A brand-new old city

Few cities in the world are so sharply defined by a single monument as Athens. The Parthenon is not only the symbol of the Greek capital, but also a major international tourist draw.Athens is the eternal capital of the ancient Greek world, yet it is only in the last few years that the Greek government has taken decisive action to make the most of the rich classical heritage the city boasts.


Archaeological delights
The most notable upshot of the new philosophy of the Greek authorities has been the implementation of the programme for the unification of the archaeological sites of Athens. At the same time, the archaeological sites of Keramikos, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Forum and Hadrian’s Library, the northern and southern slopes of the Acropolis, Filopappou Hill, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus were all given a new look.

Sightseeing

The Greek capital may still be surrounded by swatches of concrete sprawl but its ancient and modern centre is looking better than it has in decades and has a wealth of new surprises to offer to visitors. The best Athens Sights:

• Have a sunset drink with a view all the way to Aegina from Lycabettus Hill
• Drop your jaw in awe at the sight of the most influential monuments in western civilization on the Acropolis
  
• Drool over fabulous Hellenistic jewellery, then splurge at Athens best gift shop at the Benaki Museum
  
• Ponder the birthplace of democracy and imagine Socrates corrupting the youth at the Ancient Agora
  
• Picture the ancient rites of prehistoric goddess cults at the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art
  
• Walk in cool green glades and capture picture-perfect Acropolis views from the top of Filopapou Hill
• Watch the miniskirted, pompom shod Evzones changing guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• A visit to the lovely Cape Sounion, one of the most famous and picturesque places in Attica. The cape is located southeast of Athens at the southern most point of the Attica peninsula. In cape Sounion the spectacular Temple of Poseidon overlooks the Aegean Sea.
  
  
  

Short excursions

Delphi: the seat of the oracle
According to ancient Greek legend, Zeus released two eagles at opposite ends of the world and Delphi is where they met.  On a plateau overlooking the silverleaved olive groves of Amphissa and the gulf of Galaxidi, the archaeological site of Delphi is set against the majestic backdrop of mount Parnassus. 

The first deities to be worshipped in this glorious setting were Mother Earth and Poseidon; later Delphi became the Sanctuary of Phythian Apollo before yet more gods came to be associated with the sacred location. Delphi was also the seat of the mystical oracle of dubious prophesies the site of the first political allegiance among the citystates, and, along with Olympia and Delos one of the most important sanctuaries of the ancient world.

Mycenae and Epidaurus: a dramatic double bill

These Peloponnesian neighboors can be covered in a day trip or over a weekend combining a visit to the sites with a stay in the charming town of Nafplio and a visit at Epidaurus. We recommend that you buy a guidebook on the sites in order to get the most out of your visit and also to time it so that you won’t be scorched by the fierce midday sun.

In his eighth-century BC epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey , Homer described the well-build Mycenae, rich in gold. The citadel of Mycenae is surrounded by a gigantic wall believed by the Ancient Greeks to have been built by a Cyclops, one of the untamed one-eyed giants Homer described in his Odyssey. 

The most time-resilient Mycenaean structure, however, is the immense royal tholos tomb outside the bounds of the citadel. Misleadingly known as the Treasury of Atreus or the Tomb of Agamemnon, archaeologists believe that this construction had already been in existence several hundred years before Agamemnon entered the picture. The remains of the magnificent gold treasures of the Mycenaean civilization are housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

As for Epidarus, over ten pages of Henry Miller’s book The Colossus of Rhodes are dedicated to the magical landscape of Epidaurus. At the top of the archaeological site and dating back to the fourth century BC is the Ancient Theatre, which was unearthed by Greek archaeologists at the beginning of the 19th century. The largest and best preserved of its kind, the theatre seats up to 14.000 spectators and is famed for its outstanding acoustics.