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Plus: Olympic
Games 2004 information Pireas port map
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Athens is on the way to Crete!
 A wonderful way of travelling to Crete is via Athens.
A chance to spend a day or two absorbing the cultural offerings and the atmosphere of this
both historic and modern, buzzing European city. Travel onward to Crete in a slower, more evocative manner
by ferry - you can make the ferry your hotel for the night and also the means of progressing to your destination, or, in well under an hour,
fly to Chania or Heraklion and enjoy the immediate contrasts of Crete's unique feast of delights.
The Place
Watch a movie made in Athens in the late 1950's or
early sixties and you would have sold everything to pay for a visit.
Now, although some of it is a mass of look-alike, uninspiring apartment and
office buildings there are many areas that still have the
"heart" of Athens and are MAGICAL! The Olympic Games in 2004
were hosted here, in their birthplace. All the preparations and
extensive beautification of the centre of the city (the very areas you
would want to visit) and an enormous improvement in the transport system,
has made Athens that much more desirable - a real contender in the travel
"must-see" list. And a once again worthy capital of
Greece.
This is a mini guide - if you are staying a week there are many more
hidden treasures, gems, pearls and just pleasant pockets, than we list
here. For a short visit of 1 or 2 days here's plenty to send you on your
travels reveling in Athenian delights.
What to see & do
Archaeology/Museums
The Acropolis {see
map location
No1}
 This is the original site of Athens, a limestone plateau supporting the Parthenon, the all-marble temple dedicated to the goddess Athena Parthenos (literally virgin Athens). A landmark visible from many parts of the modern city. In the same section are the
Museum of the Acropolis (re-opened after renovation - a newer and bigger museum is on the cards), the
Erechtheion with its six stone Karyatides maidens holding one
side of the temple (four of the originals are in the Museum of the
Acropolis and the one stolen by Lord Elgin is on display at the British Museum). While you should visit the Acropolis, be sure
also to view it and the rest of Athens, from our list of
wonderful views. When you visit the real thing close up, try to get there at opening time, to avoid crowds. The site includes the Parthenon, the museum, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Aeropagus, the rocky hill that served as the first high court.
Acropolis site - Open: daily 08.00-19.30 (until 31 October - in winter
it closes earlier)
Acropolis museum - Monday: 11.00-15.00, Tuesday to Sunday: 08.00-17.00
(holidays: until 15.00).
Admission: 12/6 euros **
Special Admission Rates and "closed" dates for Sites/Museums
**Acropolis special ticket package:
12/6 euros
There is now a special ticket package that includes admission to sites at walkable distance: Acropolis site and museum, Ancient Agora and Thission,
South slope and Dionysos Theatre, Roman Agora, Kerameikos, Olympieion
(Temple of Zeus)
Free Admission to All: Sundays between November 1st and March
31st, first Sunday of every month except July-August-September and:
March 6, April 18, May 18, June 5, last weekend of September.
CLOSED: Jan 1, March 25, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, May 1, October
28, December 25 & 26.
Free admission: people under 18 years, Greek and EU students,
tour guides and journalists.
Reduced rate: (approximately half the full rate) students from
counties outside the EU, EU citizens over 65 years.
More about the museums and what they offer can be found in the Culture
Ministry's site:
www.culture.gr
South slope of Acropolis
The entrance to the south slope is separate, on Dionysiou Areopagitou. The south slope of the Acropolis played a significant role in the artistic, spiritual and religious activity of ancient Athens. Important public buildings were erected in the area: the Odeion of Perikles, the sanctuary and
theatre of Dionysos {see
map location No3}, the choregic monuments, the Asklepieion, the stoa of Eumenes and the Odeion of Herodes Atticus
{see map
location No2}.
Admission: (included in Acropolis ticket). Open: daily 08.00-19:30.
