Stopover for many tourists, thanks to the presence of one of the busiest ports in Europe, Athens cn reserve pleasant surprises; above all, if you were to opt for a stop of at least a couple of days before (or after) your destination, which, all probability, should be an island of the Cyclades or the Dodecanese.

Making a judgment about this city is quite difficult: Athens loves or hates itself. It is an objectively beautiful city, with monuments of incomparable majesty, authentic masterpieces that time has not scratched.

Athens is a fascinating, bewitching and mysterious city. Athens is a city to discover: not only for the most famous jewels, but also for the most remote corners. Only in this way can you discover the beautiful Piazza Syntagma, the beating heart of the city, or the picturesque and crowded neighborhoods of Psiri, Plate e Monastiraki. It does not matter if his glorious history is as if he were drowned in front of the wild frenzy of the human being who ended up luring it with cement, overcrowded suburbs, smog and delinquency. This is part of the contradictions of a city that, like it or not, gives angles and views absolutely unforgettable.

DAY 1 WEEKEND IN ATHENS

There is no visit to the city that does not contemplate the Acropolis; ancient Sacred City, with temples and shrines, a true natural fortress perched on top of a hill. Even today, it fascinates with the timeless beauty of its temples. Although there are no longer the sculptures of the past; despite the continuous, and endless scaffolding that has always been the background of the landscape; despite the smog and the hot heat during the peak hours of the summer months. If you probably have to stop during the summer months, we highly recommend visiting early in the morning or late afternoon; in the summer, right here, you reach the hottest peaks of heat in all of Europe!

The Acropolis does not need any introduction. Eternal symbol of Philosophy and Democracy, recognized World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the 1987; groups such a number of sites of absolute value and value, of which only the list would suffice, to remain open-mouthed.

1 – PARTHENON: majestic and solemn, rises at the center of the Acropolis; it is considered in all respects, the masterpiece of Greek architecture. The Doric Temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena, built on the initiative of the Athenian general Pericles, strikes for the perfection and proportion of the forms and the line. An authentic wonder. On the feet, stands the Acropolis Museum, inaugurated only in the 2009, which preserves several sculptures. Others, together with various exhibits, are instead preserved in the most important European museums such as the British Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris.

2 – Ancient temple of ATENA POLIÀS, dedicated to the cult of the Goddess, whose foundations remain visible, and numerous architectural elements of the Doric order.

3 – ERETTEO: ancient and elegant Archaic Temple, dedicated to Athena Poliàs, a Poseidon Erechtéus and to the Athenian heroes. A masterpiece of Ionic style, with an asymmetrical plan, with six columns on the east front and four embedded in the west wall. Do not miss the Portico of the Korái, also known as Portico delle Caryatids, one of the most famous monuments of the ancient world. The Caryatids represented the ambassadors of Athena in the world.

4 – STATUE OF ATHENA PROMACHOS: just in this point of the map above, it seems that stood the monumental statue, over 7 meters high, of the Goddess Athena holding a huge spear in his right hand. The statue was destroyed shortly after being transferred from this place.

5 – PROPILEI: literally, they are “what stands before the gate”. They represent the monumental entrance to the sacred enclosure, formed by a central body with six Doric columns, and two marble wings.

6 – TEMPLE OF ATHENA NIKE: rises on the extreme western spur of the sacred area, and is one of the main monuments. An Ionic Temple with rectangular blocks of limestone, built to guard the statue of Athena Nike Aptera, victorious goddess without wings.

7 – Sanctuary of Aegeus
8 – Sanctuary of Artemide Brauronia or Brauroneion;
9 – Calcoteca;
10 – Pandroseion;
11 – Arrephorion;
12 – Altar of Athena Poliàs;
13 – Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus;
14 – Pandion Sanctuary;
15 – Odeo of Herodes Atticus;
16 – Stoa of Eumene;
17 – Sanctuary of Asclepius or Asclepieion;
18 – DIONISO THEATER: it was the most important of the Greek world between the 5th and 4th centuries ac, and home to many works in this same period. Completely destroyed in the Byzantine period, it was brought to light during the excavations at the end of the 19th century. The orchestra is well preserved;
19 – Odeo of Pericles;
20 – Sanctuary of Dionysus.

The Acropolis is open every day from October to March from 08:00 to 15:00, and from April to September from 08:00 to 20:00. The standard rate entrance ticket costs €20 and allows access not only to the Acropolis but also to the ancient Agora, the Roman Forum, the Kerameikos cemetery and the Temple of Zeus. Above all, we would like to point out FREE ENTRANCE on the following days: 06/03, 18/04, 18/05, 05/06, 28/10, the last weekend of September and EVERY FIRST Sunday of the month from November to March!

To reach the site by public transport, just take the Metro and get off at the stop Acropolis o Monastiraki. For all the info and updates you can also refer to the official site from this link.

Postponed the visit of the Agora for the second day of the Athens Weekend; after so much culture, it’s time for a break. Reach your hotel (if possible a central structure), take a shower, and leave at a time Plaka. It’s a beautiful and picturesque neighborhood, which, although purely tourist, is really fascinating, with its narrow streets and the silhouette of the Parthenon visible from above.

Plaka, is full of small hotels and souvenir shops. The walk from the stop Monastiraki offers beautiful views; houses and neoclassical buildings, unique colors and scents … splendid facades of museums, the splendid monument of Lysicrates, a small round temple with six columns, and an idyllic place for a walk. Plate, is also the shopping district and small souvenir shops; do not stop at the first and always try to bargain on the price, as you usually do in these areas.

On the eastern side of the square, you can see the bow of Hadrian and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The first is a monumental arch, similar to a Roman triumphal arch. The latter was considered one of the greatest Temples in all of Greece; today only some columns remain, the crepidoma and portions of the tripartite lintel. It’s walking in the direction of Syntagma Square that you will meet some places to stop for dinner; for the majority, they are tourist proposals. Simply choose according to your tastes; we recommend, however, Greek cuisine or, alternatively, the classic pita, tzatziki, souvlaki, salad and tomatoes!