On Friday the 6th February we awoke up at Ibis Styles hotel and after breakfast we walked down to the Metro and caught this to the Acropolis Station. We alighted and walked out the station and up the hill towards the Acropolis. We reach the ticket office at 0947 hours and purchase our tickets, just after a largish queue began, looks like we were just in time.
We begin the climb up the South Slope of the Acropolis.
We first come across the Theatre of Dionysos.
The Theatre of Dionysus is an ancient Greek theatre in Athens. It is built on the south slope of the Acropolis hill, originally part of the sanctuary of Dionysus Eleuthereus (Dionysus the Liberator). The first orchestra terrace was constructed on the site around the mid- to late-sixth century BC, where it hosted the City Dionysia. The theatre reached its fullest extent in the fourth century BC under the epistates of Lycurgus , when it would have had a capacity of up to 25,000, and was in continuous use down to the Roman period. The theatre then fell into decay in the Byzantine era and was not identified, excavated and restored to its current condition until the nineteenth century.
The Theatre of Dionysus is widely regarded as the world's first theatre and the birthplace of Greek tragedy, comedy, and satire. Located on the southern slope of the Acropolis of Athens, it was dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine and drama, and served as the primary venue for the Great Dionysia festival.
The Birth of Drama: This stage hosted the world premieres of masterpieces by legendary playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes.
Evolution of Architecture: Originally a wooden structure built in the 6th century BC, it was reconstructed in stone and marble during the 4th century BC under the statesman Lycurgus, reaching a capacity of approximately 17,000 to 25,000 spectators.
Political Hub: Beyond performances, the theatre served as a meeting place for the Athenian Assembly when it moved from the Pnyx.
The Orchestra: The circular "dancing place" where the chorus performed. Today, the visible floor features a Roman-era marble pavement from around 61 AD.
The Cavea (Theatron): The tiered seating area built into the natural hillside. Roughly 20 of the original 64–78 rows of limestone seats survive.
Prohedria (VIP Seats): The front row consists of 67 marble thrones reserved for high-ranking officials and priests. The most ornate, central throne belonged to the High Priest of Dionysus.
The Skene: The foundations of the stage building remain. It was here that actors changed masks and costumes, giving us the modern word "scene".
We continue walking up we walk by the Asclepieion of Athens.
The Asclepieion of Athens is an ancient Greek healing sanctuary dedicated to the god of medicine, Asclepius, and his daughter Hygieia, established around 420 BCE. Located on the southern slope of the Acropolis, it served as a spiritual and physical hospital, known for its "temple sleep" (enkoimesis) where patients sought healing visions.
Location: Situated on the south slope of the Acropolis, between the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
Establishment: Founded during the Peloponnesian War (around 420-419 BC), potentially in response to the plague, by a citizen named Telemachos.
Purpose: It was not a conventional hospital but a religious healing centre where, after purification rituals, patients would sleep in the abaton (a sacred, covered portico), hoping the god would cure them or advise a cure in their dreams.
Key Structures: The complex included the temple of Asclepius, a sacred spring for purification, a sacrificial altar, and two porticos (stoas)—a two-storied Doric stoa for patients and a later, smaller stoa.
Archaeological Remains: Today, visitors can see the foundations of the complex, parts of the Doric stoa, and a sacred cave.
Symbolism: The god was associated with a snake-entwined staff, a symbol still used in medicine today.
Healing Process: Priests often acted as interpreters of the dreams experienced during "temple sleep," guiding patients toward treatments like baths or exercise.
Legacy: The site is a key example of the shift toward holistic health practices in ancient Greece.
We continue onwards and upwards reaching the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus(also known as the Herodeion) is a world-renowned ancient stone theatre located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis in Athens. For 2026, the venue has officially entered a multi-year restoration phase, meaning it will not host cultural events or performances throughout the year.
Built in AD 161 by the wealthy Roman senator Herodes Atticus, the theatre was a tribute to his late wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla.
It originally featured a three-story stone front wall and a massive wooden roof made of cedar of Lebanon.
The original structure was destroyed by the Heruli in AD 267. It remained in ruins until a major restoration in the 1950s transformed it into the primary venue for the Athens Epidaurus Festival.
