Athens – Unveiled by the locals!

tourHQ Editorials

16 Feb 2015 | 7 mins read

By: Sally Goldenberg

Athens, the cradle of the greatest ancient civilisation and the capital of sunny Greece, is also its cultural and economic centre. While the origins of the city are buried in legends and lost in the mists of time, today it proudly displays its legacy with more than 250 museums, galleries and temples, a palimpsest of its glorious culture and history.

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First and foremost, any visitor to Athens will head over to see its most famous masterpiece, the Acropolis, towering over the city. It was in the 7^th century BC that the restructuring of the Imperial Palace, previously located on the hill of the Acropolis led to the foundation of the Parthenon, its first and most significant temple built in honour of the goddess Athena, the patron of the city. Ask your Greek tour guide about the highlights of the grand historical events that saturated this ancient site, as you stroll through the legendary temples of Hephaestus, Erechtheion, Athene Nike and Propylaea, to be amazed by their elegance and perfect proportions.

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It is interesting to note that most of the statues on the Acropolis are copies and right after visiting the ruins, it is best to go straight to the New Acropolis Museum nearby, where visitors can see the originals, as well as other exhibits found during various excavations.

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While Athens is a modern day metropolis, ancient artefacts can be found almost everywhere. A stroll through the maze of narrow streets of Plaka situated at the base of the Acropolis shows up the stark contrast between the ancient buildings and modern architecture. Your Athens tour guide will tell you that that this is one of the oldest quarters of the city, as can be sensed from every single stone, street and tree saturated with thousands of years of history. Although the hustle and bustle in this area continues till after midnight, there still exists a unique sense of peace and order that can be felt through the neat rows of houses nestled here!

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Walking the streets towards Monastiraki, where one of the busiest flea markets is located, one can also find the ancient Agora – the market place and home to the national court, shopping arcades, theatres and schools of Ancient Greece. This is where Socrates was executed; today visitors can freely walk around this sacred place under the open sky.

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Right here, on the slopes of the Acropolis one can also find the infamous Roman amphitheatre Odeon of Herodotus, built between 160 and 174 BC. This magnificent theatre with a capacity of up to 5000 people has of late provided the stage to famous performances by famous artists like Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Sting and Yanni among others; it still continues to host events and concerts, especially during the summer.

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One of the first things that strike travellers who arrive to Athens is the mountain Lykavittos, rising 300 meters above the sea level. Located in the heart of Athens, there is a wonderful observation deck located on the top from where one can get one of the most gorgeous panoramic views of the city. Locals frequent this place for romantic evenings and various events that take place in the ancient amphitheatre!

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One of the most famous places in Athens is the Syntagma Square, with the historic building of the Hellenic Parliament, located next to the monument of the Unknown Soldier. It is an absolute must to take a picture with one of the evozni – the honorary presidential guards, dressed in traditional clothing, who keep guard as well as witness the change of the Evzoni that takes place daily at 11:00 a.m. While there, remember to sneak a peek at the Tsaruchi, the traditional shoes worn by the guards, which look like clogs with huge pompoms, and weigh up to 5 kilos!

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From here, Athens tour guides advise a leisurely stroll down the Zappeion, the Royal Garden located right behind the Parliament, which serves as a refuge from the heat during the summer. This leads right up to the Panathenaic stadium, an impressive structure that was made entirely of marble in 329 BC and could host up to 50,000 people. The stadium was rebuilt in the 19^th century to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896!

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Another important landmark to visit in Athens is Cape Sounio, a small rocky peninsula, overlooking the deep waters of the Aegean Sea, and the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon. Mentioned in Homer’s ‘Odyssey’, this is a stunning place to watch the sunset while sipping on a cold Frappe or exquisite Greek coffee. The nearby sanctuary of Poseidon, built on top of a cliff in 490 BC was destroyed, but one can still see the remains of a magnificent temple, with marble columns giving the structure a unique grandeur.

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While it is highly unlikely that even the residents of the city would have visited all of theses fantastic attractions, of the ones you pick and choose to visit, do make it a point to pen in the temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian Arch nearby, the National Archaeological museum boasting exhibits from Ancient Greece itself, the Benaki Museum known for its substantial collection of Greek and Byzantine art and the shopping street of Ermou to pick up souvenirs as reminders of the treasures of this magical city.

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After all this extensive sightseeing, it is time for some fun as well as indulgence in gastronomic delights! Why not head down to the Vouliagmeni or Astir private beaches in the Athenian Riviera for a quick dip in the turquoise blue sea. Then go ahead and devour the best of Mediterranean cuisine in one of the fish taverns on the seafront in Voula, Glyfada or Alimos. Follow it up with a cocktail in one of the pubs located in the centre, near Kolonaki or Syntagm, where stunning panoramic views of the city await.

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Part of the fun in Greece is that no one winds down before midnight. There are various night clubs and bars that the locals frequent, and these move depending on the season –located at the seaside in the summer, and in the centre, namely Psyrri, in the winter. However, the most preferred entertainment as any Greece tour guide will inform you, are at the ‘bouzoukia’; music clubs where famous Greek pop singers perform on the weekend. Locals come here to rent a table and throw carnation flowers at the singer as a sign of appreciation! The singing and the dancing on the tables don’t stop till early morning!

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Athens, interestingly the birthplace of democracy, is one of the oldest European cities, with a rich history and culture, ancient monuments and famous landmarks. The city promises visitors a holiday not only replete with a grand dose of history and culture, but also one enriched with fun, romance and shopping. The Greeks are a friendly people, who not only know how to eat well, drink good coffee and dance till the break of dawn; they also love their capital and so will any visitor who comes here!

(Sally has been traveling the world since 2012 and loves writing about her insights from her globe trotting lifestyle! )

Athens – Unveiled by the locals!

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