All Greece from Athens (3 days)

The name of the 1st modern Olympic stadium “Kallimarmaro” means “beautiful marble”. It was built from the well-known white marble from Mount Penteli. Later the Romans held there gladiator combats. But in the end the Olympic spirit conquered the place again when the Olympic Games were revived.
Marathon of the Olympics 2004 finished here.
 

Athens is the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization, the famous ancient city, where life began more than 5 thousand years ago. It has been famous since the days of classical period as a center of philosophy, literature and arts. This city has an amazing destiny: simultaneously it is one of the oldest and one of the youngest European capitals. There are many numerous monuments from Antiquity, from the Middle Ages and neoclassicism. Acropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   

Acropolis erected in the 5th century BC is the main attraction of Greece. It is located on a cliff overlooking the center of Athens and is considered to be a unique temple complex of Classical Greece and includes the legendary temples of the Parthenon and the Erechtheion. Acropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The changing of the guard by the famous Evzones by the Greek Parliament takes place every hour of the day and night. Evzones are the soldiers wearing traditional attire of the fighters for Independence of the beginning of the 19th century. 

New museum of Acropolis is relatively new. It was opened in 2009 but is considered one of the best archeological museums in Europe. Here one can see the original sculptures that once decorated the Acropolis hill. New museum of Acropolis has been relatively new. It was opened in 2009 but is considered one of the best archeological museums in Europe. Here one can see the original sculptures that once decorated the Acropolis hill. The museum’s collection consists not only of the numerous statues and sculptures of the Parthenon, but also includes the world famous Caryatids.

Ancient Agora was the center of political and public life in Athens. It was the cradle of the democracy. There are the Altar of Twelve Gods, Temple of Hephaestus of the 5th century BC which is perfectly preserved and the museum of Ancient Agora.

Hill of the Areopagus is not far from the Acropolis. It is the place where in ancient times the Athenian Assembly Areopagus met. According to mythology, this is the place where the trial of Ares, god of war, took place. Areopagus ancient Gr. Ἄρειος Πάγος meaning “Rock of Ares”. It is also said that the Apostle Paul delivered his famous speech from here.

This is a unique and sacred place for Orthodox Christians, one of the most important Athenian monasteries. It is here where the Holy Fire is brought from Jerusalem during Easter and kept all year long. It also here where the fragment of the Cross and Earth from Calvary are placed.

Asclepius is a god of medicine. People deified this skilled healer and erected lots of sanctuaries in his honor. The most well-known of it is the sanctuary of Epidaurus, where his cult was especially popular. People flocked here for healing from all over Greece. The complex of buildings which was dedicated to Asclepius was located in a pine grove because it was believed that due to its salubrious air and overall beauty of the landscape the pine grove had healing qualities. The ensemble included Doric temple of Asclepius decorated with marble sculptures, a round building Tolos with a colonnade, a portico and several public buildings. 

Mycenae is the ancient town of Greece, a citadel of Agamemnon, which was the center of a great civilization. Mycenae with its wide streets was sung by Homer in his epics. It was the most powerful town of Mycenaean Greece and included the royal palace, homes for royal subjects, cemeteries, the castle, which stood on the hill. Mycenae was surrounded by thick walls and controlled a vast area of Peloponnese. The royal palace was built on the top of the hill and ruled over lower buildings that surrounded it.

Theatre in Epidaurus is one of the world’s most famous ancient operating theaters. The theater was built in the 4th century BC and was designed for 14 thousand spectators. Time, of course left its traces in the long course of history. But despite all that Epidaurus retained  its main distinguishing feature inherited by its architect Polykleitos the Younger which is its unique acoustics. 

The Lion Gate is a unique architectural monument, the oldest example of monumental sculpture in Europe. It is constructed of four monolithic blocks and decorated with a relief depicting two lions that are turned to each other. This composition is said to be the emblem of the royal family of Mycenae.

The National Archeological Museum houses fascinating items discovered during excavations on the territory of the Acropolis and its neighbourhood starting from the 19th century until modern days. The museum opened its doors in 2003 presenting 2 500 pieces of art of the Mycenaean period and achievements of the one of the first greatest Greek civilizations with its center in Argolis.

The Archeological Museum of Epidaurus is located right next to the famous ancient theatre. It has a big collection of surgical instruments found during excavations of the Sanctuary of Asklepios. It also displays votives, such as inscriptions and sculptures of the cured parts of the body. There is also a great number of sculptures in the museum among which the Corinthian capital has a distinguished place. It was create by a well-known ancient Greek sculpture Polykleitos.