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Athens 1. The Acropolis Temple of Nike The Erechtheion Areopagus Theater of Dionyssos Agora 2. Palaka Monument of Lysikratos Romany Forum Tower of winds Church House 3. Kerameikos Dipylon and the Sacred Gate 4. Monastiraki Flea Market Agora 5. National Garden Temple of Olympian Zeus Hadrian’s Arch 6. Lykavitós Hill The Acropolis After climbing the steps you are at the entrance, or the Propylaea, which was completed in 432 just before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian wars. The main architect was Mnesicles, a colleague of Phidias. To your left is the Pinacotheca and a Hellenistic pedestal and on the right the tiny words (Acts 17:22-34) are written in Greek on a bronze plaque at the foot of the hill. The climb up is for the sure-footed. Temple to Nike Athena or the Athena of Victory which commemorates the Athenians victory over the Persians. This small temple stands on a platform that overlooks the islands of Saronic Gulf and used to house a statue of Athena. It was dismantled by the Turks in 1686 so they could use the platform for a large cannon. It was rebuilt between 1836 and 1842 and again taken apart and rebuilt in 1936 when it was discovered that the platform was crumbing. The Parthenon and other main buildings on the Acropolis were built by Pericles in the fifth century BC as a monument to the cultural and political achievements of the inhabitants of Athens. Acropolis means upper city and many of the city states of ancient Greece are built around an acropolis where the inhabitants can go as a place of refuge in times of invasion. It's for this reason that the most sacred buildings are usually on the acropolis. It's the safest most secure place in town. As little as 150 years ago there were still dwellings on the Acropolis of Athens. Those of you who have read Aristophanes will recall that in Lysistrata the women have Athens barricaded themselves in the fortress in protest, being tired of their men going to war against Sparta. Depriving them of sex, cooking and care it was a terrific strategy that might even work today. Erecthion It sits on the most sacred site of the Acropolis where Poseidon and Athena had their contest over who would be the Patron of the city. Poseidon thrust his trident into the rock and a spring burst forth, while Athena touched the ground with a spear and an olive tree grew. The tree was destroyed in later years by the invading Persians. But when the Persians were finally driven off, legend has it, that the tree miraculously grew again. Athena was declared the victor and the great city of Athens was named for her while Poseidon was given a small village in Syros after it was discovered he had merely ruptured a water main. (not really).The building itself contains the porch of the maidens or Caryatids which are now copies. Caryatids are Statues of young women clad in peplos. They supported the roof of the south porch of the Erechtheion, and probably were the work of Alkamenes, a student of the great sculptor Pheidias. Areopagus From this limestone rock, named after either Ares, the god of war, or the Arae, goddesses of vengeance, you have a good view of the Propylaea, the ancient Agora below, and the surrounding modern metropolis. This was once Athens's supreme judicial court, and legend says that Orestes was tried here for the murder of his mother, Clytemnestra. According to Pausanias, the accused stood at the Stone of Injury while the prosecutor pleaded his case at the Stone of Ruthlessness. From the outcrop, St. Paul delivered such a moving sermon on the "Unknown God" that he converted the senator Dionysius, who became the first bishop of Athens. Some of St. Paul's Theater of Dionyssos 6th century BC Dionyssia festivals dramas like Sophocles's Oedipus Rex and Euripides's Medea were performed for the entire population of the city. Visible are foundations of a stage dating from about 330 BC, when it was built for 15,000 spectators as well as the assemblies formerly held on Pnyx. In the middle of the orchestra stood the altar to Dionyssos. Most of the upper rows of seats have been destroyed, but the lower levels, with labeled chairs for priests and dignitaries, remain. The fantastic throne in the center was reserved for the priest of Dionyssos: regal lions' paws adorn it, and the back is carved with relief’s of satyrs and griffins. On the hillside above the theater stand two columns, vestiges of the little temple erected in the 4th century BC by Thrasyllus the Choragus (the ancient counterpart of a modern impresario). Here, the four greatest ancient Greek poets, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides and Sophocles saw their plays being performed for the first time, in the fifth century B.C. The