Ready route around Athens on the map. What to See in Athens - Route to the Main Attractions. National Archaeological Museum

What to see in Athens if you have very little time but want to see all the main attractions?

Athens is the cradle of ancient culture and history, one of ancient capitals Europe, a storehouse of cultural values. Without visiting this city, it is impossible to get a complete picture of either the ancient culture or the ancient culture. Of course, it is impossible to cover all the attractions of Athens in one day, and yet, if you find yourself in this wonderful city for just one day, I would like to suggest this route for an independent overview of the most significant and interesting places in Athens. Such places include:

Arch of Hadrian
Athens Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
Ancient Agora
Prison of Socrates
Syndagma Square and the Greek Parliament
Zappio Park
Archaeological Museum, Benaki Museum, Byzantine Museum (one to choose from or all at once)
Plaka
Lycabettos

Below is an approximate plan for visiting these attractions within one day and their brief description.

This is not a complete list attractions of Athens and Attica, I just tried to highlight the most striking of them, without which the idea of the city will be scanty. The starting time for visiting each attraction is also very roughly scheduled. That's why you solo traveler, so that you can decide for yourself whether to stay longer in any park or museum or feel free to move on to the next one! However, this plan will help you get your bearings and better plan your time to see as many interesting things as possible.

7-00 Begin travel around Athens it is best to start early in the morning, not only to have time to see as much as possible, but to avoid the inherent heat local climate from April to October.

The first place you should go is Temple of Olympian Zeus, which is located near the Acropolis. There you can also see the majestic Arch of Hadrian. In addition to a taxi, you can get there by bus 209 or by trams 2, 4, 11, stop Agalma Vironos.

Hadrian's Arch is an architectural monument of the Roman era; it was built in 131 by grateful Athenians in honor of Emperor Hadrian on the road connecting the old and new parts of the city. The height of the arch is 18 meters, it is decorated with columns in the Corinthian style.

Just a few steps from Hadrian's Arch is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest ancient temple in Greece. Its construction began in the sixth century BC under the tyranny of Pisistratus, but was completed six hundred and fifty years later, in the second century AD under the same Roman emperor Hadrian. Today, the traveler can admire sixteen proudly towering columns in the Corinthian style and one fallen.

Athens Acropolis and its map

8-00 500 meters west of the Temple of Olympian Zeus is Athens Acropolis- the heart of ancient architecture, one of the most important religious centers of the ancient world. It is located on a cliff 156 meters high. It is clearly visible from anywhere in the city, so it will be easy and pleasant to walk there.

For your convenience, below is a map of the Acropolis of Athens (scaleable).

Tickets to the Acropolis

Continue west along Dionysiou Ariopagitou Street along the fence of the Acropolis Park, and then turn northwest and follow the path through the park, after a hundred meters you will see the Acropolis ticket office.

Acropolis ticket costs 12 euros, this price also includes tickets for visiting the archaeological areas and museums around the Acropolis (the full list is indicated on the tickets themselves). Price discount ticket 6 euros, students are entitled to it, you must show the cashier a document confirming your student status.

Children and teenagers under eighteen years of age, students of educational institutions of the European Union, guides of the blind or other disabled people, journalists, and guides can enter the Acropolis free of charge upon presentation of the appropriate documents.

IN winter time(November 1 to March 31) on Sundays, visiting the Acropolis is free for everyone.

For those who are interested in the history of the Acropolis, I suggest watching a short video:

Pedestal of Agrippa and Temple of Nike

Climb the Acropolis past Agrippa's pedestal(left) and temple of wingless Nike (right) and through Propylaea go to its top.

Temple of the Wingless Nike built in the fifth century BC and dedicated to the goddess Athena Nike (Athena Victory). Inside stood a statue of the goddess, wingless so that she could never leave the city of Athens. The portico is a striking example of the Ionic style in architecture.

Pedestal of Agrippa was built in the second century BC by the Pergamon king Eumenes. On the pedestal there would have been a statue depicting the king and his brother driving a bronze chariot, and for a time there stood a statue of Anthony and Cleopatra, which the Athenians demolished in the first century AD to erect a statue of the Roman emperor Augustus Agrippa. But, unfortunately, not a single statue has survived to this day.

Propylaea- this is the main entrance to the Acropolis itself, translated from Greek this word means “entrance”. The Propylaea was built in the fifth century BC. They are decorated with Doric columns. Next to the giant central door for the gods, four more doors were made, decreasing from the center to the edges.

Parthenon and Erechtheion

Immediately after entering the Acropolis, you will see the majestic (right) and Erechtheion(left).

Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens

is a symbol of Athens and one of the symbols of Greece. This majestic and at the same time elegant building is quite well preserved. The Parthenon is an ancient temple from the fifth century BC, built in the Doric style with Ionic elements. It is dedicated to the patroness of the city, Athena the Virgin (the word “parthena” means “virgin” in Greek).

The Parthenon stands on three marble steps; in ancient times its roof was covered with tiled roofing. The temple is thought out in the smallest detail in order to visually facilitate construction and correct some errors of human vision. At first glance, it seems perfectly rectilinear, but in fact there is almost not a single straight line in its contours.

It is noteworthy that the Parthenon was built without the use of cement or any other mortar.

The frieze, metopes and pediments of the Parthenon were decorated with many beautiful bas-reliefs and statues. Many of them have survived to this day, some of them are kept in Athens museums, some in the British Museum.

Erechtheion - another of the ancient temples of the Acropolis. It is easily recognizable by its columns in the form of statues of young women (koretiads). These are copies of the original columns, as the original ones are in the British Museum. The temple was built in the fifth century BC and is dedicated to Poseidon, Athena and the Athenian king Erechtheus, after whom, in fact, it was named.

Erechtheion

Theater of Dionysus and Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Approaching the right (as viewed from the entrance) edge of the rock of the Acropolis, you can admire two ancient theaters Odeon of Herodes Atticus And Theater of Dionysus. The theaters are connected by a long gallery-portico called Stoa of Eumenes.

Theater of Dionysus(right) is a theater of Greek drama; it was here that the performances of the great playwrights of antiquity - Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes - were first presented. This theater is one of the oldest theaters in the world; it was built in the fifth century BC and was initially made of wood, but in the 4th century BC it was reconstructed and became marble. The theater accommodated about twenty thousand spectators, which is half of the entire population of Athens of that era. The first row consisted of the 67 dark bed of Emperor Hadrian, a great admirer of Greek culture. Emperor Nero performed in this theater.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built in the middle of the second century BC, designed for five thousand seats, almost everything has been preserved to this day, except for some decorative elements. Currently, the theater continues to be used for its intended purpose.

Acropolis Museum

Before leaving the Acropolis, do not forget to visit the Acropolis Museum, located in the south-eastern part, because it exhibits priceless archaeological finds, which are stored in chronological order, starting from the Archaic (1800-600 BC) and ending with the Romanesque period (1-5th century AD). Of particular value are the sculptures and sculptural groups from the pediments, metopes and borders of the Acropolis temples.

Ancient Agora

10-00 Located northwest of the Acropolis Ancient Agora. In ancient times, it served as a market square, as well as a center of socio-cultural life. Nowadays, a Sunday market is held here every week. Most interesting buildings on the Ancient Agora is the Temple of Hephaestus, built in the fifth century BC, as well as Stoa (colonnade) of King Atallus. You can enter the Ancient Agora with a ticket to the Acropolis.

Acropolis opening hours:

The Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Museum of the Ancient Agora, Byzantine Museum of Athens, Roman Agora are open from 8:00 to 19:30 in summer and from 8:30 to 15:00 in winter.

Prison of Socrates

11-00 Another place that is interesting to visit in the Acropolis area is jail ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. It is located in a small cave on the Philopappou hill (west of the Acropolis). It was in this prison that he spent the last 30 days of his life, awaiting execution of his death sentence.

You can also take a walk to the top of the Philopappou Hill itself, which is also called the “Hill of the Muses”, in ancient times it was favorite place walks of thinkers. Opens from the top beautiful view to the city. There is also a rather nice monument to Philopappus, a man who held many different positions in Athens in the 2nd century AD and did many benefits to its inhabitants).

