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Athens | |
Key Attractions |
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Athens,
Key Attractions The Acropolis (upper city) dominates both the city’s skyline and any tourist’s itinerary. The name refers to the rocky outcrop that formed the site of the original settlement in Athens. Foundations for a temple dedicated to Athena were laid in 490BC, however, work did not begin in earnest until the Golden Age of Pericles (461–429BC). The Acropolis site includes the Acropolis Museum and four sacred buildings, all from the fifth century BC. The steep ascent to the summit leads to the Propylaea, a monumental gateway in the Ionic and Doric styles, which serves as the entrance to the site. The Temple of Athena Nike is to the left of the Propylaea – the original was destroyed by Turkish forces in the 17th century but has been beautifully restored. The Parthenon is the largest building on the Acropolis and an icon of Western civilisation. Built entirely from marble that glows gold at sunset, the Parthenon was intended as a sanctuary for Athena and housed a statue (no longer in existence) of the goddess. Despite the tourists, the perfect harmony of the structure is still awe‐inspiring. On the southern slopes, the Théatro Dionysou (Theatre of Dionysus) was home to the original performances of the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripedes and the comedies of Aristophanes. This stone auditorium, from the fourth century BC, held 17,000 spectators and the ruins remain one of the most atmospheric of Athens’ ancient sites. The Erechtheion temple is a dual shrine to Athena and Poseidon‐Erechtheus and was built on the site of the mythical battle between the two deities. The south side features a series of six support columns designed as maidens or caryatids. Due to severe environmental damage, the caryatids have been replaced by models. Many of the treasures from the Acropolis can be found in the Acropolis Museum, in the southeast corner of the complex. Nine rooms house objects from the four buildings, including five original caryatids. Building work is underway on the New Acropolis Museum, which will be located at the foot of the Acropolis Hill. An all‐glass structure designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, the museum will be a new home for statues and artefacts from the Acropolis and hopefully persuade the British Museum in London to return the controversial Parthenon Marbles, seized by Lord Elgin in 1799. However, although originally scheduled for 2004, the museum looks unlikely to be completed until 2007. Acropolis Hill, centre of Athens Tel: 21032 10219 (Acropolis) or 36665 (museum). Fax: 21032 14172 (Acropolis and museum). Transport: Acropolis or Monastiráki metro. Opening hours: Daily 0800–1900 (summer); daily 0830–1500 (winter). Admission: &Euro;12 (all‐inclusive). Agorá (Market) Although the site is now a jumble of monuments and ruins from different periods, in Athens’ heyday the Agorá was the focus of city life, serving not only as a place of trade but also as the city’s political, administrative and cultural heart. Law courts, temples and public offices were all based in this area, where ordinary Athenians, stall holders and merchants mingled with officials, politicians and philosophers. The site is dominated by the Hephaisteion (Temple of Haephaistos), from the fifth century BC, one of the best‐preserved ancient temples in Greece. Its name comes from the god of fire and metalwork – this area of the city was originally the blacksmiths quarter – but it is also known as the Thiseío (Theseion), because its friezes depict images of Theseus from Greek mythology. The Ágioi Apóstoloi (Church of the Holy Apostles) dates from the second century AD and was restored in the 1950s. Interior features include post‐Byzantine frescoes and early wall paintings. Other attractions around the Agorá include the statues of the ten eponymous heroes, Poikile Stoa and the Basileios Stoa. The fascinating Museo tis Agoras (Museum of Agorá) contains an eccentric array of everyday artefacts found in the area. It is housed in the Stoa Attalou (Stoa of Attalos). This two‐storey structure from the second century BC was restored by the American School of Archaeology and is thought to have been an early shopping arcade containing 42 separate shops. Adrianou 24, Monastiráki Tel/fax: 21032 10185. Transport: Thissio or Monastiráki metro. Opening hours: Daily 0800–1900 (summer); daily 0800–1500 (winter). Admission: &Euro;4 (all‐inclusive). Ethnikó Archaiologikó Mouseio (National Archaeological Museum) Following extensive renovation, this world‐famous museum is scheduled to reopen in April 2004. Housed in a late 19th‐century building, it is undoubtedly the best museum in Greece with