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Athens Attractions & ActivitiesHistoric Sites
Ready to look into the past and learn about the heritage of this fascinating city? We list historic homes, plantations, battlegrounds, and churches that are rich in history and provide for an educational travel diversion.
Category: Historic Sites - Athens Attractions & Activities
Address: Dionysiou Areopayitou, Athens
The Acropolis is the jewel in Athens' crown. In 510 BC, Pericles set about transforming the "High City" – where people had been living since 5,000 BC – into a city of temples. The most famous of these is the Parthenon, dedicated to (and meant to house a giant statue of) the goddess Athena. Once painted in bright colors, the Parthenon is still...
Category: Historic Sites - Athens Attractions & Activities
Address: Adrianou St, near Ayiou Philippou Square, Athens
At first glance, this jumbled collection of temples and ruins might not seem like much, but the Agora is one of Athens' most historically significant sites. Agora means "market," and in addition to its commercial focus, it was the city's administrative, political, and cultural center for many years. Socrates lectured from the Stoa of Zeus...
Category: Historic Sites - Athens Attractions & Activities
Address: Leoforos Amalias, Athens
Built for the Emperor Hadrian in 131 AD, this arch was constructed to separate old Athens from the newer, Roman-built portion of the city. Inscriptions on each side of the arch indicate as much: "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus" faces the Acropolis, while "This is the City of Hadrian and not of Theseus" distinguishes the side where...
Category: Historic Sites - Athens Attractions & Activities
Address: 148 Ermou, Athens
Rediscovered during road excavations in 1861, this ancient burial ground was used from the 12th century BC until Roman times. Wealthy citizens were buried at the Street of Tombs, whose bas-relief monuments are still worth a look. Pericles himself oversaw the collective funeral for Athenian soldiers interred here after they were killed in the first...
Marathon Battlefield and Burial Mound
Category: Historic Sites - Athens Attractions & Activities
Address: Marathonas
Although it's 26 miles outside the city, this site marks Athens' most famous military victory and the run immediately afterwards to announce the news (which inspired the modern-day marathon). In 490 BC at this spot, Persians marched against Athenian troops, and although outnumbered 24,000 to 9,000, the Athenians slaughtered their opponents...
Category: Historic Sites - Athens Attractions & Activities
Address: Pelopidas and Adrianou, Athens
Athens' Roman Forum was actually an agora, built by Julius Caesar to replace the traditional Greek agora. During the city's time of Roman rule, it became the center of public life. The Forum's two most impressive sites are the 68-seat public latrine and the octagonal Tower of the Winds, built as a combination windsock and sundial and adorned with...
Category: Historic Sites - Athens Attractions & Activities
Address: Olgas and Amalias Ave, Athens
At one point, this temple – 700 years from foundation to completion – was Greece's largest. The imposing structure was finally finished and dedicated by Hadrian in 131 AD. To commemorate the event, he donated a giant statue of Zeus and an equally enormous one of himself to distinguish the interior. Although both statues are long gone, visitors...
Category: Historic Sites - Athens Attractions & Activities
Address: Dionissiou Areopayitou, south slope of Acropolis, Athens
They might not have had "must-see TV," but ancient Athenians liked to be entertained, as this massive theater ably demonstrates. In its heyday, the structure seated 17,000 spectators in 64 rows of limestone seats – these days, 20 rows are still available for viewing. Dionysos, the god of wine and theater for whom the structure is named, was known...