Constitution Square

11- 45 Must visit Constitution Square (Syntagma) in front of the Greek Parliament, because it is there that the changing of the guard of soldiers takes place every hour national guard"Evzones". The word "evzon" translated from Greek means "well belted." They wear a uniform modeled on the Greek national costume, the integral parts of which are the fustanella (men's skirt), pharaeon (red cap with a long tassel) and tsarouhi (leather boots with large pom-poms). Also noteworthy are the movements of the guards during the changing of the guard, which contain elements of national dances.

Get to Constitution Square (Syntagma) from the Acropolis You can take bus number 230 from the Afetiriya stop, Akropoli-Zografou to the Syntagma stop.

Museums of Athens

12-10 After you have enjoyed the changing of the guards, you can visit and at the same time hide from the heat in one of the museums of Athens or take a walk in the Royal Zappio Park, located directly behind the Parliament Buildings.

Most interesting museums Athens (in addition to the Acropolis Museum) is Archaeological Museum, Benaki Museum, Byzantine Museum.

The Archaeological Museum houses a unique Mycenaean collection (gold jewelry, precious stones), a collection of Cycladic art, as well as beautiful antique statues, frescoes, and ceramics. The Byzantine Museum is housed in a mansion of Florentine architecture (1848). It exhibits the achievements of Byzantine art (ecclesiastical objects, works of Byzantine and post-Byzantine sculptors, paintings, small handicrafts, icons and frescoes).

The Benaki Museum was founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis, it houses a collection of ancient Greek and Byzantine art, a large collection of Chinese porcelain, it also displays household items and weapons from the time of the Greek struggle for independence (from the Ottoman yoke), as well as Coptic jewelry and Turkish craftsmanship.

Get to the Archaeological Museum(www.namuseum.gr) in Athens you can take bus 608 from the Syndagma stop to the Musio stop, also by tram number 2 (Syndagma-Egyptou) or by tram number 3 (Syndagma-Polytechnio). Full the ticket costs 7 euros, reduced price 3 euros. The museum is open from 8-00 to 20-00.

Byzantine Museum ( www.byzantinemuseum.gr) is located 650 meters east of the Greek Parliament, you can simply walk along Vasilisis Sophias Avenue. The museum is open from 8:00 to 20:00 in summer and from 8:30 to 15:00 in winter. Ticket price 4 euros.

Benaki Museum(www.benaki.gr) is located in the next building to the Byzantine Museum. Ticket price to the Benaki Museum 6 euros, entry on Thursdays free.

Plaka and Lycabettos

18-00 You can end your day in Athens with dinner in one of the cozy restaurants on Plaque. Plaka is for Athens what Old Arbat is for Moscow, Monde Marte for Paris or Covent Garden for London. It is located at the foot of the Acropolis, in addition to taverns and restaurants, there are many souvenir shops, cafes, nightclubs and much more.

22-00 After dinner and a walk around the Plaka, walk up the hill Lycabettos to enjoy the mesmerizing view of the city at night.

The top of the hill is topped by a tiny, whitewashed church, restaurant and cafe.Nearby, carved into the rocks on the northern slope, the Lycabettus Theater organizes concerts under open air, including Placebo and Groove Armada.

Mount Lyccabeettos

According to legend, the goddess Athena wanted the Acropolis hill to be higher, so she tore a piece from a nearby mountain range, but on the way to the Acropolis she was distracted by more important matters and threw a piece of rock near the Acropolis, subsequently forgetting about her plan. This is how Lycabettos Hill was formed.

There is one road leading to the top of a hill covered with pine and cypress trees. highway and many walking paths. Also on Lycabettos Can take the cable car. It works from 8.45 to 0.45 v summer time(except Thursday, when opening hours are from 10.45 to 0.45) and from 8.45 to 0.15 in winter (except Thursday, when opening hours are from 10.45 to 0.15. Lifts every 30 minutes.

The funicular is located on the street on Plutarch Street (οδος Πλουταρχου) in a closed tunnel. The fastest way to get to the funicular is from the Evangelizmos metro station (Ευαγγελισμος), signs located along the street will help you get there.

At the top is the Church of St. George (X-XII centuries).

Have a nice day in Athens! I hope you now know what to see in Athens on your trip!

Greece. With this word, any person has an unambiguous association - antiquity. Of course, to this day, many ancient architectural monuments of Athens have remained in ruins and dilapidated by time, but they are the ones that primarily attract visitors. Judging by the number of ancient attractions, the city can safely be called a monument. Most of them are located in the old part of the city. A route around Athens for one day will require you to get ready for an active walk from early morning until dark. For an express review, you will need: a little theoretical training, physical endurance and a budget of about 200 €. When going out onto the streets of Athens, be prepared to encounter a huge number of tourists (according to statistics, about 100 people climb the Acropolis every 10 minutes). But this should not be scary: the capital of Greece is a tourist-oriented city, understandable, and it is almost impossible to get lost here.

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National Garden and Zappeion

After viewing the architectural artifacts, you can relax in the shady alleys of the National Garden, located behind the Parliament Buildings. This is a former royal park, laid out under Queen Amalia on 15.5 hectares. You will see here many artificial mini-ponds with colorful fish and turtles, enclosures with animals, and peacocks walking around the area. Exotic trees and shrubs, palm trees, an abundance of flowers, and the chirping of birds make a walk through this oasis delightful. Surviving elements of ancient buildings, marble busts of prominent figures of Greece, a sundial, and the remains of Hadrian's Viaduct create the impression of a green open-air museum.

Main architectural object National Garden - Zappeion Palace (1874-1888), admiring its classic appearance. The majestic structure is named after the famous Greek philanthropist Zappas, who revived Olympic sports traditions. It was here that the Olympic Village of the first modern Olympics was located (April 6, 1896). Now international exhibitions, political forums, congresses and conferences are held here.

If you tell someone that you have visited Athens but not Syntagma Square, they will not believe you. Here on central square, the parliament building is located. It was originally intended as Royal Palace, and for some time King Otto of Bavaria lived in it. But after the coup in 1843 and the signing of a new constitution, he was expelled by the revolutionaries. In honor of this event, the place was given the name Syntagma (Constitution Square). The building was first a symbol of the monarchy, and then a symbol of democracy.

The most interesting spectacle that can be observed every hour is the changing of the guard of honor. Soldiers of the Evzone National Guard (Greek "evzone" - "well belted") stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of parliament. They mark each step in a very unusual and figurative way, and the clicking sound of their boots, lined with steel nails, can be heard by everyone watching the ceremony. The honor guard uniform is modeled on the Greek national costume with the essential components: a man's skirt (fustanella), a red beret with a long tassel (phareon) and leather boots with large pom-poms (tsarukhs). The changing of the guard of the National Guard is one of the most lively attractions in Athens.

Your impressions of Athens will not be complete if you do not visit the historical core of the city - the ancient district of Plaka. It is located on the northeastern slopes of the Acropolis. Unofficially, Plaka was awarded the romantic name “District of the Gods,” referring to the proximity of the ancient sights of the Acropolis. Labyrinths of narrow streets with rows of picturesque houses and authentic buildings captivate everyone with the amazing atmosphere of antiquity. A walk along the largest street will be a pleasure for Adrian. There is something for tourists to see here. Of undoubted interest are the surviving Byzantine churches (13-14 centuries): the Transfiguration of the Lord, St. Catherine.

It is worth visiting one of the local museums, such as the Museum of Greek Folk Art or Musical Instruments. By visiting one of the many taverns, you can enjoy a delicious lunch in the national spirit. And in the kafenion, drink a cup of excellent coffee to cheer up before a walk along Anafiotika - small settlement r/na. It was founded in 1841 by carpenters and masons who built modern Athens. They built houses for themselves, randomly scattered along the streets. Now only 45 of them have survived, which have become architectural landmarks of Anafiotika.

Roman Agora

You can see traces of the mighty Roman Empire by visiting the Roman Agora. The trading platform (market), established under Octavian Augustus (11 BC), was discovered by archaeologists during excavations in the 20th century. It was not only a busy place of trade, but also a center political life cities. Surrounded on all sides by columns in the Ionic style, the rectangular area housed shops, warehouses, and shopping arcades. On the western side there was a central entrance called the Gate of Athena Archegetis. Login from east side called the Eastern Propylaea.