Over the decades, it has hosted legendary performers including Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Foo Fighters, The Stranglers, Alice Cooper, Sting. And many more!
As we climb up further we climb the steps up to the Parthenon.
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| A view down from the Acropolis to the Temple of Hephaestus. |
The Parthenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, that was dedicated to the goddess Athena. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of classical Greek art, and the Parthenon is considered an enduring symbol of ancient Greece, Western civilisation, and democracy.
The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC in thanksgiving for the Greek victory over the Persian invaders during the Greco-Persian Wars. Like most Greek temples, the Parthenon also served as the city treasury. Construction started in 447 BC when the Delian League was at the peak of its power. It was completed in 438 BC; work on the artwork and decorations continued until 432 BC. For a time, it served as the treasury of the Delian League, which later became the Athenian Empire.
In the final decade of the 6th century AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After the Ottoman conquest in the mid-15th century, it became a mosque. In the Morean War, a Venetian bomb landed on the Parthenon, which the Ottomans had used as a munitions dump, during the 1687 siege of the Acropolis. The resulting explosion severely damaged the Parthenon. From 1800 to 1803, the 7th Earl of Elgin controversially removed many of the surviving sculptures and subsequently shipped them to England where they are now known as the Elgin Marbles or Parthenon marbles. Since 1975, numerous large-scale restoration projects have been undertaken to preserve remaining artefacts and ensure its structural integrity.
Although the Parthenon is architecturally a temple and is usually called so, some scholars have argued that it is not really a temple in the conventional sense of the word. A small shrine has been excavated within the building, on the site of an older sanctuary probably dedicated to Athena as a way to get closer to the goddess, but the Parthenon apparently never hosted the official cult of Athena Polias, patron of Athens. The cult image of Athena Polias, which was bathed in the sea and to which was presented the peplos, was an olive-wood xoanon, located in another temple on the northern side of the Acropolis, more closely associated with the Great Altar of Athena. The High Priestess of Athena Polias supervised the city cult of Athena based in the Acropolis, and was the chief of the lesser officials, such as the plyntrides, arrephoroi and kanephoroi.
We pass the Greek Temple known as Erechtheion on our left.
The Erechtheion is a complex 5th-century BC Ionic temple on the Athens Acropolis (421–406 BC), famous for its asymmetrical design, the Caryatid Porch, and its role as the site of Athena and Poseidon's contest for Athens. It was built of white marble to replace the older Temple of Athena Polias.
Attributed to Mnesikles.
Dedicated to Athena Polias, Poseidon, and the mythical king Erechtheus, it housed the most sacred relics of the city.
Due to uneven, sloped ground and multiple shrines, the building has a unique, complex layout.
Caryatid Porch: The south porch features six draped female figures (Caryatids) acting as supporting columns, which, along with the main building, were designed to create an elegant alternative to the Parthenon.
The temple incorporated the olive tree (gift of Athena), the trident marks on the rock (Poseidon), and the salt water spring.
It was heavily damaged by fire in antiquity, later used as a church, harem, and restored in the 19th and 20th centuries.
East Room: Dedicated to Athena Polias.
North Porch: A grand entrance with Ionic columns.
West Area: Accommodated shrines for Poseidon-Erechtheus, Hephaistos, and Boutes.
Caryatid Porch (South): Located over the tomb of Kekrops.
Today, the original Caryatids are housed in the Acropolis Museum, with replicas standing in their place on the Acropolis.
The colossal statue of Athena by Phidias was not specifically related to any cult attested by ancient authors and is not known to have inspired any religious fervour. Preserved ancient sources do not associate it with any priestess, altar or cult name.
According to Thucydides, during the Peloponnesian War when Sparta's forces were first preparing to invade Attica, Pericles, in an address to the Athenian people, said that the statue could be used as a gold reserve if that was necessary to preserve Athens, stressing that it "contained forty talents of pure gold and it was all removable", but adding that the gold would afterward have to be restored. The Athenian statesman thus implies that the metal, obtained from contemporary coinage, could be used again if absolutely necessary without any impiety. According to Aristotle, the building also contained golden figures that he described as "Victories". The classicist Harris Rackham noted that eight of those figures were melted down for coinage during the Peloponnesian War. Other Greek writers have claimed that treasures such as Persian swords were also stored inside the temple. Some scholars, therefore, argue that the Parthenon should be viewed as a grand setting for a monumental votive statue rather than as a cult site.
