SUGGESTED ITINERARY (which can be altered according to your wishes)
Full
Day Athens Tour includes a visit to: The Acropolis [where you will see the Masterpieces which were build ''during the Golden Age of Pericles'': The Parhenon, Propylea, The Temple of Athena Nike, Erechthion, The Cariatides], The New Acropolis Museum*, The Temple of Zeus, The Panathenaic Stadium (also known as The Kallimarmaro; the original stadium built in 1863 for the first modern Olympic games in 1896), The Hill of Lycabettous, The Old Palace, The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and The Changing of The Guards, The Plaka for lunch and finally The Greek Agora, The Roman Agora and The Tower of Winds.
* Please note that The New Acropolis Museum is closed on Mondays so it is replaced by the National Archaeological Museum.
BREAKDOWN OF TOUR TIME (tentative)
From
and to the Piraeus port (1h), The Acropolis (about 1h30m), The
New Acropolis Museum (about 1h30m), The Temple of Zeus and The Panathenaic
Stadium (45m), The Hill of Lycabettous (45m), The Old Palace,
The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and
The Changing of The Guards (30m), Plaka for lunch (1h), The Greek Agora, The Roman Agora and The Tower of Winds (2h).
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN ATHENS
- The Acropolis: (Parthenon, Propylea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion and the Cariatides, Herodion Theater). For thousands of years the Acropolis has been the symbol of Athens, the sacred rock, the link that connects the magnificent ancient civilization with the modern. The Acropolis and its monuments, its history and the myths that are connected with it are rightly the pride and the glory of this city, the envy of all other cities in the world. These is no Greek or foreign visitor who does not want to make the pilgrimage to the sacred rock and absorb its magnificence and beauty. If you have never been to the Acropolis I assure you it is a unique and unforgettable experience.
- The
Parthenon: is the unique masterpiece of the world. You will realize it yourself the moment you stand in front of it and learn a little of its history and the secrets of its construction. The beauty, harmony and grace of this monument make a really lasting impression on everyone who sees it. Today admission to the Parthenon is prohibited due to the restoration work that has been taking place there since 1983. This will not prevent you from admiring this unique temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and built of white marble from Penteli. Under the Parthenon of the Classical times there are remains of the monumental Ur-Parthenon, an archaic temple dated in late 6th century B.C. The architects of the classical temple, which was constructed and decorated between 447 and 432 B.C. during the Golden Age of Perikles, were Iktinos and kallicrates. The Parthenon housed the golden-ivory statue of Athena, work of the famous sculptor Pheidias. This statue was the final destination of the Great Panathenaea procession, depicted on the frieze of the temple.
- The
Theater of Dionysus: Pass through the entrance to the archaeological
site at the southern slope of the Acropolis in Dionysiou Aeropaghitou
Street and start climbing. On your left you will see the oldest
of all known theatres in the world, the theatre of Dionysus. Here,
the four greatest ancient Greek poets, Aeschylos, Aristophanes,
Euripides and Sophokles, saw their plays being performed for the
first time, in the 5th century B.C. The koilon (cavea) and the proskoinion
(stage) were originally of wood. They were reconstructed of marble
during the 4th century B.C. Today only parts of the stone koilon
have survived. Experts estimate that the theatre could accommodate
17,000 spectators.
- The Areopagus: is the most ancient court of law, a place most
respected in ancient times. Here was the seat of the first aristocratic
parliament of ancient Athens. In time this parliament started to
lose its political power and from the second half of the 5th century
B.C. it had only judicial responsibility and particularly that of
trying murderers. In this court, as is described in Oresteia, Orestes
was judged for the murder of his mother Clytaemnestra and her lover
Aegisthos. It was from this spot, as we learn from the bronze tablet
at the base of the rock, that Saint Paul delivered his first sermon
to the Athenians, in AD 51.