The Ancient Agora of Athens
{see map
location No37}
 The market of the city, which was the center of public life. Most impressive is the Thission, the doric Temple of Hephaestus. The frieze depicts the exploits and adventures of Thiseus (the hero who in mythology killed the Minotaur of Crete). Constructed in the 5th century BC by Ictinos (the architect of the Parthenon), it is probably the best-preserved Greek temple with its 34 columns almost intact. In the Agora area, the restored
Stoa of Attalus, which is part of this visit, houses a fascinating small museum, with everyday artifacts found in the area. In the middle of Agora is also the Agioi Apostoloi church, built in the 2nd century AD, with Byzantine frescoes and wall paintings.
Admission: (included in Acropolis ticket). Open: daily 08.00-19:30.
Kerameikos {see
map location No39}
Interesting site, part of the "unified archaeological sites" project,
that has made visiting them easier by a network of pleasing pedestrian
streets. A cemetery, which was the official cemetery of the city, is the
main sight. Also: part of the Themistocleian wall, the Dipylon (the
greatest gate of the city of Athens), the Pompeion building, the Sacred
Gate, the marble bull statue and the museum of Kerameikos.
Admission: (included in Acropolis ticket). Open: daily 08.00-19:00.
The Roman Agora & the Tower of Winds
{see map
location No26 & 27}
 The four pillared gate was built by the Emperor Augustus. The 1st century BC Tower of Winds had a hydraulic clock with a sundial and weather vane. The form of the marble octagon corresponds to the eight winds whose symbolic winged figures are represented on the frieze.
Admission: (included in Acropolis ticket). Open: daily 08.00-19:30.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion) & the Arch of Hadrian
{see map
location No6 & 7}
The temple was completed in 131 AD by Roman emperor
Hadrian (took over 700 years to build) and 15 of the more than 100
immense columns of this temple now remain, with their Corinthian
capitals. Admission: (included in Acropolis ticket). Open: daily 08.00-19:00.
The triumphal marble arch lies on an ancient street that led from the old city of Athens to the new Roman section, built by Hadrian. It was constructed by the Athenians in A.D. 131, in honor of their benefactor emperor. Two inscriptions are carved on the architrave, one on each side: the first, on the side towards the Acropolis reads
"This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus"; the second, on the other side, facing the new city reads
"This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus".
 The "Kallimarmaro" (Marble or Panathenaic) Stadium
{see map
location No56}
Known also as the Olympic Stadium, it was re-built in 1896 for the revival of the Olympic Games. The stadium was built in Pentelic marble, the design based on that of the original stadium built by Herodes Atticus 4th century BC.
Beginning of Vas. Konstantinou. [see also
National
Gardens]
National Archaeological Museum
{see map
location No45}
Naturally, it is one of the world's biggest and finest collections of Greek antiquities, covering almost 3000 years of greek civilization.
You will see the famous "kouros", statues of nude youths, impressive for their vigour and perfect anatomy. Famous statues found in the museum include the bronze statue of Poseidon of Artemision, the Youth of Marathon, the Kouros of Milos and the Ephebos of Antikythira (to name a few).
A major attraction is also the Hall of the Mycenaean Antiquities. The unique Mycenaean treasure alone, unearthed by Schliemann, including the most famous golden Mask of Agamemnon and the Warrior Vase, is worth the visit. Other collections of interest are the Cycladic, the Neolithic, the Archaic, a pottery collection and the exhibition of Thira, with fascinating Minoan frescoes found in Thira (Santorini).
Address: 28th Octovriou (Patission) 44.
Re-opened 24
June 2004 after restoration work.
Admission: 6/3 euros. Open: Monday 10.30-17.00. Tuesday-Sunday 08.30-15.00.
[ until March 31 2005 ]
Goulandris Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art
One of the most important collections, this private museum mainly exhibits - beautifully - Cycladic art from 3000-2000 BC.
Address: Neophytou Douka 4.
