Athens, past and present

The old world comes colliding with the fascinating hues of the new here, right in the heart of ancient Greece. Athens, the glorious old capital city has innumerable museums and historic centres for travellers. Its open-air museum is a good place to start with if you wish to know where the city’s cultural nerve lies. The Acropolis is one of the most interesting sites to behold at Athens; this 5th century BC old museum is a masterpiece holding masterpieces from the world over. Then, there is the Parthenon, which is the true relic of ancient Greece; the temple is dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the Goddess, and was completed way back in 438 BC. All these historic treats alongside some fascinating al-fresco cafes and restaurants make your Athenian stay worthwhile. Not to forget that the languid beaches of Athens can make you forget yourself. The beauty of Athens is a heady mix of love, life, and history. Enjoy.

The Panathenaic stadium- built in the 4th century BC- served as the venue for athletic contests of the Panathenaic games. These games laid the foundation for the modern Olympic Games. In fact, the first international Summer Olympic Games were held in this stadium in 1896. Nestled between two pine-covered hills, this stadium, along with beautiful scenery, offers a glimpse of Greek sporting history.

The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most important ancient sights in the world. It is an ancient citadel, placed on a rocky pedestal and contains the vestiges of Greek art and architecture. Some of the major archaeological remains located here are the Parthenon, Old Temple of Athena, Erechtheum, the Theatre of Dionysus etc.

Located in the southern foothills of the Acropolis, this museum exhibits the remnants of the Acropolis, including artefacts that were previously housed in other museums. The Acropolis museums showcases collection of items from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine periods, but it focuses specially on the Acropolis of the 5th century BC, which marked the pinnacle of Greek art and architecture.

Housed on the Acropolis, this structure was constructed as a temple dedicated to Goddess Athena, who is considered as a patron by the people of Athens. Parthenon is decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures, which are considered a brilliant example of iconic Greek art. This beautiful monument is regarded as the symbol of Greek politics, democracy and Western civilization.

This ancient theatre, probably built during the 6th century BCE, laid the foundation for the contemporary Greek plays and dramas. This theatre was dedicated to Dionysis, the God of wines, ecstasy and revelry, whose festivals acted as a catalyst in the emergence and subsequent development of Greek theatre. This theatre was a popular venue for theatrical performances of plays by Greek tragic poets such as Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus.

This temple- built in the Doric order- is dedicated to Hephaestus, the patron God of metal-working and craftsmanship. The Greek god Hephaestus, interestingly, was born with a physical defect. He was lame and worked as a blacksmith. It is believed that he created the armour worn by Achilles in the famous battle of Troy. From AD 1300 until 1834, the Temple of Hephaestus served as the Church of St. George Akamates - a soldier in the Roman army, later exalted as a martyr who sacrificed his life for the cause of Christianity. It was the first temple in Athens to be made entirely of marble.

This lofty limestone hill is the highest point in Athens and a popular tourist destination. There is a cable car that carries visitors to the top of the hill, but one also has the option of walking all the way. It is an intense, tiring hike to the top, and it is only recommended if the visitor is an adventure enthusiast. But all this is worth the effort, because this hill offers some of the most enchanting views of the city. It is an ideal place to spend time in the vicinity of nature, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. At its two peaks, this hill houses a 19th century Chapel of St. George, a theatre and a restaurant.

The Kerameikos Archaeological Park originally was a thirty centuries old cemetery, and was later converted into a historical site. Located in the north-western part of Athens, the part of Kerameikos inside the city walls was essentially a site dominated by ceramic pottery workshops, and the part outside the city wall served as a burial ground. Many historical items and artefacts, dating as back as 3rd millennium BC have been excavated here. This park houses approximately thousand tombs from the 4th and 5th century BC. It also has a museum – built in the neo-classical style- that exhibits the most extensive collection of artefacts related to Greek burials. The items kept here range from majestic marble structures to small funerary objects such as urns, jewellery, toys etc.

This legendary Greek temple - located on the Acropolis of Athens – is dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, courage and justice and Poseidon, the ‘God of the sea’. It has derived its name from an ancient shrine dedicated to the mythical hero, Erichthonius, who- according to the legend-was born of the soil and raised by Goddess Athena. This temple is adorned with carvings depicting the lives of Athena, Poseidon and Erichthonius.

One of the most important museums in the world, the National Archaeological museum, Athens, exhibits some of the most captivating Greek artefacts, dating from the prehistoric times to late antiquity ( c. 235 – 284 AD). It showcases an incredible collection of exquisite sculptures, pottery and jewellery, excavated from various locations in Greece. A visit to this museum is an informative and enriching experience, especially for a first time visitor to Greece.

Syntagma Square, the heart of the city of Athens, is constantly brimming with energy, vigour and excitement. It is situated in front of the 19th century old Royal Palace, which is a home to the Parliament of Greece since 1934. This square is dotted with various eateries serving delicious authentic Greek delicacies, and some shops which sell local merchandise.

The ancient town of Plaka - located in the neighbourhood of Athens- mesmerizes the visitors with its clustered, cobbled streets and neo-classical architecture. Popularly referred to as the 'Neighbourhood of Gods’, because of its proximity to the Acropolis, Plaka houses many sites of historical and archaeological significance. The Frissiras Museum exhibits some of the important collections discovered during the excavations conducted in Plaka.

Monastiraki – a flea market situated in the heart of Plaka – is a place bustling with infectious energy and activities. Its invigorating ambience attracts both the tourists and the visitors alike and it offers a festive atmosphere all the year round. This place is dotted with shops selling local gifts and souvenirs and authentic Greek snacks.

With history spanning around 3400 years, Athens, the capital and largest city of Greece, transcends the boundaries of time and age, and takes us to an era unspoiled by the vagaries of modernization. Arts, philosophy and culture blossomed and flourished in this city because of which it is widely acknowledged as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. But, despite its rich cultural heritage, Athens does not merely bask in its past glories, but is constantly progressing economically, socially and politically. This city - now a modern metropolis - is the backbone of Greek culture, business and economy. It is the place, where the past and the present blend together to carve a propitious future.