one of the finest collections of ancient and classical Greek artefacts. Fascinating pieces include the 17th‐century BC Thira Frescoes from Akrotiri on the island of Santorini; the Mycenaen Collection featuring hordes of finely crafted gold work dating from between the 16th and 11th centuries BC, and the Bronze Collection, including an imposing larger‐than‐life bronze statue of Poseidon from 460BC. Also worth checking out is the recently added Egyptian Wing. Patission 44, Omonia Tel: 21082 17717. Opening hours: Mon 1230–1900, Tues–Fri 0800–1900, Sat and Sun 0830–1500 (summer); Mon 1100–1700, Tues–Fri 0800–1700, Sat and Sun 0830–1500 (winter). Admission: Not yet available. Vizantino Mouseio (Byzantine Museum) Housed in a delightful neo‐classical building, this museum traces the course of Byzantine art through the centuries. Besides boasting one of the richest collections of icons in the world, the museum exhibits mosaics, sculptural works and jewellery from the area that is now Greece, as well as from other regions of the former Byzantine Empire. Also of interest are three reconstructions of period churches – early Christian, Byzantine and post‐Byzantine. Vassilissis Sofias 22, Kolonáki Tel: 21072 31570. Transport: Evangelismos metro. Opening hours: Tues–Sun 0830–1500. Admission: &Euro;4. Mouseío Ellinikis Laikis Technis (Museum of Greek Folk Art) Lying on the edge of Pláka, this museum displays a vast and colourful collection of folk art that dates from 1650 onwards. Works are divided into specific sections devoted to costumes, embroidery, weaving, gold and silver jewellery, woodwork, weaponry, Greek shadow theatre and hand‐painted ceramics. The highlights are the traditional costumes, set off against suggestive reconstructions of houses relating to their specific regions. Another highlight is the Theofilis Room, the reconstruction of a house on the island of Lesvos, which was frescoed by Theofilis Hadjimichael (1868–1934), a self‐taught artist who took his inspiration from both Greek mythology and the socio‐political situation of his country at that time. Kidathineon 17, Pláka Tel: 21032 13018. Transport: Monastiráki metro. Opening hours: Tues–Sun 1000–1400. Admission: &Euro;2. Mouseío Ellinikón Mousikon Orgánon (Museum of Greek Musical Instruments) Housed in a renovated 19th‐century mansion in the heart of Pláka, the Mouseío Ellinikón Mousikon Orgánon displays a collection accumulated by the musicologist, Fivos Anoyanakis. This museum is great fun – each display case is accompanied by a headset, so that visitors can listen to the sound of the instruments. Films in the entrance feature their construction and performance. Information is provided in English. Diogenous 1–3, Pláka Tel: 21032 50198. Transport: Monastiráki metro. Opening hours: Tues and Thurs–Sun 1000–1400, Wed 1200–1800. Admission: Free. Mouseío Kykladikís kai Archaías Ellinikís Téchnis (Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art) The museum houses the private collection of Nikolas P Goulandris. Beautiful exhibits from the Cycladic civilisation (3000–2000BC) form the focus of the collection but other artefacts cover the pre‐Minoan Bronze Age and the post‐Mycenaen age up to 700BC. The museum makes good use of multimedia information and is less daunting than the National Archaeological Museum. The museum shop offers an excellent selection of quality reproduction pieces. Neofítou Dhouká 4, Kolonáki Tel: 21072 28321 or 49706 (museum shop). Transport: Bus 234. Opening hours: Mon and Wed–Fri 1000–1600, Sat 1000–1500. Admission: &Euro;3.50 (concessions available). Panathinaiko Stádio (Panathenaic Stadium) The elegant three‐sided stone stadium was built in 1896, for the first of the modern‐day Olympic Games. The design by Ernst Ziller was based on the plan of a fourth‐century‐BC stadium that originally stood on the site. During the 2004 Olympic Games, this stadium will host the fencing contests and the marathon will end here. It should not be confused with the modern Olympic Stadium that was built in the north of the city in 1982. Leoforos Ardhittou Transport: Bus 2, 4, 11 or 12. Opening hours: Daily dawn–dusk. Admission: Free. Olympieion (Temple of Olympian Zeus) Lying close to the National Gardens and Pláka, this was one of largest temples in the ancient world, being dedicated to the god of all gods, Zeus. Building work began in 515BC, but was only completed some 700 years later in AD131 under the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Today, 16 of the original 104 marble columns, which are 17m (56ft) high, survive. On the edge of the site stands the triumphal arch named Hadrian’s Arch. Leoforos Vas. Olgas and Amalias Tel: 21092 26330. Transport: Syntagma metro. Opening hours: Daily 0800–1900 (summer); daily 0800–1500 (winter). Admission: &Euro;2. |