koilon (cavea) and the proskoinion (stage) were originally of wood. They were reconstructed of marble during the 4th century B.C. Today only parts of the stone koilon have survived. Experts estimate that the theatre could accommodate 17,000 spectators. Palaka Lysikratos Wealthy Athenian citizens financed the training and outfitting of choruses for competitive dramatical and musical performances. The producer (called the "choregos") assumed this expense as part of his civic and religious duty (an ancient "liturgy" called the "choregia"). The winning producer was awarded a bronze tripod. These tripods were displayed either in or near the sanctuary of Dionysos on the South Slope of the Acropolis or along the Street of the Tripods, an ancient road that led from the sanctuary of Dionysos around the east and northeast sides of the Acropolis. The tripods were set up on bases and other small structures inscribed with the names of the producer/choregos, the victorious Athenian tribe, the musician who accompanied the performance, the poet who "taught" the chorus, and the name of the Athenian magistrate at the time. The Lysikrates Monument was constructed on the western side of the Street of the Tripods in order to commemorate a choral victory in 335/334 B.C. (In the Middle Ages, the monument also acquired the nickname "Lantern of Demosthenes" from the erroneous belief that the 4h century orator composed his speeches there.). Roman Forum Location: Pelopidas and Adrianou, Athens, Greece · 210-324-5220 The city's commercial center from the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD, Roman market was a large rectangular courtyard with a peristyle that provided shade for the arcades of shops. Its most notable feature is the west entrance's Bazaar Gate, or Gate of Athena Archegetis, completed around AD 2; the inscription records that it was erected with funds from Julius Caesar and Augustus. Halfway up one solitary square pillar behind the gate's north side, an edict inscribed by Hadrian regulates the sale of oil, a reminder that this was the site of the annual bazaar where wheat, salt, and oil were sold. On the north side of the Roman Agora stands one of the few remains of the Turkish occupation, the Fethiye (Victory) Mosque. The eerily beautiful mosque was built in the late 15th century on the site of a Christian church to celebrate the Turkish conquest of Athens and to honor Mehmet II (the Conqueror). During the few months of Venetian rule in the 17th century, the mosque was converted to a Roman Catholic church; now used as a storehouse, it is closed to the public. Three steps in the right-hand corner of the porch lead to the base of the minaret, the rest of which no longer exists. The octagonal Tower of the Winds (Aerides) is the most appealing and well preserved of the Roman monuments of Athens, keeping time since the 1st century BC. It was originally a sundial, water clock, and weather vane topped by a bronze Triton with a metal rod in his hand, which followed the direction of the wind. Expressive reliefs around the octagonal tower personify the eight winds, called I Aerides (the Windy Ones) by Athenians. Note the north wind, Boreas, blowing on a conch, and the beneficent west wind, Zephyros, scattering blossoms. Tower of the Winds The octagonal tower (3.20 m. long on each side) stands on a base of three steps and is built of white Pentelic marble. It has a conical roof, a cylindrical annex on the south side, and two Corinthian porches, one on the NE and one on the NW side. At the top of each of the eight sides there is a relief representation of a wind, symbolized by a male figure with the appropriate attributes and its name inscribed on the stone. There were sundials on the external walls and an elaborate waterclock in the interior. The tower was built in the first half of the 1st century B.C. by the astronomer Andronicos, from Kyrrhos in Macedonia. Church House Abandoned tower house with tiny windows, thick stone walls, and a tall chimney still bears traces of its past glory. mid-18th century used as a Turkish police post, bought after liberation by 19th-century historian George Finlay. He and his wife repaired the complex of buildings and lived here for half a century, while he wrote about Greek history, including what is considered the definitive work on the War of Independence. For many years, Church House served as a reference point among Athens's one-story buildings, a rare vestige of prerevolutionary Athens. Today the roof is in shambles, the Byzantine-style cornice has come loose, and cracks split the walls; officials are still discussing its preservation. Kerameikos Dipylon and the Sacred Gate The area around these gates was the most ancient and largest cemetery known in Attica, which was