The first endeavour to build a sanctuary for Athena Parthenos on the site of the present Parthenon was begun shortly after the Battle of Marathon (c. 490–488 BC) upon a solid limestone foundation that extended and levelled the southern part of the Acropolis summit. This building replaced a Hekatompedon temple ("hundred-footer") and would have stood beside the archaic temple dedicated to Athena Polias ("of the city"). The Older or Pre-Parthenon, as it is frequently called, was still under construction when the Persians sacked the city in 480 BC and razed the Acropolis.
The existence of both the proto-Parthenon and its destruction were known from Herodotus, and the drums of its columns were visibly built into the curtain wall north of the Erechtheion. Further physical evidence of this structure was revealed with the excavations of Panagiotis Kavvadias of 1885–1890. The findings of this dig allowed Wilhelm Dörpfeld, then director of the German Archaeological Institute, to assert that there existed a distinct substructure to the original Parthenon, called Parthenon I by Dörpfeld, not immediately below the present edifice as previously assumed.] Dörpfeld's observation was that the three steps of the first Parthenon consisted of two steps of Poros limestone, the same as the foundations, and a top step of Karrha limestone that was covered by the lowest step of the Periclean Parthenon. This platform was smaller and slightly to the north of the final Parthenon, indicating that it was built for a different building, now completely covered over. This picture was somewhat complicated by the publication of the final report on the 1885–1890 excavations, indicating that the substructure was contemporary with the Kimonian walls, and implying a later date for the first temple.
If the original Parthenon was indeed destroyed in 480, it invites the question of why the site was left as a ruin for thirty-three years. One argument involves the oath sworn by the Greek allies before the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC] declaring that the sanctuaries destroyed by the Persians would not be rebuilt, an oath from which the Athenians were only absolved with the Peace of Callias in 450. The cost of reconstructing Athens after the Persian sack is at least as likely a cause. The excavations of Bert Hodge Hill led him to propose the existence of a second Parthenon, begun in the period of Kimon after 468. Hill claimed that the Karrha limestone step Dörpfeld thought was the highest of Parthenon I was the lowest of the three steps of Parthenon II, whose stylobate dimensions Hill calculated at 23.51 by 66.888 metres (77.13 ft × 219.45 ft).
In the mid-5th century BC, when the Athenian Acropolis became the seat of the Delian League, Pericles initiated the building project that lasted the entire second half of the century. The most important buildings visible on the Acropolis today – the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike – were erected during this period. The Parthenon was built under the general supervision of Phidias, who also had charge of the sculptural decoration. The architects Ictinos and Callicrates began their work in 447, and the building was substantially completed by 432. Work on the decorations continued until at least 431.
The Parthenon was built primarily by men who knew how to work marble. These quarrymen had exceptional skills and were able to cut the blocks of marble to very specific measurements. The quarrymen also knew how to avoid the faults, which were numerous in the Pentelic marble. If the marble blocks were not up to standard, the architects would reject them. The marble was worked with iron tools – picks, points, punches, chisels, and drills. The quarrymen would hold their tools against the marble block and firmly tap the surface of the rock.
A big project like the Parthenon attracted stonemasons from far and wide who travelled to Athens to assist in the project. Slaves and foreigners worked together with the Athenian citizens in the building of the Parthenon, doing the same jobs for the same pay. Temple building was a specialised craft, and there were not many men in Greece qualified to build temples like the Parthenon, so these men would travel and work where they were needed.
Other craftsmen were necessary for the building of the Parthenon, specifically carpenters and metalworkers. Unskilled labourers also had key roles in the building of the Parthenon. They loaded and unloaded the marble blocks and moved the blocks from place to place. In order to complete a project like the Parthenon, many different labourers were needed.
We pass the Temple of Athena Nike.
The Temple of Athena Nike is a compact, Classical Greek monument located on the Acropolis of Athens, specifically on a prominent bastion at the southwest corner. Completed around 420 BC during the Peace of Nicias, it is celebrated as the earliest fully Ionic temple on the Acropolis.
