Athens: The Eternal City of History
The capital of Greece has a rich history. Along with the city of Rome in Italy are the two greatest cities of ancient times. It is known worldwide for its historical monuments, the most important of all the Parthenon and of course for the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896. Athens today is a modern and colorful city, with 35 municipalities spanning around Attica region.
How to Get? Fly to Athens International Airport “Venizelos” (ATH).
Archaeological monuments
Acropolis
In the center of Athens is the rock of the Acropolis , 156m of height. On top stands the Parthenon, the largest monument that gathers global admiration. Built in 447 BC, entirely made of marble, Parthenon is dedicated to the goddess Athena. It is the best of all ancient buildings and is more an aesthetic creation rather than a simple temple. It is a work of complex calculations, which proves how advanced was the mathematical science and how high was the public’s demands at the time.
Propylea
This is the entrance to the Acropolis which was constructed after the completion of the Parthenon and is divided into three parts. The main building is something unique in ancient Greek architecture, with six Doric columns that taper as they proceed from the bottom to the top. The Propylaea was never completed. In 431 BC the Peloponnesian war started and the work stopped.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
The Temple of Olympian Zeus is located at the center of Athens. It is the largest temple in Greece during the Hellenistic and Roman times. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD some 638 years after the project had begun.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
The ancient theater is located on the southwestern slope of the Acropolis. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus built by Herodes Atticus in the 2nd century AD in honor of his wife Aspasia Annia Rigillis who died in 160 AD. It was originally a steep-sloped amphitheater with a three-story stone front wall and a wooden roof made of expensive timber. It was used as a venue for music concerts with a capacity of 5,000.
Museums
Acropolis Museum
The new Acropolis museum was inaugurated in 2009 and is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the Acropolis. It is very close to the Parthenon and the main entrance to the building is from Dionysius Areopagite street. The visitor’s path forms a three-dimensional loop, providing an architecture and spatial experience starting with the archaeological excavation of the Parthenon. The lighting is mostly natural because some sculptures require different lighting conditions than other types of museums.
National Archaeological Museum
It is one of the most important museums worldwide in the field of ancient art. It features collections from cultures that grown up in Greece from prehistoric times until the end of Roman rule. The museum is in Exarcheia, next to the National Technical University of Athens.
Byzantine and Christian Museum
The Byzantine and Christian Museum is situated at Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. It houses more than 25,000 artifacts with rare collections of pictures, scriptures, frescoes, pottery and manuscripts. The museum in 2014 completes 100 years since its foundation.
War Museum
The War Museum displays weapons and military equipment since the early Bronze Age. It was founded in 1975 and is one of the most famous buildings in the city of Athens.
Numismatic Museum
The history of currency, the construction, dissemination and use of the ancient Greek world is the permanent exhibition of the Numismatic Museum of Athens. It houses one of the greatest collections of coins, ancient and modern, in the world including more than 500,000 ancient coins, medals and lead seals.
Benaki Museum
The museum was founded in 1929 by Antonis Benakis in the Benakis family mansion, downtown in Athens, and it is the first private museum in Greece. It houses works of art from all times, an extensive collection of Asian art and it hosts periodic exhibitions.
Sightseeing / Entertainment
Zappeion
The neoclassical Zappeion building is one of the most important buildings in Athens ad it is located in the National Garden of Athens. It was the first building to be erected specifically for the revival of the Olympic Games in the modern world. Today it is used for public and private exhibitions and ceremonies.
National Garden of Athens
The National Gardern is a public park in the center of Athens with a total area of 285 acres. The Garden also encloses some ancient ruins, Corinthian capitals of columns, mosaics and other features.
Syntagma Square – Greek Parliament
The town square in central Athens is the oldest and socially most important square of modern of Athens. Next to Syntagma square is the Greek Parliament, surrounded by the extensive National Gardens. Every hour, the changing of the guard ceremony, performed by the Presidental Guard, is conducted in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the area between the square and parliament.
Olympic Athletic Center of Athens “Spiros Louis” (OACA)
The Olympic sports complex is located in Marousi, northeast of Athens and was the main venue of Athens Olympic Games in 2004. It includes the Olympic Stadium capacity of 72,000, the Olympic Indoor Hall, the Olympic Aquatics Centre, Tennis Centre and the Olympic Velodrome.
Mount Lycabettus
The highest point in the city of Athens is Lycabettus, a limestone hill with St. George church on top. The hill is a popular tourist destination and can be ascended by the Lycabettus Funicular, a funicular railway or by car.
Plaka – Monastiraki
Just below the Acropolis are the neighborhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki. Two old neighborhoods with beautiful buildings. Plaka is indeed the only place in town that shows how Athens looked like 100 years ago. The area has museums, restaurants, cafes and shops. Monastiraki is part of Plaka and the name comes from the old church of Athens, located in the area.
Ermou Street
The most commercial street of Athens is without doubt Ermou str. with shops and attractions like the Byzantine Church of Kapnikareas. Ermou street is next to Syntagma Square.
Gazi district
It is a district that took its name from the gas facilities. Although previously it was very deprived area with brothels and quiet poor residents, in the recent years it has evolved in a lively district with restaurants and night clubs.
Accommodation
Domotel Kastri Athens
Drive S.A. in collaboration with Domotel Kastri Athens in Kifissia, offers the STAY & DRIVE package. Enjoy the best of Athens with a car for excursions arpund the whole capital of Greece.
Rent a car in Athens
Office address: Leof. Markopoulou 5 km, Athens 19 400 Koropi
Tel: +30 2310472600
