 1686 when the Ottomans demolished the temple to use the marble as a fortification wall on the Propylaea. Unlike the famous Nike of Samothrace which is winged (winged victory), Athena Nike was wingless (wingless victory), so that the goddess would never leave Athens.
The Greek flag which is situated on what was a Belvedere tower during the medieval period of the Acropolis, is more than just the best vantage point for photographs across Athens.
The Parthenon is a symbol of classical Greece built during the height of Athenian democracy. Dedicated to the goddess Athena, it is the third Parthenon to occupy the ancient site after the second was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. It remained unchanged until it was converted to a church during the Byzantine period in the 5th century AD and then a Mosque in the 1460’s during the Ottoman occupation. In the year 1687, the Parthenon was severely damaged by an explosion caused by the ignition of ammunition being stored there by the Ottomans during the Morean war. The restoration is in progress and you will witness lot of marble work being laid on the huge columns from the same quarry where the ancient Greeks are believed to be using them.
The Acropolis Museum has a permanent exhibition of over 4000 artifacts retrieved from the Acropolis area. You can walk on the glass terrace of the ancient Greek civilization.
The descent from the hill lands you in one of the biggest market squares-the Placa. The Placa is the home of several museums and has all amenities with lot of historical monuments. The placa was called the neighbourhood of gods and is today the swarming hub of all shopping.
The rest of the day we relaxed at the restaurant with some Gamistha -a vegetarian cuisine made up of rice stuffed in capsicum and tomatoes (A must eat!) and called it a day as my legs were not listening to me anymore!
Day 2:
- Monastriki Square
- Hadrian’s Library
- Pantanassa church
- Tsisdarakis Mosque
- Metro Station
- Flea Market
To start from where I left yesterday, I came back to Monastriki Sqaure early in the morning. This area brims with energy and bustles with lot of business and shopping. You can also expect bargaining to a certain extent. A day can easily be spent here. If you want to go to the airport or any other point of interest, it is very easy. Commuting is positively swift and metros are easily accessible. I spent the entire day exploring here and also happened to shop enough including a few antique pieces. I walked back to my hotel late in the evening after munching on some Greek salad and drinking some Rakhiya.
Day 3:
- Hadrian’s Arch
- Temple of Zeus
- The Undying Soldier and Change of Guards
- The Parliament House
- The Hellenic Academy of Athens
- The National Library
Today I started my journey from –The Temple of Olympian Zeus one of the largest temples in the ancient world. It originally had 104 columns but only 16 have survived with one fallen after a storm in 1852.
Ticket Price- 6 Euros
Just outside the fenced archaeological site, stands Hadrian’s Arch built by the Athenians in honour of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
After the arch you will move towards the Panathenaic Stadium, a multi purpose stadium which was the final point of Marathon. One of the main historic attractions of Athens as it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.
The Parliament House stands tall and one can observe the change in the design of the column. The next monument that will catch your attention is the Greek Guards or “Evzones” who are the members of the Presidential Guard found outside the Hellenic Parliament.
They guard the Grave of the Unknown Soldier that represents the common memory of all unknown soldiers killed at war. The changing of the Greek guards occurs every day at the top of the hour and we were lucky to witness one of them.
As we move further on the main road from Syntagma Square through the National gardens, there are noteworthy monuments after the Helenic Parliament.
The Hellenic Academy and the Library have amazing columns and brilliant finishes.
After the walking tour of these monuments you will have an option of coming back to Monastrasiki square and continuing with your shopping. You have a plenty of options in restaurants at this junction.
Day 4: Optional
- Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio.
- Lycabettus Hill
At the end of the Sounio Peninsula at the southernmost point of Attica, lies the Temple of Poseidon within a fort that protects the coast of Attica. Made entirely of white marble, it was erected in the middle of the 5th century BC and built to honour Poseidon, god of the sea. It takes 4 hours to reach the tip and watch the colors of Aegean blue, sky blue, orange sun at sunset.
Standing 277 meters above sea level, Lycabettus Hill is the highest point of Athens. You can either reach via funicular or taxi. You get to click delightful pictures of Parthenon, temple of Zeus and also enjoy the sunset with the panoramic view of the city.
And thus my Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts and eloquence moves away from my vision as my journey continues to the Greek islands, my soul still perches on Pantheon.
Trekking the World 