25 Historical Places To Visit in Athens

The Acropolis Museum of Athens is a visual reminder of the astonishing way in which modern architecture embraces the past, providing a transparent setting to showcase priceless antiquities. Standing right at the foot of the Acropolis itself, with this museum, you will be presented with an exceptional trip retracing the history and artwork of ancient Greece. Designed as an exhibition space whose surfaces are mostly made of clear glass which allows the elements of nature, especially light, to illuminate the art contents, one notices a visually interesting contrast between the ancient statues and the modern setting. Tourists have an opportunity to get lost in the museum's galleries, being captivated by the astonishing richness of the elaborate designs of the Carvings and Reliefs that once adorned the temples of the Acropolis. The magnitude of the figures in the pediments and the intricacy of the friezes carvings symbolize as we are being drawn into a world of artist geniuses from the past. Museum layout experience runs through the millennium Athenian civic time order, pointing out how complexly it has changed, from Archaic through to the Roman era. Besides the architectural beauty and the best showcase of ancient artifacts one can only find with Greece, the Acropolis Museum is a reflection of this country’s unsurpassed inheritance and its cultural heritage.

The Tower of the Winds, alternatively called Topos Tou Andronikou Kyrrhou or the Horologion of Andronikos of Kyrrhos, is an amazing ancient structure in the center of Athens. One of the first human observations of weather took place almost two thousand years BC, evidence for which can be found in the water standards of Andronikos of Kyrrhos, the architect of the unique octagonal marble tower. The tower was magnificently decorated with unique reliefs depictions that showed the northern, eastern, southern, and western winds. This made it a sundial, water clock and a compass device used to help ancient Athenians track time, weather patterns and direction with a precision unmatched in other civilizations. Even after several eras of degradation, the popular landmark of Tower of the Winds, a monument of ancient engineering skill, is still remained in its glory during the city. By looking at the Parthenon today, visitors can be mesmerized by its elegant design and wander through its rich history. They can grasp how architecture and technology played a central role in the culture of the ancient Greeks and how they were still relevant when looking at the legacy of the ancient Greeks.

The Anafiotika neighborhood is a little wizened and picturesque where it s just a stone s throw away from the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Its tight, little and white-painted buildings with blue doors and windows often have the color of the Caribbean sea and they can take you to the peaceful serenity of Greek island village life. Predominantly inhabited by craftsmen from the island of Anafiotika, Anafiotika retains its unique Cycladic richness through ages and has become a perfect escape place from the hustle and bustle of the town which is coupled with awe-inspiring views and mere stone-throw distance. Lanes that seem labyrinthine and embellished with mauve bougainvillea and fragrant jasmine become the pathways of the experience that see visitors admiring Acropolis from every point within and below the city. Even though it is situated next to the busy Plaka area, Anafiotika gives off an atmosphere of peace and genuineness that attracts everybody walking from both tourists and locals. Anafiotika would have you discover its hidden corners, indulge in mouthwatering Greek cuisines at a local taverna, or simply get dazed under the warm glow of the sunset over Athenian rooftops. This touches the very heart of old-world Athens and savors it for eternity.

The Civic life pulsed at the core of Athens, the Ancient Agora which served as the heart of the ancient city. Just west of the Acropolis and on the decreasing slopes of this area was the urban heart of Athenian political and commercial life as well as literature and art. From the 6th century BC onwards, the agora was used as a centre of attraction for all public meetings and marketplace transactions as well where Plato, Plato and Pericles are notable examples being Socrates, Plato and Pericles respectively. The tourists experience this grandeur today by wandering among the imposing structures like the Temple of Hephaestus, the well-kept Stoa complexes, and the ancient Bouleuterion, or Senate hall. Agora provides a sacred space full of unique architectural marvels and its beauty and stillness offering extraordinary insights into the development of democracy, law, and philosophy in ancient Greece. The Ancient Agora of Athens emblemizes both democracy and the intellectual quest regardless if you are gazing at the ruins of the memorably high marble columns of ancient era or are having an introspective moment in the middle of olive tree gardens.

The Ageless Burial Site at Kerameikos in Athens sends an explicit message with the flow of time and its presence in the city. This site is located right on the shore of the Eridanos River, carrying the final remains of the residents of Athens from the 9th century BC to the Roman era. Having entered the gates, tourists are met with straight rows of tombstones made of marble, statues of the dead, and funerary sculptures on them, all of which speak of those who once delighted the city streets of Athens. The site encompasses the Dipylon Gate, a grand entrance beautifully designed with elaborate reliefs, and the Sacred Way that bear the elements of a ceremonial road leading to the city centre. The Kerameikos Cemetery not only has its historical significance, but it also offers a quiet atmosphere in the modern Athens filled with the sound of engines, and with that you can peacefully take a stroll through the romantic gardens and shaded roads. Dreary and elegiac Kerameikos once echoed with the footsteps of mourning people, while right now we just can stand and admire all timeless magnificence of its monuments, and that is why a visit to Kerameikos provides an unforgettable glimpse into the flow of existence and mortality in ancient Greece.

