Acropolis and Parthenon (General)
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Delights of Athens
- October 11, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Meggysmum from Oxford, United Kingdom
We had arrived by cruise ship at the port of Pireas and since the port is a reasonable distance from the city of Athens we took a tour bus in and around as we only had one day.
First impressions were of a huge, very built up city which was very hectic. It was a lot larger than I had originally anticipated.
First stop was the stadium built for the 1896 Olympics. It was impressive to view but we were not able to enter the stadium but had to take our photographs from one end. If you time it badly and lots of coaches are there at the same time it is hard to get much of an impression of the size. However if you turn around and look up on the hills you get a lovely view of the Acropolis.
We then went past what we were told used to be the Royal palace and now the traditionally dressed Greek presidential guards can be seen at the monument to the Unknown Soldier. They are a splendid sight in their white and black adorned uniforms and red shoes with pompoms. We were told that we were not able to stop and take photos for security reasons, I don't know if that is strictly true or whether the coach driver didn't want to try and park as the roads seemed very chaotic!
We were then taken to the Acropolis. This is the name of the hill on which several monuments are clustered. Being July it was very, very hot and the crowds were unbelievable. If you are an independent traveler I believe it would be well worth the effort to get there early. By the time we arrived at about 10.30 it was heaving. The car park is at the bottom of the hill and there is a pleasant shady walk at the foot of the hill, there are lots of locals selling all sorts so be prepared for people trying to talk to you all the time but no-one was persistent or unpleasant if you were not interested and were polite about it! There were a couple of men in Greek Guard outfits who would pose for photographs for a fee. Once you get to the base of the monuments it gets steeper and even busier. Hang on to your loved ones as it is very easy to get split up as you work your way up the narrow walkways. There are lots of groups so make sure you know what your guide looks like if you are taking a tour. This area is really not at all accessible to people with any problems in walking or in a wheelchair.Once at the top the marvels of the Parthenon are breathtaking as are the fantastic views across the whole of Athens. There is a lot of scaffolding around the Parthenon. I was surprised to find that most of the damage to the structure took place because of shelling in 1687 and gunpowder that was being stored there exploded. The Greek guide spent quite a while explaining about Lord Elgin who took most of the remaining marble to the British museum! The other main building up there is the Erechtheion which was built about 410BC and which was built with a whole in the roof to show where Poseidons trident came down whilst fighting for the city of Athens with Athena. This building is surrounded by the Caryatids which are statues of traditionally dressed maidens. None of the ones seen are original, one original is in the British Museum (Lord Elgin again!), one is missing and the others are in the Acropolis Museum. If you get a good guide they tell you all the Greek legends which are fascinating in relation to the place and the buildings. Once you have shuffled down the steps again it is time for a change of pace.
The Plaka is a maze of quiet streets with cafes and shops, not far from the Acropolis. Compared to the Parthenon it felt quiet anyway! Turn off the main streets and it was not too hectic but be careful to note which way you are walking it was quite maze like but made for good souvenir hunting.
I believe Athens has far more to offer but from what I saw I would prefer to stay out of the city and travel in for a few days to visit more of the historic sights as the city itself didn't look too appealing and the pollution is quite bad. However to visit places I had seen in photos when I studied Greek legends in my primary school was worth my asthmatic wheezing!
From journal Cruising in the Western Med
A Visit to Athens is Incomplete Without the Acropolis
- October 31, 2008
- Rated 4 of 5 by
akakd from , Arizona
Hiking up to the top of the Acropolis seems, at first glance, a daunting task, but the climb was actually pretty gradual. While the Parthenon is indeed impressive, my favorite structure on the Acropolis was the Porch of the Karyatids, sometimes spelled Caryatids, also known as the Porch of the Maidens.
(For those who don't know, a caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar.) Lovely.
From journal Athens - Cradle of Civilization
Editor Pick
Acropolis
If you're visiting Athens, there is no doubt that you'll be popping round the Acropolis which is the city's most popular sight. Built long before A.D., the Acropolis of Athens is made up of several notable sights with the Parthenon being its most famous. One of the reasons why I love the Parthenon is that when you're standing right next to it, you can see a nearly 360 panoramic view of Athens. It is also at that point where you can truly see how dense Athens is.
Many people go to Acropolis to see the Parthenon but there are several notable sights you should check out. The Temple of Athena Nike and the Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus are just as spectacular. There are several smaller but worthwhile places around the Acropolis as well.