- The Monument of Philopappus: [Filopappou, AD 114-116]. This was erected
as a monument to Gaius Julius Antiochus Philopappus, a benefactor
of Athens, on a hill opposite to the Acropolis with a splendid view
over the entire basin of Attica.
- The Pnyx Hill: The Pnyx is situated between the Hill of the Muses,
upon which stands the Monument of Philopappou, and the Hill of the
Nymphs, where the tomb of Kimon was found and where the Observatory
stands today. This semi-circular area was the place of gathering
for all the citizens of ancient Athens. They gathered here in order
to hear the famous orators who spoke from the stone-cut tribune
in its middle. It is believed that it could accommodate up to 10,000
people at a time.
- The Ancient Greek Agora: was the civic, religious and commercial center
of the Athenian life set with appropriate buildings. Among these
was the Stoa of Attalus erected by Attalus II, king of Pergamum
[159-138 B.C]. Now, since its restoration, is used as a Museum
housing interesting finds, especially from the excavations in
the area of the Museum housing interesting finds, especially
from the excavation in the area of the Agora.
- The Ancient Roman Agora: Located at the beginning of Eolou street. The clock
of Andronikos Kyrrhestes; is an octagonal marble tower near
the west gate of the Roman Market. Its sides are adorned with reliefs
representing the winds [thus Tower of Winds].
- Hadrian’s Library: [2nd century AD] built by the emperor Hadrian.
- Hadrian’s
Arch: This marked the boundary between the ancient city of Theseus
and the new city built by Hadrian [corner of Vassilissis Olgas and
Amalias Avenues].
- The Temple of The Olympian Zeus: [at the junction of Vassilissis
Olgas and Amalias Avenues]. It is the largest ancient temple
in Greece in the Corinthian order.
- The Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro): is the original stadium built in the
1800s for the first modern Olympic games in 1896.
- The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier: A monument over which a guard
of honor keeps vigil. And The Changing of The Guards which takes place every hour. The 11 a.m. changing of guard on Sundays is a picturesque small ceremony.
- The Greek House of Parliaments (The Old Palace): This is a neoclassical building
overlooking the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Formerly used as
the residential palace of Greece’s first king, Otto [1832-1862],
it houses since 1933 the Greek Parliament. Adjoining the building
is the National Garden stretching as far as the Zappeion exhibition
and Congress Hall, which stands in its own park.
- The Hill of Lycabettus: Clad in pinewoods and crowned by the picturesque
white chapel of st. George the hill provides a fine panoramic
view over the entire city. There is a restaurant and pastryshop
on the top. Access is by funicular or footpath
- Syntagma Square: Below the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stretches
the most central square in Athens lined by a large number of
pastryshops, which are usually filled with a lively crowd of
Athenians and foreigners.
- The Plaka: is the oldest and most picturesque quarter in Athens
spreading around the Acropolis. Single storey houses set next
to elegant mansions flank winding, narrow alleys. There are
also several small taverns and nightclubs as well as shops selling
popular arts and crafts. Combined, they make Plaka one of the
most attractive corners of Athens.
- Monastiraki Square:
This is in reality an extension of Plaka. It is the part of
the city with the greatest number of antique dealers and gift
shops of every kind.
- Iliou
Melathron: Formerly the home of the celebrated archaeologist
Heinrich Schliemann, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in
Athens and stands at the upper end of Panepistimiou st. On the same
street a little further down, are the neoclassical buildings of
the Academy, the University and the National Library.
THE MUSEUMS IN ATHENS
- The New Acropolis Museum: is located in Athens historic area of Makriyianni. It stands less than a 300m away from the Parthenon which can be viewed from the glass gallery. It opened on June 20th, 2009 after 30 years of planning. It is designed in a way that allows visitors to see all the exhibits in natural light and incorporates a number of on-site excavations including a large urban settlement dated from the Archaic to Early Christian Athens.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 8:00-20:00, Monday: closed
- The National Archaeological Museum: is the largest museum in
Greece and one of the world's greatest museums. Although its original
purpose was to secure all the finds from the nineteenth century
excavations in and around Athens, it gradually became the central
National Archaeological Museum and was enriched with finds from
all over Greece. Its abundant collections, with more than 20,000
exhibits, provide a panorama of Greek civilization from the
beginnings of Prehistory to Late Antiquity.