It was designed by Kallikrates, who also worked on the Parthenon.
The temple is a tetrastyle (four-column) amphiprostyle structure, meaning it has a portico at both the front and rear facades. Its Ionic columns have a unique 7:1 height-to-diameter ratio, making them shorter and thicker than the standard 9:1 ratio.
The "Wingless Victory": It originally housed a wooden cult statue of Athena Nike. Unlike most depictions of Nike (the goddess of victory) with wings, this statue was wingless (Apteros Nike). Tradition holds that Athenians removed her wings so she could never leave the city.
The Nike Parapet: Around 410 BC, a marble parapet was added for safety, decorated with famous high-relief sculptures, including the iconic "Nike Adjusting Her Sandal".
The temple has been dismantled multiple times: first by the Ottomans in 1686 to build fortifications, then reconstructed in the 1830s, and most recently restored between 1998 and 2010 to replace corroding materials.
We walk over to have a better look at Erechtheion.
The Erechtheion is unique in the corpus of Greek temples in that its asymmetrical composition does not conform to the canon of Greek classical architecture.
I overheard a tour guide telling a tourist that the Gods planted the Olive tree above, that must have been one old old tree ha ha!
Whether the Erechtheion referred to by Pausanias and other sources is indeed the Ionic temple or an entirely different building has become a point of contention in recent decades, however, with various scholars ruling out that Athena and Erechtheus were worshipped in a single building.
The Parthenon and the Acropolis are icons that you read about, but never thought you'd see in person, they really are amazing to see first hand!
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| View across to Lycabettus Hill |
We make our way down off the Acropolis and exit out onto Rovertou Galli and to the Acropolis gift shop.
We walk up onto Aeropagus Hill.
The Areopagus (meaning "Hill of Ares" or "Mars Hill") is a prominent marble outcrop in Athens, Greece, located northwest of the Acropolis. Historically, it served as the meeting place for the Council of the Areopagus, the city's most prestigious high court for cases of homicide and religious offences. Today, it is a popular free viewpoint known for its panoramic vistas of the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis.
Mythology: According to legend, the hill was named after the god of war, Ares, who was tried here by the other gods for the murder of Poseidon's son, Halirrhothius.
Legal Institution: The Council of the Areopagus was the oldest supreme court in ancient Athens, composed of former high-ranking officials (Archons). It continued to hold significant political and judicial power through the Roman era.
Modern Court: The term "Areopagus" is still used today as the name of the Supreme Court of Greece for civil and criminal law.
The hill is a major site of Christian pilgrimage due to its association with Apostle Paul. In approximately 51 AD, Paul delivered his famous "Areopagus Sermon" (recorded in Acts 17) to Athenian philosophers and leaders.
The Sermon: Addressing an altar dedicated to an "Unknown God," Paul introduced the concept of the Christian God to the polytheistic Athenians.
Converts: His speech led to the conversion of Dionysius the Areopagite, who became the patron saint of Athens.
Commemoration: An engraved bronze plaque containing the text of Paul's sermon in Greek is located at the foot of the hill.
Nice view from the hill back to the Acropolis.
As we leave Aeopagus Hill we walk down Theorias and we reach the bottom of Filopappou Hill.
We begin to walk up and we reach The Prison of Socrates first.
The Prison of Socrates is a historical site in Athens, though its name is more legendary than archaeological fact. Most historians and archaeologists believe the great philosopher was actually held and executed in the State Prison of Athens near the Ancient Agora.
The "Tourist" Prison (Filopappou Hill): This site consists of rooms carved into the bedrock on the slopes of Filopappou Hill. While popularly called "Socrates' Prison," evidence suggests it was likely a Mycenaean dwelling or later residential structure.
The Archaeological Prison (Ancient Agora): Located just outside the southwest boundary of the Athenian Agora, the foundations of this building are a much stronger candidate for the actual site of Socrates’ death in 399 BC.
Execution: Socrates was sentenced to death for "corrupting the youth" and "impiety." He famously chose to drink poison hemlock rather than accept an offer to escape.