Next to them was the Agoranomeion - an administrative building and the Vespasion (public toilet). You can see here the surviving fragments of the colonnade, the Gate of Athena, and the remains of the Eastern Propylaea. In the southern part of the Agora you will see the ruins of the Roman Fountain. A symbol of architectural strength and perfection, the Clock Tower of A. Kirsky (or the Tower of the Winds) has been perfectly preserved. The northern side of the agora is topped by the Fenhiye Mosque, built in the 17th century. on the site of a destroyed Christian temple.

Areopagus

If you cross the road from the Agora, you will come to Ares Hill or Areopagus - legendary place ancient Hellas. Although now practically nothing here reminds of the era of antiquity, even just walking along the marble hill where Socrates was executed is definitely worth it. The council of elders (archons) - the Areopagus, the highest court of Athens - met here. As the legend says, it was on this hill that the god of war Ares was tried, acquitted by the council of the Gods. Aristotle referred to the Areopagus as a “sacred place in the open air.” Behind centuries-old history The Areopagus, as a judicial body that underwent many reforms, remained the main legal force in Athens.

Today, the legendary hill is surrounded by a high lattice fence with several gates. From its foot there are steps carved in stone leading up. At the top you will find a clearly visible small area surrounded by the remains of stone benches. The contours of the perimeter of the house with a well in the corner and a drain are clearly visible. The northern slope of the hill, where the cemetery of the Mycenaean period was located, is overgrown with trees. From the top of the Areopagus a picturesque panorama of Athens opens up, which you can’t help but admire.

Athens Agora

Add your impressions about ancient city you can by visiting another agora - Athens, located on the adjacent gentle slope of the hill. Now it is an open-air museum, spread over 5 hectares. Huge trade area was not only a place of trade, but also the center of socio-political and economic life of Athens. This is evidenced by the ruins of numerous objects discovered during excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries. The main administrative and public buildings of the city were located here. In terms of significance, the Athenian Agora was the second Acropolis.

Your imagination will be amazed architectural structures, partially preserved or lying in ruins. The sight alone famous Temple Hephaestus, built in the Doric style, is worth a lot. No less impressive are the 2-story portico of the Stoa of Attalus and the first Athenian Church of the Holy Apostles, Solaki. From many other temples, only ruins remain (Temple of Apollo the Father, Zeus, Athena, Mother of the Gods, etc.) But from them one can judge the grandeur of the main Athens square.

The Archaeological Museum, open on site, houses a large collection of priceless artifacts illustrating the life, culture and way of life of the ancient Greeks. Excavations that are still ongoing are bringing new discoveries and new exhibits. Inspecting this outstanding monument of ancient Greek culture will allow you to feel the spirit of that time.

It would be unforgivable to ignore the Agora - market square ancient times with the Temple of Hephaestus, located in the historical center of the city on the western side of the Ancient Agora. Archaeological Park open to the public. The Temple of Hephaestus is the best preserved ancient building in Athens. The Hephaestion was erected in 230 BC, and it was dedicated to Hephaestus, the patron saint of artisans and blacksmiths, and Athena Ergani, the goddess of pottery.

Your eyes will open beautiful building with marble columns, front entrance friezes, and even a well-preserved roof. Hephaestion has received parishioners at all times. The preservation of this building is explained precisely by the fact that with the advent of Christianity in Greece, the temple was turned into the Church of St. George, and the monks and clergy saved it from looting for many years and took care of its condition. After Greece received the status of a free state, the temple building was used as a museum, and later it itself became an open-air exhibit. Narrow streets historical center The Plakas are hiding among the houses. And only Hephaestion rises above them.

Monastiraki Square

One of the most atmospheric places in Athens is Monastiraki Square, filled with people every day. Centuries ago, there were Athenian monasteries here - the “Great Monastery”, most of which were destroyed during excavations in the 19th century. The square (later the entire district) was named after the remaining Monastiraki church from the 17th century. (small monastery) The outwardly modest building will impress you with its luxurious interior decoration and magnificent frescoes. Another religious building, the Tsistarakis Mosque (18th century), delights with the beauty and originality of its architecture. It was built under the Ottoman governor Tsistarakis in 1759.

The history of its creation is reflected in the legend of an ancient curse: for the use of stone from the Column of Zeus in its construction, a plague epidemic began in the city. The governor was removed from power and poisoned. The minaret, as a symbol of the Ottoman invaders, was demolished in the 19th century, and the beautiful building was turned into the Museum of Ceramics (a branch of the Museum of Folk Art). If you find yourself in the square on a day when the Flea Market is operating next door, walk through its rows and taste the special flavor. Everything that happens here can be characterized by the catchphrase “Everything is in Greece!”

Mount Lekavitos will be the final chord of a rich day trip around Athens. You can climb the 277-meter-high hill either on foot, by taxi, or, in the most impressive way, by cable car. From the height of Lekavitos there is a fantastic panorama of the entire city. Since ancient times, noble townspeople have settled in this place, and to this day life on the lands of Lekavitos is considered expensive and privileged. IN last years climbing the mountain has become an integral part of wedding ceremonies with mandatory visit the newlyweds of St. George's Chapel, located on the top of the hill. It is here, at the end of the day, that you can take memorable panoramic photos and remember the feeling of flying over the city.

I do not like group tours through agencies. I organize all trips myself, so I live the same trip three times - when I plan, when I actually arrive at the place and when I write about my impressions.

Many people are afraid to travel on their own; they believe that it is expensive and dangerous. There are a thousand arguments: you need to know a foreign language, deal with paperwork, obtain a visa, spend time booking a hotel, buying tickets, collecting information on attractions and choosing a method of traveling around the country. In fact, everything is much simpler than it seems 🙂 The consulate’s website has a list of documents for obtaining a tourist visa, there are a lot of services for independently searching for tickets and hotels on the Internet, and it’s easy to create a travel itinerary based on travelers’ reports. Those like me:)From independent trip the impressions are brighter, there is more freedom and the costs are acceptable.

Athens is a very convenient city for individual exploration. This is not just the capital of Greece, it is the birthplace of myths, legends and ancient heroes.No one even really knows when this city appeared on the map, but the Greeks firmly believe that it could not have happened without divine intervention. According to legend, the sea god Poseidon and the goddess of wisdom Athena fought for the right to be his patron. Both decided to bring gifts: whose gift was more important won. Poseidon hit the rock with his trident and water poured out of the stone, and Athena stuck a spear into the ground, and an olive tree sprouted from it. The goddess's gift was considered more important and Athena won the argument, and the city received her name.

Airport, named after the famous Greek politician Eleftherios Venizelos, I immediately liked it. I appreciated the cleanliness, convenience for passengers and numerous signs indicating where to go. You can get from Athens airport to the city by bus around the clock. You can use the metro (8 euros), while travel by bus from the airport costs only 5 euros.

Note to tourists: before boarding the bus you need to buy a ticket; drivers do not sell them. Travel cards cost 5 euros; standard tickets (1.4 €) for Athens public transport are not suitable.

Transport in Athens is well developed; in addition to the subway, the system includes trams, trolleybuses, buses and more. commuter trains. The fare payment system is simple: the tickets are the same for all types of transport, surface and underground.

In my opinion, it is best for tourists to use Athens reusable travel cards. They cost only 4 euros for 24 hours of use, and if you take a card for 5 days, it will cost only 10 euros (2 euros per day). They can be purchased at metro ticket offices and ticket machines. Using the subway, moving around the city is convenient and safe, the trains are quite decent, the stations are clean and guarded, getting where you need to go in Athens is not a problem.

To pay tribute to the Greek capital fully, the first acquaintance should begin with the ancient layer of history, with the heritage of ancient Hellas. I recommend starting with . Although the hill overlooking the city has long ceased to be sacred place, it remains a link between the past and the present, the heart of the ancient city.

The ancient Greeks appreciated how convenient the one and a half hundred meter high cliff was for defense back in ancient times. In the 15th century BC, the hill was already built up and fortified with impressive walls. During the archaic period, the Acropolis was thoroughly rebuilt and large temples were erected there, including the sanctuary of the goddess Athena, the patroness of the city.