Admission: 3.50/1.80 euros. Open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00-16.00,
Saturday 10.00-15.00. Sunday & Tuesday closed.
www.cycladic-m.gr
Benaki Museum
This eclectic museum has a great variety of treasures to exhibit: Ancient, Byzantine, Coptic, Chinese, Islamic, neo-hellenic, even ecclesiastical art - all have a place here. Excellent presentation, worth visiting.
Address:
Vas.Sofias & Koumbari 1. {see
map location No49}
Admission: 6/3 euros. Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 09.00-17.00, Thursday:
09.00-24.00, Sunday: 09.00-15.00, Tuesday closed.
Free admission on Thursdays for the permanent exhibition.
Also, temporary exhibitions at the New building:
Address - Pireos 138 & Andronikou
St. Open: Monday-Sunday: 10.00-20.00
www.benaki.gr
Lalaounis Jewelry Museum {see
map location No4}
 The museum is a centre for international jewelry studies. On permanent display are the creations by Ilias Lalaounis, a famous Athenian jeweler and goldsmith. More than 3000 pieces of jewelry are displayed and micro-sculpture from 45 collections designed by Lalaounis in the period 1940-1992. They include jewelry inspired by prehistoric art, Bronze Age Greece, Greek jewelry from the Classical and the Hellenistic periods, Byzantium, the art of Persia, the Ottoman Empire and the Far East, as well as creations marking developments in technology and science, from breakthroughs in biology to space travel.
12 Kalisperi Str. (from D.Aeropagitou, near the Acropolis).
Admission: 3/2.30 euros. Open: Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 09.00-16.00, Wednesday
09.00-21.00, Sunday 11.00-16.00, Tuesday closed.
Lalaounis museum
website
The National Art Gallery {see
map location No53}
The National Art Gallery and Alexandros Soutzos Museum is the most
important institution in Greece devoted to the history of Greek and Western European art.
Alexandros Soutzos, a lawyer and art-lover, donated all his property and his collection of works of art, for the creation of a Museum of painting. The initial nucleus of paintings, was enriched by donations, particularly of works of western European art, which had belonged to wealthy Greeks of the diaspora. Today, the National Gallery possesses a collection of 9500 paintings, sculptures and engravings as well as miniatures and furniture.
The most important collections of the National Gallery are:
Greek Painting (19th - 20th century)
European Painting
Famous paintings exhibited include: the "Concert of the Angels" by Domenicos Theotokopoulos (El Greco), Lorenzo Veneziano's "Crucifixion" and many works of great Greek masters like Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Nikolaos Gyzis, Nikiphoros Lytras, Yannis Moralis and Yannis Tsarouchis.
Address: Mihalakopoulou 1 & Vas. Konsantinou 50.
Admission: 6.50/3 euros. Open: Monday, Wednesday 09.00-15.00 & 18.00-21.00. Thursday, Saturday
09.00-15.00, Sunday 10.00-14.00. Tuesday
closed.
http://www.nationalgallery.gr
Why not? Atelier Spyros Vassiliou
The home and studio of artist Spyros Vassiliou (1902-1985) is open to
the public as a museum and archive. The Atelier displays a large number
of the works of an acclaimed contemporary Greek artist, in a wonderful
setting across from the Acropolis.
Address: Webster 5a (Acropolis).
Admission: 4/2 euros. Open: Monday-Friday 10.00-20.00, Saturday & Sunday
10.00-15.00.
www.spyrosvassiliou.org
More culture?
Athens
Festival - See what's on for this summer
Ministry of Culture -
Museums (alphabetical & by subject), monuments, archaeological sites.
Cultural events and
festivals in Greece - Rich resource of information about many
cultural events in Greece, including the Cultural Olympiad
Athens 2004 - "Athens 2004" organization: information
about the Olympic Games in English, French (and Greek).
More information and resources for the Olympics
on our site.
Plus: Olympic
Games 2004 information Pireas port map
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