WWII Secret: During the German occupation of Greece, the caves on Filopappou Hill were used by the National Archaeological Museum to hide and protect ancient treasures from Nazi looting. They were sealed behind a thick concrete wall and remained undiscovered until after the war.
We continue to walk up and get fantastic views back to the Acropolis.
Upon reaching the summit after quite a climb up we reach the Philopappos Monument.
The Philopappos Monument is an ancient Roman mausoleum and monument built between 114 and 116 AD in honour of Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, a prince from the Kingdom of Commagene and a respected benefactor of Athens. Located atop the Hill of the Muses (now commonly known as Philopappou Hill), it is one of the most popular spots in Athens for panoramic views of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Aegean Sea.
Dedication: After Philopappos died in 116 AD, his sister Julia Balbilla and the citizens of Athens erected the monument to commemorate his life and contributions to the city.
Structure: Built primarily from white Pentelic marble, the original monument stood nearly 12 metres high. It featured a two-storey facade with a burial chamber behind it.
Artistic Features: The facade includes a frieze depicting Philopappos as a Roman consul in a chariot. Above this were three statues: Philopappos in the centre, his grandfather Antiochus IV on the left, and Seleucus I Nicator on the right (now lost).
Later Use: Investigations have revealed that parts of the monument's superstructure were repurposed by Ottoman forces in the construction of a minaret for the Parthenon.
Some great views across Athens to the Aegean Sea.
We begin to walk back down and stop at the part of the hill we saw with fantastic views across to the Acropolis.
Philopappos Hill (also known as the Hill of the Muses) is a 147-metre-high green park located southwest of the Acropolis in Athens. It is widely considered one of the best vantage points in the city, offering unobstructed, 360-degree panoramic views of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Saronic Gulf.
The Pnyx: Located on the adjacent northern slope, this was the official meeting place of the Athenian democratic assembly.
We walk back down and back through to the Plaka District where we stop for lunch in the Diogenes Food Hall on Sellei. Mel has a baguette whilst I try a Greek Cheese pie and coffee.
We carry on and into the Anafiotika area. We first stop at the Church of Saint Nicholas Rangavas.
The Church of Saint Nicholas Rangavas (Agios Nikolaos Ragavas) is one of the most significant 11th-century Byzantine monuments in Athens. Located in the historic Plaka district on the northern slopes of the Acropolis, it is celebrated as one of the oldest standing churches in the city.
The church was built in the first half of the 11th century (approx. 1040–1050) by the prominent Rangavas family, an aristocratic lineage from Athens and Constantinople that included Byzantine Emperor Michael I.
The church bell holds immense national pride; it was the first to toll in 1833 to announce the liberation of Athens from Ottoman rule (who had previously banned bells). It also rang first to mark the city's liberation from German occupation on 12 October 1944.
In 1687, during the Venetian siege of Athens, a cannonball fired by Morosini's troops struck the church, damaging the Holy Altar.
It is a simple, four-columned, cross-in-square church.
It features a characteristic small, octagonal "Athenian-style" dome.
Like many Byzantine structures, it incorporates ancient marble columns and capitals into its walls.
The exterior and some interior windows are decorated with faux-Kufic brickwork, an Arabic-inspired artistic trend popular among 11th-century Byzantine craftsmen.
Major restoration works in 1979–1980 by the Archaeological Service stripped away later plaster and lead coatings to reveal the original 11th-century cloisonné masonry.
We continue walking on into the Anafiotika area.
Anafiotika is a scenic, historic neighbourhood in Athens, Greece, located on the northeast side of the Acropolis hill within the Plaka district. Built in the mid-19th century by settlers from the Cycladic island of Anafi, it features whitewashed, cubic houses, narrow paths, and vibrant bougainvillea, resembling an island village in the city centre.
In the mid-1800s, King Otto I hired builders from the Cycladic island of Anafi to build his palace (now the Greek Parliament). These skilled craftsmen built their homes in this area to mirror the traditional architecture of their island home.
The neighbourhood is characterized by small, whitewashed, cubic houses with brightly coloured doors and shutters, similar to those found in the Cyclades. The area is designed with narrow, winding footpaths, often adorned with pots of flowers and herbs.