The flow of tourists to the Acropolis does not subside either during the day or in the evening. To touch the history, feel the power of the structure and try to imagine what the main attraction of the capital looked like many centuries ago, stock up on a guidebook with a diagram and description of ancient monuments.
I decided to go to the Acropolis early in the morning, before the opening, when the sun was not yet at its zenith. On weekdays, access to the complex begins at 8 am, on weekends and holidays at 8:30. Warning: under no circumstances should you take stones with you from the Acropolis, even those on the ground - you can pay a hefty fine for this. I walked slowly, recognizing the temples from the guidebook and choosing places for photos. You need to wait until the group with the guide goes to another place and gives you a favorable angle and literally captures the moment. You can spend half a day here, sit and relax if the weather is not very hot. Co observation platforms The Acropolis offers wonderful panoramas of Athens, admire as much as you like.

Acropolis– this is an open-air complex, with all that it implies. To preserve the ancient sculptural compositions, they were moved to the new Acropolis Museum, which is located at the foot of the hill. The Greeks collected several thousand valuable exhibits within the walls of the museum, turning it into a real treasury ancient art.

Adjacent to the south-eastern side of the Acropolis is the Theater of Dionysus, one of the oldest structures of its kind in the whole world. Scientists believe that performances began to be given there some twenty-five centuries ago. The stands could be filled with about 15 thousand spectators, but not everyone modern stadium can boast similar capacity. The first row was reserved for noble persons, as evidenced by the surviving inscriptions on stone slabs.

Note to tourists: you can visit the Theater of Dionysus for free if you buy a ticket to visit the Acropolis.

Having finished admiring the Acropolis and tired of the multilingual crowd of tourists,went down to Monastiraki Square. I no longer had enough energy to explore other sights; I needed to rest and “digest” the impressions. In search of shade and silence, I passed the square and went up the street. Erma, turned onto St. Irini. At the intersection with Athinaidos street, there is another monument with ancient history, but in the updated version - the Church of St. Irene. Archaeologists cannot say exactly when the first temple appeared on this site. We only know that this happened a very, very long time ago. By the middle of the 19th century, the building became very dilapidated and the authorities decided to replace it with a new one. And to ensure the continuity of history, and perhaps for practical reasons, ancient stones from the dismantled building were used during construction. The Church of St. Irene was a sight to behold; it was not for nothing that for some time it was considered a cathedral.

The idea of decorating the capital with a huge Orthodox church The Greeks had been hatching it for a long time, but for a number of reasons, work began only in 1842. The first stone in the foundation of the Athens Cathedral was laid personally by King Otto I. Despite the importance of the project and royal support, the work was greatly delayed, the estimate turned out to be exceeded, and in the end, money for completion had to be raised literally by the whole world. As a result, the whole process took more than 20 years, with three different architects taking turns working on the building. Eventually, Cathedral Athens came out on top. The building, whose bell towers stretched forty meters, became the largest temple in Greece of that era. And even though its design doesn’t seem particularly impressive from the outside, the interior is very rich inside. There are many pleasant cafes with designer decorations around; the area is clearly chosen by local youth. I decided to relax, sipping a cold Freddo cappuccino with cinnamon in a very nice cafe.Tailor Made. I looked through the photos, watched the students buzzing around and noted that “all young people are the same” - liberated, cheerful. This filled me with positivity and gave me the strength to continue. My path lay on the central square of Athens - Syntagma.

On the square Syntagma, which has been on the screens a lot lately, there are regular clashes between police and demonstrators demanding that the government ease austerity measures for ordinary people. The place for the protests was chosen for a reason, because the former royal palace, where the Greek parliament now sits, rises above the square. Fortunately, that day I was not able to enjoy the local color with the demonstrators.

If you're new to Athens, be sure to check out the popular ritual of changing the guard of honor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in front of Parliament. Guardsmen in ancient traditional costumes: white skirts with many pleats (they say there are as many as 400 of them!) and in wooden clogs with pompoms, they march in unison, throwing up their legs funny. Crowds of guests of the capital gather to admire this action. As I was told, it is best to come to the square on Sunday around 11 am, when the ceremony is especially magnificent. You can get close to the soldiers, which is what everyone takes advantage of. I didn’t notice any visible security or police around, only tourists with cameras and food for pigeons. This is also a tradition - every second person considers it a duty to feed voracious birds. To the right of the Parliament there is a green park with the proud name National Garden, which smoothly turns into Zappio - a place for tourists and Greeks with children to walk. Tall palm trees grow on the central alley, apparently brought from Central America, as evidenced by the sign. The park itself leaves much to be desired, but it does its job: it provides shade and coolness. In addition, in its depths, closer to the exit to Amalias Avenue, I discovered a nice cafe under a green arch, but left it for next time. It was time to return to the hotel, organize impressions and photos and prepare a plan for the next day.

What else can you see in Athens in 2-3 days?

If you like visiting museums, be sure to visit the archaeological, Byzantine and historical ones.

Besides them, I also chose the Military Museum. Not because he is a fan of guns and airplanes, but this is the history and strength of the country. I recommend visiting with children, they will find it interesting. The museum is located next to Evangelismos metro station, blue line. First, I walked around the museum and looked at the area with aircraft equipment. Everyone is actively taking selfies with airplanes. Inside they ask you to take photos without flash, but this is the case in all museums. No problem, I obey, I turn it off. To explore the museum building, you first need to go up the third floor and then go down. Such an idea. The building is three-story, square. The collections are arranged chronologically and are dedicated to specific events and periods. The museum is rich and worthy of attention.

I remember an incident in a souvenir shop. I wanted to buy a desk calendar for next year and decided to bargain. It was in September, at the end of the tourist season. There are a lot of calendars on the counter; supply clearly exceeds demand. So I tell the seller directly: lower the price, I’ll buy five pieces for gifts. And it benefits you. Who will need them in the middle of next year? To which the cunning Greek replies: I won’t sell it cheaper, it’s not profitable. At the end of the year I will hand them over to the printing house where I got them from. They will stand here and gather dust, in case someone buys them. If she doesn’t buy it, I’ll return it, but I’m not going to give up the price. She left with nothing. It’s a shame, but I learned for the future that even in Greece, bargaining is not always appropriate. J

Where can you eat inexpensively in Athens?

Pay attention to the small eateries where the Greeks themselves prefer to eat. This rule should be followed in any country, in any city where the travel virus takes you.

Eat Goody's chain", it operates on the principle of fast food. There you can taste meat and veggie burgers, Greek salad and other local dishes (about 5 euros for lunch per person). Sandwiches prepared on street stalls are even cheaper (2-3 euros), and of course souvlaki - a Greek brand, an eternal classic!

– this is a separate song. There you can behave at ease and relaxed. Any meal begins with fresh bread or croutons, fried in olive oil, with spices and garlic - scordopsomo. For appetizers, dzadzyki (yogurt, cucumber, garlic) or melizanosalata (eggplant caviar), then hot appetizers - hot cheeses, especially bujorti and kaserocroketes, then kolokifakia (a zucchini dish) and, of course, the village salad "horjatiki", known to our Slavic people called "Greek". Popular main dishes include beef in tomato sauce, arnaki (lamb) or oven-baked pork trotters. Personally, I liked the “moussaka” in pots, now I cook it at home, I’m nostalgic for Greece :-)

My hotel was located close to the main attractions, relatively inexpensive, from the “bed and breakfast” series. There was no point in sitting in the room, so I spent all my time exploring the city on my own. Athens left a mixed impression. On the one hand, this is great amount ancient monuments, on the other hand, are somewhat neglected. There are a lot of emigrants in the Omonia area, there is graffiti on the walls around the city, there are a lot of thick, untrimmed bushes, dilapidated buildings, and haphazardly abandoned cars. Many streets are blocked due to construction work. The result: inconvenience for pedestrians and traffic jams. People get nervous, honk their horns, and add their negativity to the general annoying rumbling noise of road works. Compared to the islands, Athens is not conducive to relaxation, especially the city center.

Natalya B.

Photo 1 of 36:© commons.wikimedia.org

It is difficult to write a guide to Athens. Not because there are many attractions here (although there are quite a few), but rather because each one requires at least a small excursion into history.

Therefore, when I started preparing this article, the main question was: give historical information or do without them. I decided to go with the second option. In the end, website you read for useful information for travel, and everything else (in particular, why the city was called Athens, in what year the Acropolis was built) can easily be found on Wikipedia.

We will tell you something that cannot be found on the Internet in a well-structured form - how to plan your day in Athens, what attractions to see, how to get around the city, and so on. So let's begin.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 07:00 - 08:00 - Watching Athens wake up

To have an idea of the city that you will get to know in the next 24 hours, you need to look at it from above! Best place, than Philopanos Hill in Athens, probably not.

