ATHENS LANDMARKS AND MONUMENTS
As the history teacher talks with a humdrum deep voice, revealing the secrets on ancient civilizations, I scan my book a few pages forward and bump into a picture of these perfect women that are the columns of an antique building, in what it seems to be the Acropolis, in Athens. I start fantasizing on what these women could be. There seem to be magical beings to me, maybe witches or fairies or some kind of deities. But I need to wait until my teacher gets there and she explains. In the meantime I dream mesmerized of going to this place one day and seeing this sacred place in person.
Life goes on and I forget about his childhood dream until many years later when this dream becomes true at the moment I decide to take a 9 days break to Athens.
Athens landmarks and monuments
Athens, the cradle of Western civilization, the place where the first arts and theatre plays were performed. A dream for the scientist as well for the artist and the theologist.
An unforgettable trip, a one not to be missed if you are planning to visit Greece. Greece is a beautiful country that offers many natural wonders but a visit to Athens landmarks and monuments it should be high on your priority list when visiting this beautiful country.
TIP: Do some research before visiting the sites, you will get much more of your visit.
If you are student, bring your student card as you will get free access to all the historical sites by showing your student card.
Here follows a summary of the most important landmarks in Athens and what it could be a suggested itinerary for your visit to Athens.
Check out this Athens Cruise Port guide if you are planning to visit Athens on a cruise.
Looking for quality accommodation in Athens? check out these guide to the best boutique hotels in Athens
Acropolis museum
My suggestion is to start your historical visit to the Athens landmarks and monuments by visiting the Acropolis museum. It will help you placing all your other visits into context and you will be able to admire some of the relics rescued from the acropolis and other archeological sites in Greece.
The Acropolis museum is located in one of the slopes of the Acropolis only 280 meters from the Parthenon.
Parthenon
The Parthenon is located in the Acropolis and its visit can be combined with all the other monuments located in there.
The Parthenon is the most iconic landmark in the Acropolis and in Athens. It was dedicated to the Goddess Athena and its construction was completed around 438 B.C.
It is considered a symbol of the Greece democracy and Western civilization and is has served different functions along the years. It even served as an Islamic mosque when the Turks invaded Athens in the XV century.
Did you know that one of the man made landmarks to see in the US is the replica of Parthenon?
Athena Nike temple
This is another iconic temple of the Acropolis and it is situated in the South West entrance.
The temple was built around 420 B.C. and was dedicated to the Goddesses Athena and Nike. Athena Goddess of war and Nike Goddess of victory.
The Caryatids of the Erechtheion
The Caryatids temple of Erechtheion is a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon located in the North side of the Acropolis.
The famous Caryatids that made me dream as a child are located in what is call the āPorch of the Maidensā. The columns on the temple are not the originals any more but replicas as the originals are well kept and preserved in the Acropolis museum.
There are several theories proposed on what this female Caryatids represent being one of the most accepted that they represent the punishment of the women of Caryae after defeating Athena.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
This theater was built by Odeon of Herodes Atticus and completed in 161 A.D. The temple was dedicated to his wife. It is located in one of the slopes of the Acropolis .
It is still used as venue nowadays during the yearly Athens festival.
Theatre of Dionysus
The theatre of Dionysus is located on the South slope of the Acropolis and it was built around the sixth century B.C.
The theatre is part of the sanctuary of Dionysus and it is where the first theatre
and music performances of the Western civilization took place.
You can still sit on the original places where the spectators of this early arts performances sit and walk on the ancient stage feeling the ancestral energy of the site.
Dionysus was one of the Gods I found most fascinating when I studied ancient history.
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Kerameikos cemetery
Not so popular as the Acropolis but lying only a few hundred meters away from it, the Kerameikos cemetery is many times forgotten by travelers but a jewel I would not skip as it will not take that much time and it is really a not to be missed archeological jewell
The Kerameikos cemetery was the cemetery on ancient Athens and it was continuously in use since the 9th century B.C. until Roman times.
There are two main hypotheses on the meaning of its name, the first that is comes from the word āKeramasā, that means pottery in Greek due to the numerous pottery workshops that existed in the area before it turned into a cemetery. The other explanation is that its name comes from the son of Dionysus and local hero, Keramas.
Hephaestus temple
This temple is located in the Roman Agora North West side and very close to the Kerameikos cemetery.
It is a Doric temple dedicated to the Hepahaestus God. Hepahaestus was the patron god of metal working, craftsmanship, and fire.
There were several workshops and metal working shops in the vicinity of the temple. The temple is almost intact.
Plaka
Plaka is also known as the neighbourhood of the Gods, due to its proximity to the Acropolis. Plaka is built on the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens and its buildings are mainly built in Neoclassical style.