continuously used from the 9th century B.C. until the late Roman period. It was also the burial site of the citizens honoured by the city of Athens. Kerameikos, according to the traveller Pausanias, was named after Keramos, a hero of the deme oh Kerameis. But most probably the name is due to a settlement of potters on the banks of the Eridanos River. (Kerameikos, ceramic or having to do with ceramics or ceramists). The ancient demos of Kerameikos included an area much larger than the one excavated. It is believed that it stretched from the north-west limits of the Agora to the grove named after the hero Academos. Its tombs and stelae are what Kerameikos is mainly known for. Strolling around them you will have the chance to admire the marble bull inside the enclosure of the tomb Dionysios from Kollytos; also the replica of the well known stele of Dexileos, placed where the original used to be and the stele of Hegeso (late 5 th century B.C.). Monastiraki Flea Market There is a small Byzantine church in the shadow of the cathedral that you should take a look at called Agios Eleftherios. Nearly every stone of this little church was taken from an ancient building or older church including the stone from Galilee where Jesus changed water into wine. The church used to be called Panagia Gorgoepikofos which means the Virgin Who Grants Requests Quickly and inside is the Icon which they say performs miracles. There are some cafes in the square and this is where Pondrossou street begins. This section of Pondrossou is the high end section of Monastiraki. Agora The Roman Agora was a single architectural complex consisting of a vast rectangular court surrounded by colonnades. Its arcades used to house various shops. To the north of the building was situated the library built by Hadrian. To the east you can seethe Tower of the Winds. Built in the 1 century BC, this octagonal structure served as a water clock, compass and weather vane. National Garden Temple of Olympian Zeus Largest temple of antiquity, the Temple of Olympian Zeus. 132 AD under Emperor Hadrian, even though in the 6th Century BC the Peisistratids chose this site for a huge temple. Hadrian also erected a huge statue of Zeus. However, today only 15 of the 104 original marble columns remain. In 1852 one of the columns crashed dramatically down, and its remains have been left exactly where it fell. Although both statues are long gone, visitors can still view 15 of the 104 original Pentelic marble pillars, which rise more than 50 feet from the ground. Location: National Garden, Vas.Olgas Street 1, Athens Fee: 2 Euro Hadrian’s Arch On one side it reads, "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus". On the other it reads, "This is the city of Hadran and not of Theseus". Standing on the Acropolis side of the arch meant you were in Ancient Athens, and standing on the other side symbolised being in the Modern Roman city of Athens. Lykavitós Hill Aristippou and Ploutarchou, Athens, Greece · 210-722-7065. KOLONAKI. Tallest hill is accessible by cable car or on foot. A small, beautiful church at the top provides sightseeing opportunities and great views. The "Hill of the Wolves," as the name translates, is the best place in Athens to see both sunset and moonrise. Out of Athens: http://www.athensguide.com/sightseeing-bus.htm http://www.magicaljourneys.com/Delphi/index.html DELPHI After the Acropolis, Delphi is the most popular archaeological site in Greece. Located 180 kilometers from Athens, a trip to Delphi is listed in just about every tour itinerary and is by far the most popular day trip out of Athens. Delphi has a special meaning, more than just another ruins ... With Olympia's once majestic temple columns toppled like a tower of checkers by an earthquake, the site is as evocative (with the help of its excellent museum) as anything from ancient times. And you just have to play "On your mark, get set ... go!" on that original starting block from the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. OLYMPIA Olympia is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Greece. Even cruise ships dock at the nearby port of Katakolo and put people on buses to visit the site. The village of Olympia itself is a collection of tourist shops, cafes, restaurants and a Historical Museum of the Olympic Games ... The island of Hydra just a quick hop from the mainland, gave our trip a fine island paradise finale. Hydra, so close to Athens (with a direct 2.5-hour hydrofoil connections about hourly), is amazingly laidback and real, with just enough tourism to make it fun and lively. £60 Delphi – 1 day tour http://www.dolphin-hellas.gr/Tours/1-day-tours-cruise.htm#delphi-full-day http://www.europe-cities.com/athens/city-tours-coach.aspx We will take you through Arachova and