This place is not as popular as the famous Lykabettos Hill, so there are significantly fewer tourists here. And even more so early in the morning, so you can enjoy a calm environment and stunning views of the city. From the top of the hill there is an excellent view of the Acropolis.

How to get there: you need to get to the Sigrou-Fix metro station - this is the red line. Next, walk along Drakou Street. You see a green hill and a path - you go there. You can see the Athens metro map by clicking here.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 8:00 - 10:00 - visiting the Acropolis

If theater begins with a coat rack, then Athens certainly begins with the Acropolis. This is the symbol of the city, its main attraction. As a result, there are always a lot of tourists here. Therefore, in order to take a photo of the same Parthenon without a crowd of onlookers in the background, it is better to come to the opening itself. Moreover, it is not so hot in the morning, which is also important when visiting the Acropolis.

TIP: Wear comfortable shoes, you will have to walk a lot and climb uphill. And be careful - many of the steps are very slippery.

© commons.wikimedia.org

Acropolis is translated from Greek as “Upper City”. His pearl is ancient temple Parthenon. The impression can be reinforced by the scaffolding that covers many of the buildings on the Acropolis - all of them are under restoration. The intrusive traders are also a little annoying, but you have to come to terms with this - the place is very popular among tourists.

In addition to the Parthenon, do not forget to take a photo of the Theater of Dionysus (there will be a good angle - from above), and also climb the Areopagus rock - a good view of Athens (but again, it is very slippery).

The entrance ticket to the Acropolis is €12. The ticket is valid for four days, and now you will understand why this is necessary. The fact is that as a bonus you get free entry to six more attractions: the Theater of Dionysus, the Roman Agora, the Ancient Greek Agora, the Temple of Zeus, the Library of Hadrian and the cemetery of ancient Athens - Ceramics.

How to get there: The nearest metro station is Akropoli, red line. More details about the cost of travel to public transport below, in a separate chapter. You can also walk from the stations "Thissio" and "Monastiraki".

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 10:00-11:00 - see the exhibition of the New Acropolis Museum

300 meters from the Acropolis is unique museum. We are sure that you will immediately notice the ultra-modern building, which stands out against the background of the general landscape. It was designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi. This is the New Acropolis Museum.

The museum is truly unique; it was built on an archaeological site. Moreover, the floors on the first floor are glass - so that you can see everything with your own eyes. total area museum - 226,000 square meters. There are a lot of exhibits; the author of these lines was most impressed by the collection of ancient statues. You can view a detailed plan of the museum.

By the way, there is a cozy cafe on the roof of the museum where you can have a cup or glass with an inspiring view.

Museum opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 08:00 to 20:00. The entrance ticket costs €5.

How to get there: The entrance to the building is from Dionysiou Areopagitou street. The nearest metro station is Akropoli.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 11:00 - 12:00 - visit the Agora

Many tourists, after visiting the Acropolis, ignore the Agora and, in our opinion, in vain. At a minimum, the Agora is worth visiting to look at the Temple of Hephaestus - the best preserved ancient temple. It was built in the period 449-415 BC. and was dedicated to the god Hephaestus, the god of crafts and blacksmithing. No less impressive than the Parthenon.

Entrance fee: A visit to the Agora is included in the price of the Acropolis ticket.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 12:00 - 13:00 - walk around the Monastiraki area

One of the oldest populated areas Athens, borders the Agora. It’s especially interesting to walk here on Saturday and Sunday; life is bustling around - there is a flea market on Ifestou Street. You can buy anything: from standard souvenirs to antique furniture.

In general, Monastiraki has a lot of souvenir shops and antique shops. But there are few attractions. The main one is located on Adriano Street - the Church of Agiou Philip from the 17th century. At the entrance to the Monastiraki metro station there is another architectural interest - an ancient mosque built in 1759 by the Turkish governor Cistaraki.

© commons.wikimedia.org
However, this area is loved precisely for its unique atmosphere, and not for its attractions. Here you can just take a walk, watch the traders, listen to street musicians, or drink a cup of coffee in some cozy cafe.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 13:00 - 14:00 - lunch at the central market

To feel the atmosphere of the city, you should definitely visit the market. Therefore, we further head towards Varvakios Agora - central market Athens. In the morning (the market is open from Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 18:00) there is brisk trade here. As one of the travelers accurately put it, “this is a covered building, filled with sellers and buyers, like a jar of herrings, and the trade there is so plentiful that it cannot fit indoors, spilling out.”

At the market you can not only take a couple of characteristic photographs local population, but also buy gifts for home: sweets, cheeses, spices, olives.

At the same time, you can have a tasty and inexpensive lunch at the market - there are several excellent taverns on the territory. We recommend the restaurant PAPANDREOU, it is located in the meat department of the market. The cuisine is traditional Greek. The audience is very different. From truck drivers, traders, to local youth regaining their energy after a stormy night. The prices are reasonable - you can have a hearty lunch for €10-15.

How to get there: The market is 500 meters from Monastiraki metro station.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 14:00 - 15:00 - immerse yourself in the cozy streets of Plaka

This is the most ancient district of Athens, without a doubt, it can also be called the most cozy. Plaka is literally made for walking: narrow cozy streets, atmospheric cafes, taverns, colorful local residents. The houses around are not that old - only “some” 200-300 years old, but they were built on the foundations of ancient times.

Be sure to check out Hadrian Street - it is considered the oldest in Athens.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 15:00 - 16:00 - promenade along Ermu Street

There are a lot of clothing stores on Ermu, so you can buy yourself some new clothes in between. A little hint: boutiques of luxury brands are located at the very beginning of the street, then there are stores of more affordable brands, such as Zara, Marks&Spencer, etc.

However, our advice to you is not to spend a lot of time shopping in Athens. Firstly, you won’t have time to see all the sights of the city, and secondly, you won’t buy anything super exclusive or budget-friendly.

16:00 - 16:30 - watch the changing of the guard at the Parliament building

After a walk along Ermu Street, we find ourselves at Syntagma Square. It's like Independence Square in Kyiv, the heart of the city.

The main attraction of Syntagma Square is the Palace of the Greek Parliament. Nearby is the monument to the Unknown Soldier, near which the presidential guard of honor changes every hour. The spectacle is interesting - definitely worth watching. At least for the sake of the Evzones - soldiers of the royal guard. Their clothes are elegant and lush: white tights, a skirt, a vest with hand embroidery, a red beret. Pay special attention to Evzone shoes. Strange-looking shoes with pom-poms (called tsarukhi) weigh no less than 5 kilograms!

By the way, all Evzones undergo strict face control - each candidate must not only be well trained, but also have an attractive appearance and a height of at least 187 cm.

The changing of the guard takes place especially solemnly in holidays. If you are in Athens on Sunday, come to the square at 11:00, you will see the ceremonial change of the duty unit, accompanied by a military orchestra.

However, we want to warn tourists who like to photograph everything that moves. The soldiers are on duty, so you shouldn’t get too close to them, much less try to hug/throw the flag of Ukraine over your shoulders and similar things that our tourists like to do. If you cross the line, the Evzones will start hitting the marble slab with the butt of their weapons. This is a sign to move away.

It is worth noting that various kinds of demonstrations often take place on Syntagma Square, which, naturally, does not add coziness to this place. But in the square you can get free Wi-Fi, at least the local authorities declare its availability.

16:30 - 17:00 - examine ancient artifacts at the Syntagma metro station

This station is rightfully included in the ranking of the most unusual subways in the world. In fact it is small Archaeological Museum. As you exit the subway car, you will see various unique exhibits hidden behind glass. For example, a fragment of an ancient Athenian water supply or ancient burials.

The artifacts were discovered during the construction of two additional metro lines (this was during preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games), when engineers worked in tandem with archaeologists. As a result, it was possible to build a metro and preserve thousands of priceless archaeological finds. Some metro stations have become underground museums. In particular, various exhibits are also on display at Akropolis and Monastiraki stations. However, Syntagma is more interesting.

