Athens: attractions

Probably, every traveler dreams of visiting Athens at least once in a lifetime. After all, where, if not in the heart of Greece, one can get an idea of the origins of mankind, and indeed of the entire world history. It was Athens that became the cradle of an ancient civilization, a city bearing the name of the goddess of wisdom, is considered the birthplace of democracy and philosophy, hence literature, art and many sciences.

The ancient city, whose greatness and originality has been confirmed for centuries, is a recognized center of world tourism. Every year, millions of people strive to get to Athens - attractions, local traditions, myths, masterpieces of Greek art are incredibly attractive.

Today Athens is a metropolis full of contrasts and surprises, where in the shadow of modern hotels ancient Byzantine temples are hidden, and narrow streets are buried in mandarin and olive trees. Going to visit the "pearl" of Greece, many are wondering - what to see in Athens Firstly? Acropolis, the temple of the Virgin of Athena, Keramikos, the theater of Dionysus, the temple of Poseidon, the Tower of the Winds - that's far from a complete list of what is worth seeing. Of course, a short trip is unlikely to allow you to study all the remarkable places of the capital, try to identify several, in our opinion, the most interesting and memorable.

What do most of us associate with Athens? Sights of the most ancient of European capitals, of course, are inconceivable without the Acropolis, a masterpiece of world significance, which is the symbol of the city and the pride of the Athenians. At the top of the sacred rock are the world-famous ancient temples - the Erechtheion and the Parthenon, as well as other buildings dating back to the 5th century BC, it was to this period that an architectural ensemble emerged , which today can be seen by tourists.

Entrance to the Acropolis is adorned with the Propylaea created by the great Mnzikil, which are made of Pendel marble. Here is the temple of the Wingless Victory, erected in honor of the goddess, who according to legend was cut off by wings, so that she could not leave the great city. In addition to ancient buildings, on top of the rock there is also the Acropolis Museum, which is also interesting for visiting. On the southern slope is the Palace of Dionysus, which today, after partial restoration, annually takes the Athens Festival. It is necessary to look and the temple of the Virgin of Athena, considered the patroness of the city.

What else is attractive to Athens? Sights of the city are not limited to the Acropolis. To the north-west of it is the low hill of Areopagus, on the site located on its summit, in the ancient times the Council of Elders - the highest court of the Athenian state gathered. One of the most important monuments of Athens is Likavitos - a hill in the pine forests in the center, on top of which is the famous St. George, as well as Keramikos - it is here that the ashes of the most famous Athenians rest.

500 meters to the south-east of the Acropolis is the temple of Zeus - the largest temple in the country, its construction began in the 6th century BC. And was completed in the 2nd century AD. Attractive and commercial area, built in the times of Caesar - the Roman Agora. Once this forum was surrounded by the colonnade of the Ionic order, erected in the 1st century, now only a small part of it has been preserved. On the territory of the Agora is the oldest and most significant monument of the Turkish era in Athens - the mosque Fethiye.

On the southern side of the Agora, you can see the clock of Andronicus - an octagonal building, inside of which there is a hydraulic clock. The monument was built in the 1st century, because of the relief images of winds on the edges of the building it is called the Tower of the Winds.

However, not only the ancient temples and ruins are famous for Athens. Sights of the Greek capital - this is the most interesting museums. Grave hill Marathon is a museum in honor of those killed in 490 BC. In the Battle of Marathon . The National Archaeological Museum owns one of the most significant collections of ancient art. Sculptures, funerary items, arrows, gold jewelry of those times - all tourists can see with their own eyes in its halls. Children's Museum will offer visitors a reconstructed children's room with antique furniture, as well as an exposition of works of the city's metro, which are currently being conducted in Athens. A very interesting collection is ready to demonstrate and the museum of the industrialist Kanellopulos.

Attractions of Athens - this is the oldest, unusually colorful area of Plaka, and the white stone stadium Panafinaikon, which is a reconstruction of the ancient buildings, and many other objects. Fortunately, the main attractions of the city are fairly compact. And even if you have only a few days left to consider the remarkable places of Athens, you will have time to plunge into the atmosphere of the ancient city and get acquainted with the monuments of Greek culture.