Athens - city that survived for centuries

Athens - city that survived for centuries

If you don't know where to go on holiday or 'city break' you will have to see capitol of Greece. The most interesting monuments are not too scattered around the city, price of accomodation and meals modarate and good public transport. At the same time it is one of those city with a long and really turbulent history with a quite controversal present, which in the case of Greece, unfortunately overshadows the charms of weekend gateaway for example dubious economic situations or  hight unemployment. However it is a shame to be discouraged by such details so following the words of Percy Bysshe Shelley: „Let there be light! Said Liberty, And like sunrise from the sea, Athens arose!”

Which places is worth to visit:

1. Akropolis

The Akropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. While there is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site's most important present remains including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians during the Morean War when gunpowder being stored in the Parthenon was hit by a cannonball and exploded. In 1987 Acropolis was inscribed on the UNESCO world Heritage List. Now Acropolis is one of the most interesting and memoriable monuments in Athens. It is visited by milions of tourists.

2. Museum of Akropolis

A good addition to the Acropolis is located about 300 meters from the hill Acropolis Museum. The starting point for establishing the Acropolis Museum was the urgent need to save the monuments from the holy hill from robbery and destruction. It is necessary to know that despite numerous wars, earthquakes and changes in religion in the area, until the 17th century the Acropolis temple complex was well preserved. Devastations from the Turkish-Venetian war were primarily the fall of the Parthenon into ruin, the destruction of Apteros and the outbreak of Propylea. In the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, unguarded ruins fell victim to looting with the intention of selling Greek monuments and simply "taking as a souvenir" what nicer finds, not to mention the archeologists-plunderers. Museum is definietly worth to see ( it is must have to see) because it is perfect complement to the Acropolis.

 

3.Hephaestion

Hephaestion makes the greatest impression on the Greek agora - one of the best preserved monuments of ancient Greek architecture. The temple in honor of Hephaestus and Athena - patrons of crafts and policies - was built in the first half of the 5th century BC. Ten centuries later the temple was renamed the church of St. George. Hephaeston can be formally viewed with a ticket to the Greek agora, but in fact it is outside the agora, in the craftsman's district - Keramejkos, hence the patron of the temple. Hephaestion is good preserved temple but no one can go inside because the temple may collapse at any time.

 

4. Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus  also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a former colossal temple at the center of the Greek capital Athens. It was dedicated to "Olympian" Zeus, a name originating from his position as head of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. It may be worth mentioning that the Turks believed, Olympian is the palace of Hadrian, and according to popular beliefs, it was the palace of the wife of King Solomon. The temple was created to the point of being stolen, that in the nineteenth century there were 24 out of 104 columns, and today there are 16 of them, one of them lying on the ground. The vastness of the surviving columns gives an idea of ​​the size of the temple.

 

My opinion:

In Athens are many more places worth seeing for example Panathinaiko (This is stadium where sports began) or Filippapou Hill (where Socratis was in prison). Especially I recommended Athens for students because with student card monuments is for free. When I was in Athens I spend good time with my friends because Athens isn't only monuments. Capitol of Greece is famous for delicious meal for example souvlaki. To sum up everyone who want to have a good time exploring, getting to know each other and relaxing must choose Athens.