Levadia, with their notable, vibrantly colored carpets. We will arrive in Levadia at 10:30am. We will stop here for around 20 minutes. After that we move on to the Delphi. We arrive at Delphi at noon. This site is famous as the sanctuary of Greek god Apollo in antiquity. We will visit the Museum housing unique artefacts like the bronze Charioteer, then move on to the former treasury of Athens. The visit will end at 13.30, after which we'll eat lunch at the hotel. A visit to Castalia Spring, the Temple of Apollo and other landmarks will follow. At 15.00 we drive back to Athens along the same route. We will stop at Levadia once again. £31 Cap Sounion – ½ day tour Highlights: Leave Athens for a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road to Cape Sounion where you will visit the 5th century B.C. temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world. Type: Day Tours in Athens Duration: Half Day (Afternoon) Leave Athens for a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf passing through some of Athens' most beautiful suburbs (Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varzika) to Cape Sounion where you will visit the 5th century B.C. temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world and on a clear day you can see at least seven islands. The Doric columns of local marble have 16 flutings instead of the usual 20. The precipice is a sheer 197 foot drop to the sea. £25 Cape Sounion - ½ day tour http://www.europe-cities.com/athens/tours/cape-sounion-tour.aspx (approx. 4 hours) Price: from 34 EUR The coastal area of Greece is picturesque with the golden beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza and the innumerable coves, with a spectacular view of the Saronic Gulf. When you arrive at Cape Sounion you will feast your eyes on the splendid Temple of Poseidon on top of a rolling hill. This strategic location ensures an excellent view of the Aegean Sea. £71.67 Islands Cruses 3 Islands Cruise - 1 day tour http://www.hostelworld.com/tours/tourdetails.php/TourUID.786?PHPSESSID=96c3d3053f0 4a211ee27ec696d4a12f8 1 Day Luxury Cruise with lunch Relax under the Greek sun and enjoy a memorable cruise. Enjoy the charm of the islands and their unique golden sandy beaches, the traditional homes, the narrow cobblestone streets, the churches, historical and archaeological sites as well as their colorful local life. Experience a traditional meal on board and of course join in on the traditional dancing. In Aegina, tour the Ancient Temple of Aphaia, in Poros take a walk to the clock tower and admire the panoramic view. Hydra, being one of the most cosmopolitan islands, offers both culture and beauty. You will be collected from, or close to your hotels by our luxury high-deck airconditioned coaches making the drive there and upon your return a bonus experience. 08.15 Sailing from Piraeus port, with destination the island of Aegina, famous all over the world for the excellent quality of peanut production and not only. Arriving at the island of Aegina. 09.30, we propose you a visit to the Temple of Afaia, built on the top of the hill since the 5th century B.C. with a magnificent view. Don’t forget to bring with you your hat, suntan lotion and of course your bathing suit. If you don’t want the tour you can swim in the crystal waters of this island. At 11.30 our luxury vessel is sailing again, this time for the island of Poros. 12.45 We arrive at this magnificent island and we suggest you enjoy a refreshment on one of the traditional Cafe's with a view of the little harbor with the fishing boats. Sailing again at 13.45, this time our destination is Hydra. On board our deluxe vessel, our Chef prepared a great lunch and our orchestra is ready to entertain you. Bon Appetite! 14.45 We welcome you to one of the most favoured resort islands of the International JetSet “Hydra”. The unique picturesque island, famous for the architecture of its houses, the pedestrian narrow streets and the designers’ boutiques will astonish you. We regret to inform you that at 17.00 hours we are sailing again back to Marina Flisvos. A great surprise once again is expecting you on board our deluxe vessel, our live orchestra and a great show, especially for you. Enjoy it! 19.15: Arrival at the Piraeus port. Return transfer to your hotel. ATHENS à ISTANBUL: TRAIN £38 Leaving 22nd arriving 23rd overnight on the train eliminating 1 night of accommodations. http://www.seat61.com/Turkey2.htm#Turkey%20-%20Greece Istanbul ► Thessaloniki ► Athens Filia Note A Express 08:30 day 20:00 day Istanbul (Sirkeci) depart 1 1 Uzunköprü (T 13:28 day 00:00 arrive frontier) 1 day2 Uzunköprü (T 14:10 day 00:30 depart frontier) 1 day 2 Pithion (Gr. 14:36 day 00:54 arrive frontier) 1 day 2 Pithion (Gr. 16:26 day 01:23 depart