How to get there: Syntagma metro station is located at the intersection of the red and blue metro lines.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 17:00 - 18:00 - visit the Panathenaic Stadium

If viewing the ancient artifacts at Syntagma station has aroused your interest in history even more, then you are in a direct route to the National Archaeological Museum, which is near the Victoria metro station. The exhibition here is the richest in Greece. The Benaki Museum is also worth a visit.

However, we decided not to include either one or the other in our route, since it is still impossible to visit these museums in one day (our plan, as you can see, is compressed to the point of impossibility). But if you are in Athens for more than a day, be sure to visit. The museums are really interesting.

We will continue our route. From Syntagma Square we walk through the Royal Garden to one of the most amazing sights of Athens - the Panathenaic Stadium.

Just imagine - this is a huge structure built entirely of white marble! It's breathtaking. And this marble miracle was erected back in 329 BC. e. Naturally, the stadium has not survived to this day in its original form. in its original form, but in 1895 it was literally rebuilt. Funding for the project was given by philanthropist Georgios Averoff, whose statue now stands at the entrance.

Behind the Panathenaic Stadium, at the end of Anapafseos Street, there is another attraction worth visiting. This is the First Athens Cemetery. Believe me, the place is actually interesting and not at all gloomy.

The cemetery was opened in 1837 and became a burial place for the local elite. Not surprisingly, almost every tomb there is a work of art. Particularly impressive is the mausoleum of Heinrich Schliemann (the famous archaeologist) and his family. Therefore, the cemetery is often called an open-air museum.

On the territory of the cemetery, by the way, there are three churches: two Orthodox and one Catholic.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 19:00 - 20:00 - dinner at the Funky Gourmet restaurant

Let’s say right away that the restaurant is not cheap (you can check out the menu here) and is not located in the very romantic place. But everyone who visited this establishment unanimously repeats: they have not been fed so deliciously for a very long time.

The restaurant address is 13 Paramithias Street. The nearest metro station is Metaxourgio (red line). It is better to book a table in advance by calling 210 5242727 or through the official website.

Sights of Athens in 24 hours. 20:00 - 22:00 - enjoy the evening panorama of Athens from Lykabettos Hill

This is the highest hill in Athens - its height is 277 meters. It is not surprising that from here you have a beautiful view of the city: the Acropolis is clearly visible, behind it is the port of Piraeus, and the Aegean Sea. Perfect place for photography lovers.

At the top of the hill, which is often also called Lycabettus, the 19th century white stone chapel of St. George is worth seeing. There is a restaurant nearby: the amazing panoramas of Athens only whet your appetite. There is also an open-air theater on Lykabettos. In the summer, concerts and various performances take place there.

How to get to Lycabettos Hill: Take the metro to Evangelismos station (blue line). From there, follow Ploutarchou Street to the lower funicular station. The funicular is the fastest and most convenient way to get to the top of the hill.

Funicular operating hours: in summer from 08:45 to 00:45 every day except Thursday (Thursday from 10:45 to 00:45), in winter from 08:45 to 00:15 every day except Thursday (Thursday from 10: 45 to 00:15) Cars depart frequently - every 5-10 minutes. The cost of a round-trip ticket is €14.

You can also take a taxi to the hill (the cost is about €25-30, you will need to walk another 5 minutes from the parking lot) and walk (there are two pedestrian paths). At a calm pace, the ascent will take about 20 minutes, but if the day turns out to be hot, we would recommend taking the funicular up (take a one-way ticket) and descending on your own two feet. If you climb the hill in the evening, it is better to buy a round-trip ticket on the funicular.

There are no problems with public transport in Athens, well, or almost none (we are hinting at frequent strikes). The most convenient and fastest form of transport is the metro. There are only three branches (we provided the diagram above).

The cost of a single trip is €1.4. The ticket gives you the right to travel on any type of public transport (buses, trams) for 90 minutes. If you plan to travel a lot during the day, it makes sense to buy a ticket for a day for €4 (again, for all types of transport).

Tickets must be purchased at the box office, or better yet, from the vending machines that are available at every metro station and tram station. Nothing complicated - everything is intuitive, there are instructions in English. The main thing is not to forget that the ticket must, roughly speaking, be punched at the entrance (if we are talking about the metro, then at the station itself, if we are talking about the bus, there is a machine inside the cabin).

Attractions of Athens in 24 hours - how to get from the airport

The airport is located 27 km from the city center. You can easily get there by public transport and save on taxis.

The most convenient and easiest way is the metro. The entrance to the subway (Aerodromio station, blue line) is located opposite the airport building. You can buy a ticket from a machine, however, there are also ticket offices. We wrote about the cost of travel above. In terms of time, it takes about 40 minutes to get to the city center by metro. It’s just worth clarifying one point: most trains from Aerodromio station only go to Doukissis Plakentias station. Then you need to get out and change to the metro, which goes to the center. Direct trains to the airport run every 30 minutes.

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Tickets: Ryanair company 35 euros per person round trip. The tickets are very convenient, arrival early in the morning and departure late in the evening, which gives you 3 full days for exploring the city.

Hotel: after reading various forums about Athens, it was decided to look for a hotel in a relatively quiet area - “Plaka”, where you can get the most in-depth understanding of the city Athens.

When choosing a hotel, the following features were taken into account:

— cozy hotel in the center, price/quality;

- bright rooms, preferably with panoramic views of the Acropolis;

— one-piece double mattress.

Based on the above factors, we chose the Phaedra Hotel. Price double room for two nights was 76 euros (winter season). Booking through their own website turned out to be cheaper than booking through booking.com: http://www.hotelphaedra.com/.

(View from the hotel room balcony)

The hotel was perfect for leaving things, spending the night and waking up happy in the morning, looking at the beautiful view of the Acropolis. If you need a hairdryer, you can ask the staff at the reception and they will give you one for the entire duration of your stay.

(Night view from the terrace located on the roof of the hotel)

One of the big advantages of the hotel is the rooftop on which you can have an aperitif yourself, completely free, by purchasing wine and snacks in the store in advance. The roof is equipped with tables and chairs.

1. How to get from the airport to the city:

There are three ways to get from Athens Airport to the city center:

by express bus X95. At the exit from the airport (exit No. 5) there will be a bus on the right. The ticket can only be bought at kiosks for 5 euros (to the left of exit No. 5). Previously, you could pay from the driver, but now this is no longer possible. Ending station bus - central square "Syntagma".
Metro. The cost is 8 euros one way and 14 euros there and back (within a week). You can get off at the central Syntagma Square, or at previous stations, depending on the location of your hotel.
by taxi.

2. First opinion about Athens.

After reading the forums and watching the program “Heads and Tails,” I expected to see on the streets of Athens: drug addicts, taking a dose at everyone’s disposal, crowds of beggars, thieves, empty premises, ruined by the crisis, and much more. I even wondered whether it was worth going to Athens, despite having tickets in hand.

But after walking around the city, I realized that Athens is not at all what it was before. According to local residents, in two years the atmosphere of the capital has changed for the better, even taking into account the crisis. It's kind of a paradox in my opinion. 🙂

Since we live in Rome, I will undoubtedly compare Athens with this city.

The streets in the Greek capital are much cleaner, all lawns are well-groomed. Walking around the city is not at all marred by beggars or gypsies. Of course, they exist, as in any capital, but they do not cause concern at all. If you don't pay attention to them, they will disappear as suddenly as they appeared.

The architecture of Athens does not have its own individuality. The vast blocks of new Athens, stretching along the valley between the surrounding mountains, are built up with multi-story buildings of a similar type with clear rectangular and cubic shapes. Glass and reinforced concrete are widely used in construction, especially in the construction of office and administrative buildings.

3. Tour of Athens.

To see the sights in Athens and superficially plunge into the atmosphere of the city, the optimal tour, in my opinion, should be 2-3 days, which is very convenient for visiting on weekends without interrupting work.

4. Route around Athens.

A two-day itinerary in Athens must be prepared depending on your arrival. If you arrive late in the evening (for example on Friday), then the next day early in the morning it is better to start the route from Acropolis, in order to avoid crowds of tourists and quietly enjoy the sights.

If your arrival is in the morning, like ours, then it is better to start the route with a walk around the city, see the stadium, and at sunset climb Mount Lycabettus, from where a beautiful panoramic view of the entire city opens. The height of Lycabetus is about 300 meters above sea level.

