Greece is one of those countries that attracttourists a variety of entertainment: relaxing on the beach, mountain hiking, walking through the ancient streets. But most people visit Greece as the true cradle of Western civilization. Having arrived here, you will plunge into the original world where centuries-old traditions and a modern rhythm of life try to get on. You will see this by visiting the capital of Greece, where among the large number of transport, new buildings and branded shops, it is increasingly difficult to experience the spirit of the ancient, majestic Hellas. This fact the tourist should take as a reality, and then the journey to Athens and the world of antiquity will pass without disappointment. His heyday Greece, in particular, Athens, reached during the reign of Pericles. It was in the V century BC. here science and culture began to develop rapidly. In the capital of Hellas, Aeschylus, Herodotus, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and other prominent figures worked. The times of glory are evidenced by ancient buildings erected with greatness in the acropolis, and other sights.

The Acropolis is an asset of history

The main attractions for whichshould visit Athens, are in the acropolis. Thousands of tourists come here every year to see temples, theaters and monumental gates with their own eyes. Almost the whole complex of buildings was erected in the fifth century BC. Much has changed since then - from its former greatness there are very few. But seeing the sights of the acropolis, even in such a dilapidated form, it is easy to imagine all the power that Athens and Ancient Greece possessed. The most famous and majestic are the temples of the Parthenon and the Erechtheion. The first was built in honor of the goddess Athena. Once upon a time near the Parthenon rose a statue of this goddess. Time (like the people themselves) did not spare the temple. It was virtually destroyed in the XVII century by the Venetians, who fought against the Turks. And in the XIX century, the British took out valuable sights - decorations of the church's pediments, images of the gods. The Erechtheion is located on the north side of the acropolis. His sanctuaries are dedicated to King Erechtheus, Athena and Poseidon. The temple is decorated with porticoes on the south side, supported by caryatids - statues of girls. Despite the fact that the original statues are located thousands of kilometers from Greece, in the Museum of England, the copies installed on the temple look no worse. The oldest Greek theater, the Theater of Dionysus, is also located in the Acropolis, at its southern slope. Since its inception in the IV century BC. there were performances devoted to the god Dionysus. These were special days when Greece celebrated the holidays associated with this deity. But on the west side of the acropolis is the temple of Nicky, the wingless Victory. Why wingless? This goddess was cut off wings, so that she never left Athens. If we talk about what attractions should be seen first of all after the monuments of architecture, then this is the capital's museums. Even those who do not like such walks will be amazed by the most ancient works of art that Greece possesses. To experience the atmosphere of ancient Hellas, it is enough to visit the National Archaeological Museum. There are valuable exhibits that have preserved the spirit of that time. As we have already mentioned, the elements of the Erechtheion temple are represented in the London Museum. And this is by no means the only cultural monument that was exported abroad at the time. Such a fate befell the frieze of the Parthenon, and many more truly religious items. This happened in the XIX century with the permission of the Turkish sultan, who at that time ruled the Ottoman Empire. The ambassador of the King of England took out all the most important sights, valuable items and sold them to the local museum. Of course, Greece is trying to bring the treasure back to its homeland, but so far it has been inconclusive.

Sightseeing: Wind Tower, Plaka and Kerameikos Cemetery

The Tower of the Winds is called the first in the worldweather station, because it was built by the astronomer Andronicus of Cyrrhus back in the II century BC. The tower is 12 meters high and 8 meters in diameter has eight faces corresponding to the sides of the world. Inside were a solar and water clock, the remains of which have survived to this day. There were friezes decorating the structure and depicting the allegory of the eight winds. Plaka is the region, the oldest part of the city of Athens. It is located at the foot of the acropolis. Yes, there is its own infrastructure: shops, taverns. But this does not prevent all who came here to plunge into the past as much as possible. For example, house number 5 on Skolu street will allow one glimpse into the 18th century, when Greece was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. It was this building in those days that served as the police station. On another street, Topu, there is a building in which the first Athenian University was located. Now here is a museum of history. The Plaka area is also known to all Orthodox Christians thanks to the church of St. John and Ayion Anargiron, because it is from here that the holy fire is carried to the churches of Greece and other countries. In addition to the church, there are many other ancient churches. Cemeteikos Cemetery is also a landmark of the city of Athens. Previously, the Kerameikos area was called Kerameon. You do not like this word? Yes, the term "ceramics" came from the name of the Greek pottery town. It was an area famous for the number of pottery workshops, next to which is the cemetery. Officially, it exists from the II century BC, but the first burials here occurred around 4700 BC. It is in this area that archaeologists discovered a large number of ancient clay products that are represented in the local museum. You can see these attractions, visiting here from April to October - at this time, Greece takes a large number of tourists.

What else will Athens surprise us?

The above listed attractions arethe most visited, however not all tourists like to spend time like this. A lot of those who like walking, visiting cafes, restaurants. For example, few people remain indifferent to the view from Likavitos Hill, a walk along the Monastiraki quarter, which is full of cafes and small restaurants. If you feel the spirit of history in the acropolis and the museum, walks through the city will be opened for you by modern Athens, what people live today, their traditions, cuisine, etc. By the way, the title of the site can also be awarded to the Athenian cuisine, because it is rightfully considered the most delicious in Greece. To explain this love of tourists to the dishes prepared in the Athenian institutions is very simple: the local cuisine combines the most interesting culinary solutions from different parts of Greece. Variety of cheeses, including feta, engraver; chops from pork or beef (briots), shish kebab, octopus and, of course, moussaka - all this is prepared in every tavern. Immediately you will be offered excellent home-made wine. After a wonderful dinner, you can go to the theater or open-air cinema. If you are inclined in favor of the second, go to the Dexamenis square. Surely you have not yet had to watch a film, sitting under the shadow of blossoming laurel trees and listening to the chirping of birds, right? That's why you need to go to Athens, not only to visit the sights, but also to have a good rest, because Greece is an amazing country!

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