The
museum is housed in an imposing neoclassical building of the
end of the nineteenth century, which was designed by L. Lange
and remodelled by Ernst Ziller. The vast exhibition space -
numerous galleries on each floor accounting for a total of 8,000
square metres - house five large permanent collections: The
Prehistoric Collection, which includes works of the great civilizations
that developped in the Aegean from the sixth millennium BC to
1050 BC (Neolithic, Cycladic, Mycenaean), and finds from the
prehistoric settlement at Thera. The Sculptures Collection,
which shows the development of ancient Greek sculpture from
the seventh to the fifth centuries BC with unique masterpieces.
The Vase and Minor Objects Collection, which contains representative
works of ancient Greek pottery from the eleventh century BC
to the Roman period and includes the Stathatos Collection, a
corpus of minor objects of all periods. The Metallurgy Collection,
with many fundamental statues, figurines and minor objects.
And, finally, the only Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities
Collection in Greece, with works dating from the pre-dynastic
period (5000 BC) to the Roman conquest.
The
museum possesses a rich photographic archive and a library with
many rare publications, the latter of which is constantly enriched
to meet the needs of the research staff. There are also modern
conservation laboratories for metal, pottery, stone and organic
materials, a cast workshop, a photographic laboratory and a
chemistry laboratory. The museum has temporary exhibition spaces,
a lecture hall for archaeological lectures and one of the largest
shops of the Archaeological Receipts Fund.
The
National Archaeological Museum welcomes thousands of visitors
each year. Besides displaying its own treasures, it organizes
temporary exhibitions and lends artefacts to exhibitions both
in Greece and abroad. It also functions as a research center
for scientists and scholars from around the world and participates
in special educational and other programs. An important feature
is the availability of guided visits for people with hearing
impediments. The Museum functions as a Special Regional Service
of the Ministry of Culture and its five permanent collections
are administered autonomously.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday: 8:00-19:00, Monday: 12:30-19:00 Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: 8:30-15:00 (there is an internet cafe right next door)
- The Benaki Museum: Starting at the bottom floor and going up through the various
periods of Greek history, my favorite part is the third floor
and the heroes of the Greek Revolution. Just walk up Vass Sophias
from Syntagma with the National Gardens on your right. Then
you reach the end of the Gardens look to your left and that
is it. The Benaki has opened two more branches in the area around
Psiri on Agios Asamaton Street and on Piraeus Street.
Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9:00-17:00
Thursday and Sunday it closes early.
Tuesday it is closed.
- The Goulandris Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek
Art: This
outstanding collection of ancient Cycladic art is excellently
curated.
Opening hours: Open
daily except Sundays and Tuesdays 10:00-16:00. Neofytou
Douka St 4 Koloniki.
- The Kerameikos Museum: The ancient cemetery
of Athens at the bottom of Ermou past the Monastiraki flea market
has a nice little museum. Lots of pottery and tombstones.
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 8:30-15:00. Closed Monday
- The Greek Folk Art Museum: Embroideries, wood carvings, jewelery, and other traditional
folk art. The museums not-to-be-missed collection of ceramics
is housed in a beautifully renovated former mosque at 1 Areos
Street on Monastiriki Square.
Opening hours: Open daily except Mondays
10:00-14:00.
Kydatheneon St 17 Plaka. Tel. 210-323-1577
- The Jewish Museum: Before the Nazi occupation and the decimation of Greece's Jewish
population, many of Greece's Jewish communities traced their
roots back to the Spanish Inquisition and before to Classical
Greece. Art and artifacts from Jewish communities through the
ages, as well as documentation of the Holocaust amkes this museum
a cultural treasure. This museum was the creation of Nikos Stavrolakis.