Day one 03/14/2015

Plaka area

The oldest district of Athens, located at the foot of the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis with a labyrinth of narrow streets and houses built in the neoclassical style. The Plaka area is considered a "traditional settlement". Post-war buildings in the area are recognized as protected. Thanks to this, Plaka today is the only place in Athens, where you can see the city as it was 100 years ago.

Hadrian Street, located on Plaka, is the oldest street in Athens and, as excavations have shown, has retained its direction since ancient Greek times. The houses were built on the foundations of ancient ancient Greek houses.

One of the latest versions says that the Plaka area takes its name from a wide stone slab (plaka in Greek means "plate"), which was found on the territory of the Church of St. George of Alexandria, near the ancient Theater of Dionysus.

Plaka is a place where monuments of all eras that the city has lived through “meet”: ancient, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman. They indicate that the heart of the city beats here from ancient times to the present day. Many small churches, a mosque, temples, the first university of Greece, as well as the Ancient and Roman Agora make up the cultural mosaic of the area.

Mitropoleos Square

Mitropoleos Square ( metropolis - cathedral) is the main spiritual center of Athens.

Annunciation Cathedral (Great Metropolis) was erected in 1842-1862, is a striking example of external imitation of classical examples of Byzantine architecture.

During the construction of this temple were used materials from almost seventy Byzantine churches and chapels. The Cathedral of San Marco in Venice served as a model for creating the interior of the Annunciation Cathedral.

Inside the cathedral there is a lot of carving and gilding, at the first column on the left is the sarcophagus of the Patriarch of Constantinople, Martyr Gregory V. In 1821, the Turks hanged him in Istanbul in retaliation for the fact that the Greeks rebelled. Stored in a silver ark relics of Saint Agia Philothea, who died in 1589. She ransomed Greek women who were captured by the Turks.

(Athens Cathedral. Photo from the Internet since the cathedral was covered in scaffolding)

Syntagma Square

The syntagma is main square of Athens, is located in front of the Palace of the Greek Parliament. It was named after the Constitution proposed by the Greek King Otto of Bavaria on September 3, 1843.

In the center of the square is big fountain and copies of statues from the Naples Museum, which were donated to the city by Lord Beauty in the 19th century.

(photo also taken from the Internet)

Syntagma Square has an excellent transport interchange, allowing you to get to any corner of the city, as well as to the airport. Two main metro lines intersect here, buses, trams, and trolleybuses travel here. Area is the center of the social and political life of Athens.

!!! "ON A NOTE": While walking around the square, be sure to go down to the metro, as archaeological finds made during the construction of the metro have been turned into exhibits and are on display for free in the station lobbies.

Changing of the Guard

Crossing the road we find ourselves at the parliament building, where the grave of the unknown soldier is located. In Greece, the honor guard consists of soldiers E call or E vzones - the illustrious elite of the Greek army, admired for their courage and heroism in the fight for the interests of their homeland.

The main feature of the Greek guards is their boots, which are called kings. U hya. The soles of these red boots, made of thick, heavy leather with pom-poms, are lined with sixty nails that make a loud clicking noise as they walk. The shoes are completely handmade.

The changing of the guard takes place every hour, but it is better to arrive early, around 10 minutes to get a seat.

!!! "ON A NOTE": Every Sunday at 11 a.m. Athens The ceremonial changing of the guard takes place. Everyone takes part in the ceremony personnel Evzone companies - more than 150 people. On the eve of the event, the police are blocking the avenue along which the procession with an orchestra at the head will go from the barracks to main square Greece.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the ceremonial changing of the guard; we’ll have to return to Athens again :).

Royal Garden

Next to the Greek Parliament building is National Garden. The National Garden was created by by order of the first Queen of Greece Amalia and was called the Royal Garden. The creation of the royal garden continued from 1838 to 1840 G under the guidance of a German gardener Schmidt. To implement all plans, more than 500 species of plants and various animals and birds. However, for many plants Mediterranean the climate was too much unfavorable.

IN 1874-1888 was built in the national garden Zeppeion Palace(Zappeion Palace) funded by a national philanthropist named the building in his honor. Zappians is known for dreaming of reviving the Olympic Games in Greece.

Today the Zappeion Palace hosts all the most main events of cultural and political life, often hold concerts or art exhibitions. Since there is a huge rotunda immediately behind the façade of the Zappeion building, the palace can be called ideal place for meetings of scientists and researchers, conferences, congresses, symposiums.

!!! "ON A NOTE": If you look at the palace, on the right there will be a nice cafe where locals like to relax and drink coffee. The cafe has very comfortable chairs, a pleasant atmosphere, presented large map coffee and, we haven’t tried, delicious sweets. The average bill for two for coffee and sweets is 20 euros. A great place to relax after a long walk.

It can also be noted that while walking through the garden you can see Corinthian columns, mosaic remains and ancient ruins.

Stadium Panathinaikos

From Greek, Panathinaikos means “beautiful marble” and is a unique and only stadium in the whole world built of white marble. In ancient times, the stadium was the venue for the Panathenaic Games (the largest religious and political festivals in ancient Athens, held in honor of the city's patron goddess, Athena).

Panathinaikos Stadium is located on site ancient Hellenic amphitheater. The stadium was built in 329 BC. on the initiative of the Athenian statesman and orator Lycurgus. A significant expansion and renovation of the stadium took place in 140 BC, during the period of the orator Herodes Atticus, when the stadium had 50,000 seats.

And only in the middle of the 19th century (in 1870 and 1875) the ancient buildings of the amphitheater were excavated and restored for the Olympic competitions. IN 1896 the second stage of work was carried out to carry out the first modern Olympic Games. Funds for restoration were allocated by philanthropist Georgios Averoff. There is a monument to him in the park near the stadium.

Since the stadium in its modern form was built only at the beginning of the revival of the Olympic Games, it was built according to an old model (in particular, its running tracks do not meet modern accepted standards). The stadium of 50 horizontal rows of marble seats approximately 80,000 fans.

In 2004, the stadium became one of the sports arenas for the Athens Olympics. It was the site of archery competitions.

Entrance to the stadium costs 3 euros for adults and 1.5 euros for students and pensioners.

Address: Greece, Athens, Vasileos Konstantinou Anevue.

Working hours: from March to October from 8:00 to 19:00, from November to February from 8:00 to 17:00.

!!! "ON A NOTE": If you really want to get to the stadium, but really DO NOT want to pay, then you can get to the stadium through the park from above just by stepping over the chain, as the locals do. Of course, this must be done quietly, until the stadium worker sees you. And then they wonder why there is a crisis in the country. 🙂

The first and last row of the avenue is the most comfortable since the seats have backrests. And the most honorable place is the two marble thrones - the seats of the kings.

On the other side of the stadium is Pedestal- now a favorite place not only for athletes, but also for tourists where you can take an interesting photo.

!!! "ON A NOTE": Many on the forums write that there is no point in entering the stadium, everything is visible from the outside. But I had a different opinion: firstly, having climbed to the very top, a beautiful view of the city and mountains opens up, where you can take a break from walking; secondly, once you are in the center of the stands, it seems that the stadium is bursting with the energy of the fans, you can easily imagine how the first Olympic Games were held; thirdly, there is a museum in the stadium, going up to which you can see the very first torches of the Olympic Games on the left, and the last three torches of the modern games on the right.

(torch olympic games in Sochi in 2014)

This photo was taken for my parents. I didn’t attend the Moscow Olympics in 1980, but according to stories, everyone cried when the famous bear flew into the sky.

Mount Lycabettus

Mount Lycabettus is located in the center of Athens and is considered the most high point The city offers a wonderful panorama, an altitude of 277 meters above sea level.

The mountain is famous for the Byzantine Church of St. George located on it. The church was erected in the 11th - 12th centuries as a result of the Balkan military campaigns of Vasily II, to strengthen the power of the Byzantine Empire and Christianity. In 1930, the church was destroyed by fire and restored in 1931.

!!! "ON A NOTE": To go inside, you don’t have to cover your head. All churches in Greece are allowed even in short shorts.

How to get to the mountain:

1. On foot. For us, as lovers of walks, this was the best option among those offered. There are benches all over the mountain at different levels where you can rest and enjoy the fabulous view of the city. You can climb the mountain from two sides.

2. On the funicular.

Opening hours are from 8.45 to 0.45 in summer (except Thursdays, when opening hours are from 10.45 to 0.45) and from 8.45 to 0.15 in winter (except Thursdays, when opening hours are from 10.45 to 0.15).