There are two downsides to the Acropolis: 1) The unbeatable crowds, and 2) the fact that it is still undergoing restoration. Much of the Parthenon is still covered with scaffolds despite an ongoing 20-year restoration project. Don't let it deter you from visiting - you may be able to get in some great photographic shots. The crowds are unmistakable because it is Athen's most popular place to visit. Visiting early in the morning will allow you to get a true experience. Much of Acropolis is open space so it is often very hot and by bringing sunscreen and a bottle of water, you'll be doing yourself a favour.
I was able to get free entry due to my hearing loss but regular admission (student rate) is €6 and for adults, €12. The ticket allows you to visit all sights below Acropolis, including the Ancient Agora and Hadrian's Arch, for a 48-hour period. The site is open daily from 8 AM to 7:30 PM in the high season and closes at 2:30 PM in the low season. Getting there is very simple - you should get off at "Akropolis" metro stop on the red line and from there, it is a short walk.
One tip for a visit: Check out the homeless cat sanctuary on the Acropolis grounds. You may be able to get in a rare photograph of one of these elusive cats!
From journal Greek Adventures in Athens
Editor Pick
Acropolis
- July 5, 2007
- Rated 5 of 5 by
MichaelJM from Nottingham, England
Lindos’ most dramatic feature is, of course the impressive Acropolis that dominates and casts a shadow over the town. The Acropolis, according to Greek mythology was built in pre-Hellenic days as a home for Athena Lindia, but the archaeological evidence points us back to the 9th Century BC and after its destruction by fire the present one was built in its place around 300BC. So it’s got a fair bit of history!
You don’t need to be heavily into archaeology to enjoy the place as the Acropolis can tell its own tale as a castle and as a place of worship. There seemed to be plenty of guided tours going around and we occasionally latched onto the side of one to pick up any information about particularly interesting looking part of the building. However, there are maps of the site and the odd detail about selected features. The one thing that is breathtaking about the site is the stupendous view – you would expect it to be verging on the perfect as the populus was trying to please the gods and a bad choice would, of course have angered them beyond belief. They knew all about the gods anger with the manifestation of earthquakes, volcanic eruption, tidal waves and inclement weather. So they chose well and we, the sightseers of the 21st Century can appreciate their vision.
St Paul’s Bay – it looks like an enclosed lake from up the top – is allegedly where the apostle landed and introduced Christianity to the island. What a great landing area he chose! Indeed all around from the temple to the gods you’ll have great views of the sea, the hills and the village of Lindos.
There’s a Byzantine church in the grounds of the acropolis, but it was cordoned off so unfortunately we couldn’t get too close to inspect it. Indeed there was a fair bit of work going on around the site including the creation of a new column. There are 40 columns around the acropolis and unfortunately 30 of these are nowhere close to being original. I’m not sure at what point in recent history that the keepers of the Acropolis decided that it needed the extra 30 but it was clearly an attempt to make it more tourist attractive. They’ve certainly achieved that, but somehow it just doesn’t seem acceptable to totally recreate such ancient sites.
By contrast they’ve left well alone the uncovered medieval staircase with all the scars of being weather worn over the centuries. Now that’s worth contemplating! Just how many thousands of feet have passed up and down this section of steps?
Around the Acropolis you’ll spot the odd gnarled olive tree and it is claimed that a priest planted these very trees, during the Roman habitation on the island, to show his respect for the Gods. Not sure about that, but it’s a damn good story.
From journal A Tiring Day in Lindos
Acropolis and Parthenon (General)
- January 27, 2007
- Rated 5 of 5 by
awc825 from Fullerton, California
First off, admission fees to many tourist attractions/historical sites in Athens are cheap, usually about 4-5 euro per person.
I'd imagine that most tourists to Athens will make the trip to the Acropolis and the Parthenon, since they are the main symbols of Athens. If I recall correctly, the entrance fee to Acropolis/Parthenon is 12 euro, which also gains you admission to the Acropolis museum, Ancient Agora, Theatre of Dionysos Kerameikos and Temple of Olympian Zeus. You can visit the other sites on different days (the ticket is not limited to same day usage). It is fantastic value and is easily one of the best bargains to be had in Athens.
Upon climbing Acropolis Hill, the first site you will see is the remains of the Theatre of Dionysos. It is built in the classical Greek style where the audience is seated in a semi circle. The trek up Acropolis Hill is not at all strenuous and you can easily spend 2-3 hours looking at the various theaters and temples at the Acropolis site, especially the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike. The partially reconstructed Theatre of Herodes Atticus is worth looking as it provides a clear picture of how the Theatre of Dionysos would have appeared. The Acropolis Museum at the apex has a number of artefacts worth looking at, including the decorative artefacts which have fallen off the Parthenon's roof.
From journal First Timer in Athens