Situated just above the bustling tourist area of Plaka, it is often considered a "hidden" or "secret" neighbourhood. It is not accessible by car, making it a quiet, pedestrian-only area.
The area features notable spots like the 11th-century Church of the Metamorphosis Sotiros and the 17th-century Church of St. George of the Rock.
It is known for its quiet, village-like atmosphere, offering a contrast to the bustling city, and is popular for photography.
Due to archaeological excavations and previous demolitions in the 1950s and 1970s, only about 40 to 50 houses remain. The area is heavily protected, with many houses inhabited by descendants of the original settlers.
The architecture is characterized by whitewashed, cubic homes with flat roofs, mimicking the style found in Santorini and other Cycladic islands.
We head back down and back into the city.
We pass Hadrians Library.
Hadrian's Library, located in the heart of Athens near Monastiraki Square, was the largest building erected by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD. Designed as a grand cultural and intellectual hub rather than a simple book repository, it functioned as the city's civic centre, housing an estimated 16,800 to 20,000 scrolls, art galleries, and lecture halls.
The Library Wing (Bibliostasio): Located on the eastern side, this area still contains the original niches in the walls where papyrus scrolls were stored.
The Façade: The most iconic remains are the Corinthian columns on the western wall, made of Karystian marble with Pentelic marble capitals.
Inner Courtyard: Originally a peaceful "intellectual oasis" featuring a central pool, gardens, and a peristyle of 100 columns.
Layers of History: The site contains ruins of three successive churches, including the Megali Panagia (5th–11th century), believed to be the oldest Christian church in Athens.
Exhibits: A small on-site museum displays significant finds, including a colossal Nike Statue unearthed in 1988.
View from Outside: If you are short on time or budget, the most impressive features (the western wall and columns) are clearly visible for free from Areos Street or Dexippou Street.
Local Wildlife: The site is well-known for its large population of local cats.
We arrive in Monastiraki Square.
Monastiraki Square is one of the oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods in the heart of Athens, serving as a primary meeting point where ancient history, Ottoman architecture, and modern street life converge. Located at the foot of the Acropolis, it is famous for its eclectic flea market, diverse dining scene, and historical landmarks that represent the "melting pot" of Athenian culture.
The square’s architecture reflects Greece's multi-layered past, with several eras visible from a single vantage point:
Church of the Pantanassa: A 10th-century Byzantine church located in the centre of the square; its name ("little monastery") gave the district its name.
Tzistarakis Mosque: An 18th-century Ottoman mosque that now houses the Museum of Greek Folk Art.
Monastiraki Metro Station: One of the city's oldest stations (1895), featuring an archaeological pit where visitors can see the uncovered bed of the ancient Iridanos River.
Monastiraki is the principal shopping district for both traditional goods and unique finds:
Monastiraki Flea Market: An unbroken row of shops selling everything from handmade leather sandals and artisanal soaps to high-end antiques.
Sunday Market: While shops are open daily, Sunday is the main event when the area transforms into a massive bazaar with antique stalls spilling into the surrounding alleys like Platia Avissinias.
Pandrossou & Adrianou Streets: These pedestrianised streets are famous for souvenir hunting, Greek crafts, and traditional items.
We enter the Church of Pantanassa and I take a photograph before being told off by an angry Greek man, pointing to the no photos sign!
The Church of Pantanassa (also known as the Dormition of the Theotokos) is a 10th-century Byzantine church located in the heart of Monastiraki Square in Athens. It is one of the city's oldest churches and gave the "Monastiraki" (meaning "Little Monastery") district its name.
Origin: Originally built in the 10th century as the katholikon (main church) of a large, now-vanished monastery.
Known as the "Great Monastery" during the 17th century, it was later called "Monastiraki" after the monastery declined following the 1821 Greek Revolution.
Current Ground Level: The church appears to be "sunken" or built in a hole because the square's ground level has risen over centuries of urban development.
It is a three-aisled, barrel-vaulted basilica. The roof exhibits Ottoman influences, while ancient Greek capitals are incorporated into its four corners.
The original stone bell tower was built in 1890 but was replaced in 1911 by the current, taller structure that now dwarfs the church.