Get lost in its labyrinthine streets and have a drink or a meal in one of its delicious restaurants.
MikroLimano
This small harbour in Athens is great for eating great fish with some delicious great wine.
It is also nice to take a nice walk and have a look at all the boats in the harbour, from small fishing boats to luxury yachts.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
The temple of the Olympian Zeus is a temple dedicated to the head of the Olympus Zeus and it was built during the 6th century B.C.
It is remains today are a set of huge massive columns defying the skies.
It has still been used as a place of workship by the Greek pagans in 2007 when they held a ceremony honoring Zeus in the ancient temple remains.
Poseidon temple
The temple is located at around one and half hour bus drive from Athens at Cape Sounion. It is the one of the mayor monuments of the Golden Age of Athens and it was built for venerating the God Poseidon, the God of the Sea.
It is located in a beautiful location facing the sea. A great day trip from Athens. You can have a nice seafood lunch in one of the restaurants around 500 meters from the temple. They serve delicious local food and they are not too crowded.
I had the privilege of having a talk while having lunch with a couple of locals who gave me some tips on other places to visit in Greece, so I will have to book a second trip to get to know this beautiful country a bit better.
Roman Agora
The Roman Agora was an ancient space where public life happened in the ancient Athens. It is built 100 meters away from the ancient Agora and located and the North side of the Acropolis.
The Agora was first founded around the six century B.C and it has not yet been fully excavated.
Only some column structures remain in place nowadays. It is a nice exercise to walk around the ruins and imagine how life was during those days and what stories those relic could tell if they spoke.
Licabettus Hill
All people living in Athens know that Licabettus hill is the best place to see the Sunset in Athens, so the perfect end of your sightseeing day can end up admiring Lorenzon sink into the horizons filled with Greek buildings from this hill.
The hill is 300 meters above sea level and it is the highest point in Athens. It is clearly visible from the Acropolis.
There is a funicular railway that can bring you up the hill.
Some legends suggest that the place was once a refuge for wolves and this is where the name Licabettus come from.
A sunset from Licabettus hill can bring an epic end to your visit to Athens.
Athens did not disappoint the little girl that fantasized about visiting the Caryatids. Is is a beautiful vibrant city full of history and culture. Do not miss the change to get lost in it and learn a bit more about our Greek ancestors and check out this Athens 2 days itinerary for more inspiration. If you would like to explore Greece any further I suggest you check this two weeks Peloponnese itinerary.
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Wow, these are all fabulous and brings me right back to Athens. I love the Acropolis museum and the amazing artifacts that you can see in original form, not to mention that gorgeous building. I think the only thing I missed visiting on your list was the cemetery and it does look cool and underrated as a historic site to visit.
Visiting Athens was one of the best things I’ve done in my life. Athens was in my wishlist since like forever and I have fond memories of my trip. Your post rekindled those memories. I love how you history classes inspired you to travel here, it was my art history classes that inspired me to travel here as well. Awesome that you also managed to visit Cape Sounion. I didn’t! But that gives me the excuse to head there again. Haha.
Greece is a country I wanted to see in Europe once I get to the other side coz I agree that it’s not enough to just see a place thru books or in the computer.
I just hope that when the time comes, the structures still remains in tact and not be further ruined by earthquakes.
I would love to visit Athens some day and visit all these amazing monuments. When I was growing up, during the first couple of years of school, my favourite book used to be the Legends of Olympus. It would be so amazing to see all these temples in real life and remind myself of all the Greek mythology. The Parthenon would be a must, same as the Temple of Zeus. Plaka would be a fantastic place to spend the evening, I have two friends living in Athens and they said that is the most lively part of the city at night.
I would love to visit the first theater ever preformed. I can totally see why you zoomed out and made it a dream come true. I congratulate you on that. Dionysus theater looks fabulous.
I have yet to travel to Athens, but it’s on my list. I love how you themed these landmarks about the stories they told in history (tied to women). They are all spectacular, but perhaps the theater that was built by the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the dedication to his wife is most impressive.
Athens, Greece has long been on my wish list. All the historic and iconic landmarks – Parthenon to Poseidon temple and the museum to start with. Iād love to be able to admire the sunset from the Licabettus hill. I can imagine wandering about the sites and pondering about the stories that the relics would tell, as you rightly put it š
I can definitely relate with you! I have always been fascinated with Greek Mythology so visiting Athens is like a dream. All this landmarks and monuments who mentioned are must-visits so since I love Athena – Parthenon is my favorite.
Loved reading about your experience. Athens is a paradise for history and architecture lovers. Each ruin site has compelling stories from the past and it makes everything very fascinating. I loved the wall art of Plaka. It is so distinct. Its a great article with a lot of information.