The Mycenaean civilization is also the subject of global fame; one of the most excellent examples of its remains is the Mycenae fortress in the northeastern Peloponnese of Greece. By standing scattered around such an important site, the artifacts tell a story of the glorious era of Mycenaean culture. Famous for its enormously imposing circuit walls and fortress, Mycenae's diametrical among all Acropolis's is a tale told by many myths and legends. They embellish this place extraordinarily, making up the fabulous place that it is known for today. Single, epic gate incidentally is the most distinguished part of the site and the Mycenaean rulers could either symbolize power and greatness it by the two lions relief sculpture. Carrying onwards, visitors will see the ruins of the palace complex, including the royal residence, throne room and treasury, where scholars dig out gold masks, gorgeous statues, and ornaments. Close, Treasury of Atreus, a tomb which had colossal tholos and crowned by a huge corbelled dome that surpasses imagination, dwells some profound mysteries about the official funeral practices of Myceneans. The picturesque landscapes, the impressive natural background and above all the historical atmosphere of the site make a visit to Mycenae an unforgettable journey through time, where the whispers of a majestic past still linger within the sagacious shots.

The Próton Nekrótafio, the First Cemetery of Athens which is situated in the heart of the city capital, is a place of the deepest archaeological and cultural heritage. Over a hundred years ago, the area was selected to be an eternal cemetery for many of Greece's most famous people, like writers, artists, politicians and general fighters for the cause of the Greek Independence War. With the shaded walkways, leafy pathways, solemn statues, and ornate mausoleums always close by, the visitors are ushered through a historical retelling of these generations past, the systemic injustice and the marginalization they faced, and all that they endured and overcame to carve a place for their name in history. Henrich Schliemann, the well-known archaeologist, is commemorated by the giant tombstone and everyday Athenians by simple graves but still cemetery is a perfect place for reflection on the cultural variety of Greece and its rough history. Above and beyond its being a crematorium, the first Cemetery in Athens acts as an expansive open-air museum, where visitors can pick the evolution of Greek funerary art and architecture with the reminder that the individuals who have been pioneers in shaping the nation s identity have been resting there.

The Hadrian's Library, which is a part of the Athens' cultural heritage, becomes an illustration of the Empero Hadrian's intellectual legacy. Erected in 1st century B.C. this splendid structure doubled as a library, a hub of philosophical and intellectual debates. The longitudinal layout of colonnades and the abound of marble statues and other reliefs only exemplify the architectural beauty of the Hellenistic era. Within, scrolls and manuscripts, the knowledgeable treasures of the age, used to fill up the shelves, attracting scholars and thinkers from here and all around the Mediterranean area. Today, almost the remainder of its original architecture has been lost to the erosion of time. Nevertheless, visitors can enjoy looking at the library’s facade ruins and undertake tours tracing its archaeological remains like the monumental entrance propylon and the reconstructed reading rooms. Besides,the Hadrian's Library gives you a visual image of the ancient Athens intellectual world, where thoughts,prospects and philosophy were elevated by providing basis of knowledge. The museum presents a myriad of exhibitions that guests while getting to know the great personalities of the past and understanding that knowledge is an everlasting wellspring of enlightenment, they are reminded of the influential power of learning throughout ages.

The Mediusan Hangaras, nestled in the middle of the Athenian’s historical metropolis, weaves a visual and auditory tapestry before people that embodies the city’s ecleticness. Market's vibrant streets with mobile stands filled with a diversity of colors to its meandering streets laden with multiple treasures have offered navigational riddles at every step. Shoppers can devote much time here to sort through the giant collection items – handmade crafts or vintage clothes, antiques or souvenirs - while enjoying the hustle and bustle of the marketplace at the same time The smell of freshly roasted nuts mixes with the aroma of spices of an oriental origin, while entrepreneurs announce links sounding with the laughter of buyers and the soothing melodies of Greek music. Apart from being a shopping spot, Monastiraki Flea Market has also become a cultural icon that provides a for local and international enthusiasts alike to meet and boost the colorful soul of Athens. Either during a search for unique items with vendors in the area nearby, by tasting a traditional Greek delicious meal at a local taverna or simply soaking in the vivid sights and sounds of that lively little flea-market, Monastiraki is an exciting destination a visitor can go to enjoy the rhythm of the city.

Lycabettus Hill, which is somewhere central in the capital of Athens, presents an unimaginably beautiful view of the full extent of the Greek capital and the view of the surrounding landscape. Rising at 300 metres above sea level, this limestone hill is much rewarding for somebody with a good sense of direction who likes break-taking panoramic view of an unforgettable clear horizon stretching from the Acropolis to the Saronic Gulf. Also, the hill has a strong draw to those. This peak can be reached either by foot, on a scenic aerial car, or by car via some curving roads, but the peak rewards the quiet time and a sense of solitude in spite of its close echelon to the noisy metropolis. On the hilltop of Mount Lycabettus with its white-washed chapel of Agios Georgios, the magic of the evening takes place with the colors of the sky changing from day into night starting off with turquoise and ending up deep violet. People take up the mountain not only because of the beauty it radiates but because it is believed to hold an old Athenian history and ancient myths and legends are connected to its long slopes. As varied as it is magnificent, Mount Lycabettus consists of pine forest topped with breathtaking vistas that provide constant appeal for those visitors who seek to escape the hustle and bustle of modern, urban life, with the same summons as magic earth which held Athens so deeply within its heart.