To most tourists, Athens connotes an image of the Acropolis standing above the city with the proud Parthenon beckoning us to explore and sample its three millennia of history. The Acropolis was dedicated to Athena, its patron goddess. Although evidence exists that location of the Acropolis has been an important religious site since 4,000 B.C., the view that we have of the site today memorializes Athens in the 5th century B.C., when the extant historic buildings were erected after earlier buildings were destroyed by the Persians. The Acropolis (the Sacred Rock) was originally a religious sanctuary restricted to a favored few. Its buildings were temples honoring the gods important to the Athenians and only the "approved" could enter and worship.
As the power of Athens and Greece faded, the temples were used by invaders for many purposes, few of which involved attempting to preserve the monuments. You should not expect to be allowed into the interior of any of the monuments, as they are very fragile. Your exploration will consist of examining the exteriors and unless you have a guide or have joined a tour, you will miss much of the interesting detail and history of the site.
Our Athens map shows all of the important locations on the Acropolis. (If you have a broadband connection, take a look at the map using the Satellite option (zoom in) to see the details of the Acropolis.)
The Parthenon (5th century B.C. - shown below)), dedicated to Athena (the patron goddess of Athens), is the most interesting monument on the Acropolis and it visually dominates the rock. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to the temple and it is in a precarious state, although it is being carefully renovated. The statues and friezes that originally adorned the Parthenon (known as the Elgin Marbles) were removed at shipped to the British Museum in the early 19th century. These historical pieces are currently a bone of contention between the Greek and the British governments. During the occupation of Athens by the Turks, who allowed the British to remove the Elgin Marbles, the Parthenon was used to store gunpowder. As the result of a bombardment by the Venetians in the 17th century, a cannon ball caused the gunpowder to explode, nearly destroying the entire structure.
The Old Museum of the Acropolis , contained statues and friezes from the site, but has been replaced by the new Acropolis Museum.
The new 150,000 square foot Museum is located just to the south east of the Acropolis and is served by the Athens Metro (head to the Akropoli Station).
Statues and other art from the "old" museum and from the temples on the Acropolis have been transported to the new museum.
Other artifacts from the Acropolis and surrounding areas are stored in Athens's National Archaeological Museum, which is the largest museum in Greece and one of the best archaeological museums in the world. This noted museum contains impressive collections of prehistoric finds, as well as treasures from the Golden Age of Greece, including sculptures, pottery and bronzes.
The Plaka, sitting below the Acropolis, is a pedestrian only zone that caters to shoppers and features many cafes/restaurants and shopping (mostly mementoes) . The Plaka's architecture is mixed and not especially old, but this is a fun section of Athens. Consider having a meal at one of the many restaurants on the streets leading to the Plaka. Meals here can be "touristy", but the fish and seafood are often excellent.
While we are on the subject of food, it is unlikely that you will find a good seafood meal at the port of Piraeus. We note this because most cruises depart from Piraeus and manage to lure cruisers in with the thought of a romantic dinner at the harbor. Our suggestion - skip it! You will find better meals almost anywhere in Athens.
The Agora Museum in Athens
The ancient Agora was once the historical core of Athens. It was conquered and destroyed several times and reached its peak around the Second century B.C. The area was excavated over the past one hundred and fifty years, although archeological digs continue today. The area features several interesting temples (particularly the well-preserved Temple of Hephaistos), various statues and numerous altars. The Agora Museum, housed in a reconstructed building (a stoa from the agora), is well worth a visit. The museum's holdings are mainly treasures recovered from the Agora and provide a glimpse of life in the birthplace of democracy.
If you have time, visit Mt. Lycabettus, the highest spot in Athens. Take the funicular to the top for a panoramic view of the city. You can also climb the steps, if you prefer to make it a workout. The hill is topped with a small chapel and a touristy restaurant. Of course, there is more to do in Athens than we have covered, but you will be sorely pressed to find anyone who would prefer to remain in Athens when they could be exploring the rest of the county, especially the Greek Isles.
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