Opening hours: Daily 9:00-14:30, except Saturdays and Sundays
10:00-14:00
Nikis street 39 in the Plaka. Tel. 210-323-1577
- The National Gallery: The permanent collection of modern Greek painters and international
contempory artists includes large-scale sculptures.
Opening Hours: Daily 9:00-15:00. Open Sunday 10:00-14:00. Closed Tuesday.
Vas Konstandinou street 50 (opposite the Hilton). Tel. 210-723-5937
- The National Historical Museum: This museum is perfect for those interested in the Greek War
of Independence and it's artifacts.
Opening Hours: Daily 9:00-13:30.
Closed Mondays. Free on Sunday.
Stadiou street 13 (in the old Parliament Building). Tel. 210-323-7617
- The Museum of Popular Musical Instruments: You can wander around listening to different instruments and
styles of music through headphones at each exhibit.
Opening Hours: Daily
10:00-14:00. Wednesday 12:00-18:00. Closed on Mondays.
Admission Free. 1-2
Diogenes St Plaka. Tel. 210-325-0198
- The Byzantine Museum: The Museum of Byzantine Culture, one of the most modern museums
in Greece, offers an overall impression of Byzantine civilization
through a number of original displays and multi-faceted activities.
The museum's purpose is to assemble, safeguard, study and promote
art and artefacts of the Early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval
and Post-byzantine periods. The artefacts in the museum's collection
come from Macedonia, in particular from Thessaloniki, the most
important centre in the European part of the Byzantine Empire
after Constantinople.
Opening Hours:
Tuesdays to Sunday 8:30-15:00.
Vasilissis Sofias Ave 22 Tel 210-721-1027
-The War
Museum:
War implements from ancient times to this century including
armor, swords, torpedos, and fighter planes. Photographs of
various Greek campaigns and battles.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday
9:00-14:00. Sunday 9:30-14:00. Closed Mondays.
Admission free.
Rizari Street 2 and Vass. Sofias Avenue (next to the Byzantine
Museum. Tel. 210-729-0543
-The Theatrical Museum: Greek theatre History. Photographs, programs, masks, costumes,
posters etc.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00-14:30. Closed
Saturday and Sunday. Admission free.
Acadamias st 14. Tel. 210-362-9430
-The Greek Historical Costume Museum
Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00-13:00 Thursday: 17:30-20:30 Entrance Free.
Dimokritou st 7n Kolonaki.
SHOPPING
Athens
is a city full of pleasant surprises for the shopper who is looking
for unique purchases and good bargains. Gold and silver jewellery
is a major area of interest, given the world famous unique Greek
designs. The numerous jewellery shops, which you will find in the
areas of Plaka, Syntagma, and Kolonaki, carry a wide selection of
museum reproductions of ancient Greek pieces of jewellery, as well
as traditional and fashionable ones. Most of them are handmade by
local craftsmen.
I
highly recommend you visit the Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum.
This Museum houses over 3,000 jewellery designs. Its 45 collections
display the history of the Greek jewellery. Jewellery
inspired by the art and architecture of eleven different civilizations,
by nature, technology and biology. The Museum is located at the
foot of the Acropolis.
The
place to look for the unique Greek ceramics and pottery is in the
Peloponnese (Argolida). A couple of the designer ceramists and potters
have shops there and they still make them in the traditional way
(2500 years ago).
FREE ADMISSION DAYS
- 6 March (In memory of Melina Mercouri)
- 18 April (International Monument Day)
- 18 May (International Museum Day)
- 5 June (International Enviroment Day)
- 27 September (International Tourism Day)
- Sundays in the period between 1 November and 31 March
- The first Sunday of every month, exept for July, August and September (when the 1st Sunday is Holiday, then the 2nd is the free admission day)
- National Holidays
FREE ENTRANCE
- Persons under 19
- Journalists
- Soldiers carrying out their military service
- Tour guides
- University students from Greece and the E.U
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