The church contains modern wall paintings and significant portable icons. A large, impressive central chandelier and an ornate iconostasis are key interior features.
Monastiraki Square, Athens 105 55, directly opposite the Monastiraki Metro Station.
While generally open daily, hours can be inconsistent; visiting during weekday lunchtimes is recommended for a quieter experience.
Admission is free, though donations are welcome.
Visitors should dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) out of respect for this active place of worship.
The church's primary feast day is 15 August, celebrating the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
We walk on and browse through the souvenir shops in the Flea Market, said to be the cheapest in the city.
We make our way back to Syntagma Square and catch the Metro back to the hotel for an Afternoon Siesta, before we head back out for dinner.
We catch the Metro back to Syntagma Square to try and find somewhere for us to try Gyros. We end up walking back just pass the Acropolis Metro station where we try some Chicken Gyros at o Gyros Pou Gyrevis On Athanasiou Diakou.
We walk on through the city and we stumble upon Hadrians Arch.
The Arch of Hadrian (also known as Hadrian's Gate) is a monumental gateway in Athens, Greece, located between the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Constructed in 131–132 AD, likely by the citizens of Athens to honor the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the structure is famous for its dual inscriptions that symbolically divide the city:
Northwest side (facing the Acropolis): "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus."
Southeast side (facing the Temple): "This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus."
Architecture: It stands 18 metres high and is built entirely of Pentelic marble. It features a lower level styled after Roman triumphal arches and an upper level resembling a Greek propylon.
Purpose: While long believed to mark the boundary of the old city and the new "Hadrianopolis," excavations suggest it was more likely an honorary gateway along an ancient road.
Condition: Despite suffering from modern atmospheric pollution, the arch is remarkably well-preserved and is a free-to-visit landmark today.
We cross the road and we can see the Temple of Olympian Zeus through the railings.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus (also known as the Olympieion) is a colossal ruined temple in the centre of Athens, Greece, dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods. Once the largest temple in Greece, it is famous for a construction period that spanned over 600 years, beginning in the 6th century BC and finally being completed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 131 AD.
The temple originally featured 104 Corinthian columns, each standing 17 metres (56 ft) tall with a diameter of 2 metres.
Today, only 15 columns remain standing. A 16th column lies on the ground in segments, having been toppled during a severe storm in 1852.
The structure was built using high-quality Pentelic marble from Mount Pentelicus.
In its prime, the temple housed two massive statues: a chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of Zeus and a similarly large statue of Hadrian.
We decide to walk around to see the Panathenaic Stadium on Leof. Vasileos Konstantinou. It was a longer and not so pleasant walk as we thought. We finally reach it however and stop to take some photos.
The Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro ("beautiful marble"), is a historic multi-purpose arena in Athens and the only stadium in the world built entirely of white Pentelic marble. It is most famous as the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
A simple wooden racecourse existed on the site as early as the 6th century BC. In 330 BC, the statesman Lykourgos rebuilt it in limestone for the Panathenaic Games, which honoured the goddess Athena.
Around 144 AD, the wealthy Roman senator Herodes Atticus renovated the stadium in marble, increasing its capacity to 50,000 and giving it its distinctive horseshoe shape.
After centuries of disuse, it was excavated in 1869 and hosted the Zappas Olympics. It was fully restored with funding from George Averoff to host the 1896 Olympic Games.
Today, the stadium is a major tourist attraction and a venue for ceremonial and cultural events.
Olympic Ceremonies: It remains the official site where the Olympic flame is handed over to the host country of each Olympic Games.
It serves as the historic finish line for the annual Athens Classic Marathon held every November.
Visitors can walk the track, explore a small Olympic Museum containing torches and posters, and stand on the winners' podium.
Public jogging is permitted on the track in the early mornings, typically
between 08:00 and 09:00/09:30.
Now we are planning how we get back to the hotel without a lot of walking. We are knackered we have done so much today and covered about 28000 steps!
We walk down and find a bus stop. Not being able to read any Greek we had no idea where the buses went. Anyway a bus arrives and we get on to see where it went. As luck has it is was going towards Syngrou Fix Metro, so we alight there and grab the Metro back to the hotel.
What a day! But what a city!!