The cost of a ticket is approximately 14 euros round-trip and you can buy a one-way ticket at the top. The downside of the funicular is that it runs in a tunnel, which obscures all the beauty of climbing the mountain.

3. Taxi. Taxi costs about 20 euros per trip. But to get to the very top of the church, you still have to walk a little.

Day two 03/15/2015

In my opinion, the most convenient route to visit the Acropolis is the entrance through the Theater of Dionysus. In the theater you need to climb the stairs to the rock and go left (if you stand with your back to the theater), the road itself will lead to the entrance to the Acropolis.

!!! "ON A NOTE":

At the entrance to the Theater of Dionysus you need to buy a ticket for 12 euros to the Acropolis, it includes free entry to the following attractions:

- Theater of Dionysus;

- ancient Agora;

- Hadrian's library;

- Roman Agora;

- Temple of Zeus;

- Ceramics necropolis.

Separately, entrance to each of the houses and attractions costs 2 euros.

Theater of Dionysus

The theater is the oldest on earth. It was built in the 5th century. BC, in 326 BC wooden seats were replaced with marble ones. The theater included 67 rows for 17 thousand seats- this is almost half of the entire population of Athens at that time.

Acropolis

Acropolis from translation « upper city» - is a symbol of Athens and all of Greece. This is a 150-meter rocky hill with majestic temples, palaces, and sculptures. The materials used were white Pentelic marble and gray Eleusinian marble. Founded according to legend Kekrops- the first king of Athens, the son of Gaia and Hephaestus, above the waist - a man - below - a serpent. The exact date of foundation is unknown, approximately the 15th century. BC, that is, now the Acropolis is 3.5 thousand years old!

Entrance to the Acropolis is through Propylaea- this is the main entrance formed by colonnades located symmetrically to the axis of movement.

In 447 BC. construction of the main temple began - Parthenon. One of the features is curvature - a deliberate slight distortion of proportions for optical illusion. The columns are slightly inclined towards the center, not perfectly round in diameter, tapering towards the top. Nowadays the Parthenon is in a dilapidated state.

In 421 BC. construction has begun Erechtheion- Temple of Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus. Nowadays the Erechtheion is in a dilapidated state. The portico looks good caryatids(female equivalent Atlanteans), but the statues are copies. One of the originals is kept in the British Museum in London, the rest in the new Acropolis Museum (the “glass” building opposite the Theater of Dionysus).

!!! "ON A NOTE":

Free entry:

last weekend of September(European Heritage Days)

Coming down from the Acropolis on the left there is a beautiful view of the Odeon Theater.

Odeon Theater

The theater was permanent 165 AD Greek orator Herodes Attikov in honor of his late wife Regilla. The Odeon has the classic shape of an ancient theater on 5000 seats, which has been very well preserved to this day, with the exception of statues in niches and multi-colored marble cladding.

You can only get inside during concerts and performances. It still goes through annual Athens festival.

Hill of the Areopagus (Hill of Ares)

In ancient times the hill functioned as highest court of appeal for criminal and civil cases in Athens.

The origin of the name is not exactly known. According to legend, it was on this hill that the trial of the god of war, Ares, who was accused of murdering the son of Poseidon, took place. True, he was acquitted by the council of the supreme gods. It is believed that it was after this that murder cases began to be heard here. Perhaps this is where the hill got its name.

Ancient Agora

Agora from translation « Town Square» - the center of Ancient Athens. A gathering place for townspeople, a shopping area, a place for rallies, theatrical performances, sacrifices, walks, etc. Government bodies and houses of the nobility were also located here. All that remains of most buildings are their foundations.

In ancient Agra you can see:

— Colonnade of King Attallus(a long, eye-catching building especially when viewed from the Acropolis).

(Photo taken from Areopagus Hill)

The building was built in the 2nd century. BC and has been perfectly preserved to this day. Nowadays the building houses a modest museum. At the far end there is an inconspicuous staircase to the second floor where the statues are displayed.

— Church of the Holy Apostles- the Byzantine church, built in the 10th century, is one of the oldest Christian churches Athens. This is the only monument of the Athenian agora that has been preserved completely in its original form.

— Temple of Hephaestus- one of the best preserved ancient Greek temples in the world. Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire, volcanoes and metalworking, was the only Olympian god who was not physically perfect. He was lame and was the only one forced to do physical labor. Hephaestus worked as a blacksmith and was responsible for repairing Achilles' worn and pierced armor in the Iliad. The temple is also dedicated to the goddess Athena, as the patroness of the city, responsible for pottery and other crafts.

It owes its survival to the Christian Church. In the seventh century AD, the temple was converted into the Church of St. George, which came in the seventh century AD, which removed the ancient interior, replacing it with the furnishings of a Christian church. The Temple of Hephaestus was used by the church until 1834, then turned into a museum until 1930.

Hadrian's Library

The library was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 132-134. n. uh.. The library contained books in the form of papyrus scrolls. There were reading rooms and a lecture hall. Currently, only the western wall of the library has been preserved.

Roman agora, tower of the winds

Among the brightest historical buildings in the Monastiraki area the Tower of the Winds stands out,

Tower of the Winds tall 12 meters- is one of the most striking historical buildings built in I century BC. Syrian Greek Andronik Kirrestes. He was an astronomer and his main goal was to create an object capable of determine the weather several days in advance.

(since the Tower of the Winds was under reconstruction, I am inserting a photo from the Internet)

The tower has 8 sides with allegorical images of the eight winds:

1. Boreas (northern),

2. Kekia (northeast),

3. Apeliota (eastern),

4. Evra (southeast),

5. Note (southern),

6. Lipsa (southwest),

7. Zephyra (western)

8. Skirona (northwestern).

Inside the towers were installed water clock (clepsydra), which fed water from the Acropolis of Athens.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

(the photo was taken through the fence, this means that all the attractions in the distance are just as visible through the fence)

Currently, one corner of the temple has survived, consisting of 14 columns, topped with Corinthian capitals, 2 free-standing columns and one fallen. The height of each column is 17.25 m, diameter - 1.7 m. The columns are crowned with capitals 3 m in diameter. Inside the temple there were two statues made of gold and ivory: statue of Olympian Zeus And Emperor Hadrian statue.

Arch of Hadrian

Hadrian - ancient Roman emperor of the 2nd century. AD At that time, Greece was under the protectorate of the Roman Empire, but the Greeks sincerely loved Hadrian. He did even more for Athens than many Greek rulers: he completed the Temple of Olympian Zeus (before that the temple could not be built for 6 centuries), built libraries, temples, public buildings, encouraged sports, art, etc. In his honor in 131, grateful Athenians erected the Arc de Triomphe.

!!! "ON A NOTE": The Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch and Ceramics are located a little further away. It's best to see them when you're in the area. For example, we saw the Necropolis of Ceramics Temple on the last day; it is located near the Monastiraki market.

Necropolis Keramik

Like all former city cemeteries, Keramik was located outside the city wall. The quarter had the same name Keramik and was known in ancient times as a major center for the production of Attic ceramics.

Now Keramik is one of central regions modern Athens. The ruins of ancient Ceramics consist of crypts and statues, although all the sculptures were replaced with plaster copies, and the original sculptures and artifacts found during excavations are kept in museums.

!!! "ON A NOTE": One of the big advantages in Athens is that all the sights (not including the Acropolis) can be clearly seen through the fence without paying an entrance fee. Maybe that’s why the Acropolis ticket includes other attractions, otherwise tourists wouldn’t go inside at all. 🙂

To get inside you need to show the guard your ticket for visiting the Acropolis. He will stamp your ticket and give you a brochure describing your seat. English language. At the end of your trip, your ticket will look like this:

Day three 03/16/2015

Monastiraki area

Despite the fact that in two days we had already passed this area more than once, we decided to leave a detailed study of it for the last day.

Monastiraki area "small monastery" is one of the busiest shopping areas in Athens. Named after the small monastery of the Assumption of Our Lady of Athens. located on the square. Monastiraki area is famous for its flea market. It is loved by both city residents and tourists. Here you can find everything: from pins to furniture, items from Greek life and Western culture, and tourist souvenirs. A walk through the market is a journey into the history of the city and all of Greece.