Three things to see in Athens

Athens, the capital of Greece, is a unique and fascinating city that still holds many of the landmarks that helped to make it a powerful empire many centuries ago. With museums, temples, and ruins to discover, here are just three things to see in Athens that will make your holiday here truly memorable.

The Acropolis

Set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city, the Acropolis boasts a collection of features that many tourists flock to see each year. One of the most famous of these is the Parthenon, which was built in dedication to the Goddess Athena. Work started on the Parthenon in 447 BC, and since then it has been the city treasury, a church, and a mosque. Some of the sculptures from the Parthenon can now be seen in the British Museum, due to them being pillaged in the 18th century. For more information about the Acropolis, you can visit its dedicated museum which offers uninterrupted views of the Parthenon and is home to thousands of artefacts which were found on the archaeological site.

The National Archaeological Museum

Founded towards the end of the 19th century, the National Archaeological Museum in Athens is one of the largest and richest of its kind in the world. Home to artefacts from across Greece that have been dated between prehistory and late antiquity, there is no better place to discover Greek history than within this museum’s walls. With more than 11,000 exhibits to discover, you’re sure to love the museum’s five permanent collections: The Collection of Prehistoric Antiquities, The Collection of Sculpture Works, The Vase and Miniature Collection, The Collection of Metalworking Works, and the unique collection of Egyptian and Eastern Antiquities.

The Temple of Athena Nike

Dominating the southeast slope of the Acropolis is the Temple of Athena Nike, built in 420 BC. As Nike means ‘victory’ in Greek, people would worship this particular goddess in times of war in the hope that she would help them to succeed.

These are just three things to see in Athens, and there’s plenty more to discover too! Order your free Greece brochures today and start planning the holiday of a lifetime.