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The city of Athens needs no introduction. Inhabited for more than 7,000 years Athens is the cradle of western civilization.  It is the city where democracy was born and wise men of ancient times like Socrates and Aristotle strolled, conversed and philosophized about almost everything! You can relive the feeling of ancient Athens through its superb archeological masterpieces. Athens’ cultural life invites its guests to travel back in time from classical antiquity to Roman times, the Ottoman Empire and up until today. Not many places in the world offer such rich, historic heritage and enjoy so much cultural diversity.

Since Athens hosted the Olympic Games in 2004, dramatic improvements have taken place. A new subway system has been constructed, there is a new international airport outside the city and the congested downtown streets have been transformed into pedestrian walkways.

The heart of Athens beats in Syntagma (Constitution) Square, where Parliament and most of the Ministries are. Other areas worth visiting include Monastiraki, Kolonaki, Lycabettus Hill and a few kilometers from the historic centre : Faliro, Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni, where you can enjoy the sea breeze. Athens is always in season with comfortable and favourable climate conditions for travel and sightseeing.  The weather in October is quite pleasant and the sea still warm for swimming or other water activities.

Cultural activities may include visits to the numerous museums and archaeological sites scattered through the Attica’s landscape, concerts and shows, as well as leisure visits to the flea market and bazaar area, to the taverns at Plaka just under the rock of the Acropolis, or to the city’s many boutiques.


Archaeological sites

Acropolis

One of the most famous monuments in Athens, the Acropolis (" acro" -end of, " polis" – city), is believed to have been a site of worship since Neolithic ages. The first temples appeared here in 650 B.C. and were built in honour of the goddess Athena, patroness of the city. In the 5th century B.C., also known as the " Golden Age" of Greece, the Athenian general, Pericles, commissioned the construction of the monuments we see today.
 


The Southern Slope of the Acropolis

Many monuments are built on the southern side of Acropolis Hill, which are primarily religious and cultural in character. Several of the monuments were in honour of the god Dionysus.
 


Kerameikos

Kerameikos is named after Keramos, son of Dionysios and Ariadne, hero of potters. The area was used continuously for burials from the 12th century BC for a thousand years. It was also where preparations were made for the Panathenaic procession which was in honor of Athena. If you follow Ermou street down from the Monastiraki train station you will easily find it on your right.


Ancient Athens Agora and Hephaistos Temple

"Agora" in Greek literally means " a place of gathering" and the Agora of Athens was the heart of Athenian life in ancient times. The Athens Agora has a variety of " stoas" , including the Stoa of Attalus that functions as a museum; a temple devoted to Dimitra ,the goddess of crops; the ruins of temples to various other gods and the well-preserved temple of Hephaistus.
 


THOLOS - Interactive Tour of the Athens Agora 

The Foundation of the Hellenic World has recently started operating a virtual reality display of how life was during ancient times in the setting of the Athens Agora.
 


Roman Agora
The Roman Agora is located on the north side of the Acropolis, a short distance to the east of the Athens Agora, with which it was connected by a paved street. Built between 19 and 11 B.C. with a donation from Julius Caesar and Augustus, the Roman Agora comprises of a spacious rectangular courtyard surrounded by stoas, shops and storerooms.
 


Library of Hadrian

The Library of Hadrian is located on the north side of the Acropolis, immediately north of the Roman Agora. The Library of Hadrian provided the people of Athens with a new, multi-purpose, public square and cultural center that contained a garden, works of art, a library, and lecture halls. The complex was built by the Roman emperor Hadrian in 131/2 A.D.