frontier) 1 day 2 18:07 day 02:43 Alexandroupolis arrive 1 day 2 22:50 day 07:21 day Thessaloniki arrive 1 2 Athens ► Thessaloniki ► Istanbul Note B 13:23 day 1 16:59 day Larissa 1 18:17 day Thessaloniki 1 Filia Change trains... Note C Express 07:16 20:04 day Thessaloniki depart day 2 1 11:55 00:40 Alexandroupolis depart day 2 day 2 Pithion (Gr. 13:36 02:26 arrive frontier) day 2 day 2 Pithion (Gr. 15:30 02:33 Change trains... InterCity InterCity depart frontier) day 2 day 2 07:22 day 10:21 day Uzunköprü (T 15:56 03:20 Thessaloniki depart arrive 2 2 frontier) day 2 day 2 08:32 day 11:40 day Uzunköprü (T 16:40 03:50 Larissa arrive depart 2 2 frontier) day 2 day 2 11:37 day 15:16 day 21:27 07:32 day Athens arrive Istanbul (Sirkeci) arrive 2 2 day 2 2 Filia Express = FILIA-DOSTLUK ('FRIENDSHIP') EXPRESS. Daily sleeper train, introduced in 2005, highly recommended. This train has modern air-conditioned sleeping-cars with 1& 2-bed rooms (no seats or couchettes, only sleepers). One set of coaches is Greek, with second-hand French 'T2' sleeping-cars, the other Turkish with modern Turkish TVS2000 sleeping-cars. You will need to get off the train briefly at the Turkish frontier (Uzunköprü) to have your passport stamped (and, eastbound, buy a Turkish visa), but this does not take long and you are soon back in bed... Remember that this train can arrive an hour or two late, so don't plan any tight connections. InterCity = Fast modern air-conditioned InterCity train with cafe car. Highly recommended. The scenery on the Thessaloniki-Athens route is excellent, especially on the section through the mountains south of Larissa, over the viaducts famously blown up by the British SOE (Special Operations Executive) in world war 2. Just south of Thessaloniki, the train passes right by Mt Olympus, mythical home of the Greek gods. Athens 22:57 day 1 03:53 depart day 2 05:35 arrive day 2 InterCity depart Note A: Daily. This is a Turkish train from Istanbul to Pithion (on the Greek side of the frontier), then a Greek InterCity train from Pithion to Thessaloniki. When boarding at Istanbul, make sure you get in the direct coach to Pithion, as the rest of the train is uncoupled at Uzunköprü and only one coach goes through to Pithion. From Pithion to Thessaloniki, you travel by air-conditioned Greek InterCity train, you need to make a seat reservation at the ticket office before boarding. Note B: Overnight train with modern air-conditioned sleeping-cars (1 & 2-bed compartments) & older couchette cars (6-bunk compartments). No seats. Note C: Daily. This is a Greek air-conditioned InterCity train (seat reservation required, small supplement payable) from Thessaloniki to Pithion, then a Turkish train from Pithion to Istanbul. Only one coach goes from Pithion to Istanbul, but more coaches are added at Uzunköprü. You can confirm times and fares at www.ose.gr (click 'EN' for English) or www.tcdd.gov.tr. A useful link is www.letsgoistanbul.com/tren.htm. There are lots more trains between Athens, Larissa &Thessaloniki, in case you want to stop off and see something of Thessaloniki. You can easily buy tickets at Istanbul, Athens or Thessaloniki stations. You cannot book online. Fares Istanbul Thessaloniki 23 euros one-way 2nd class, 35 euros oneway 1st class. You will have to pay a few euros supplement for the InterCity train from by daytime train: Pithion to Thessaloniki. 48 euros per person sharing a 2-bed sleeper Istanbul (= 24 euro fare + 25 euros sleeper Thessaloniki supplement). by 'Filia-Dostluk 85 euros for a private single-bed sleeper (= Express' sleeper 35 euros fare + 50 euros sleeper train: supplement). 48 euros one-way 2nd class, 72 euros oneway 1st class. If using the Filia-Dostluk Istanbul - Athens Express, add a sleeper supplement of 25 euros to the 2nd class fare for a bed in a 2via 'Filia-Dostluk bed sleeper, add 50 euros to the 1st class Express' sleeper fare for a single-bed room. Add an InterCity train: supplement for Thessaloniki-Athens, approximately 20 euros. 2nd class without sleeper: The train from Athens to Istanbul goes via Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli and take 22h. frequent checks of your passport. Athens has 2 main train stations. 2nd class With sleeper: Larissa Railway Station serves all trains going north and is accessible in Athens by taking the Metro Line 2 towards Sepolia and getting off at the Larissa stop or by taking bus Number 1 from Panepistimiou Street. Peloponnese Railway Station serves the Peloponnese and all OSE buses that go to Belgium, Bulgaria, England, Germany, Italy, and Turkey. To reach the station take bus Number 57 from Panepistimiou Street.The trip from Athens to Thessaloniki runs just over 6h. Departure from Athens is set at 7.50 am and arrival in Thessaloniki at 12.05 pm