Out of Water Details

The ever busy Syndagma square, located right underneath the Greek parliament, set within a small distance from the “modern” Kolonaki square (a living Athenian commercial center) where fashionable shops interchange with galleries, and finally the Lycabetus hill that offers a magnificent view all over Athens day or night.

There are numerous Museums each with its own flair and significant  finding which are worthwhile being visited according to the visitors inclinations: The National Archaeological Museum, The Jewish Museum, The Benaki Museum, The Museum of Cycladic Art, The Byzantine Museum, and the National Gallery of Art.  Athens is full of restaurants where the latest in Greek, Italian, and French cuisine are served, crowded bars, and lively nightclubs which remain open until the early morning hours.

Cape Sounion: A beautiful coast, dotted with villas overlooking bays and marinas.  A lace like coastline leads to the Cape where one of the most renowned temples of ancient Greece stands, the Temple of Poseidon.  Overlooking cliff with a height of 65m, the Temple was built in the 5th century BC and has 16 Doric columns that still stand today.

Mycenae:  “..one of the most ancient and fabulous places in Europe, which should be visited first for the myth, the beautiful landscape and the unique excavations”.  These words by R. Liddell best describe this well protected ancient town closely related to the kingdom of Agamemnon, whose remains were excavated by the archaeologist Schliemann,  The remains of the palace surrounded by scattered houses, graves and tombs re “safely guarded” by the Lion Gate (a classic example of monumental sculpture).  Visitors are also impressed by the Treasury of Atreus, one of the most characteristic monuments of the Mycenaean civilization.

Epidavros:  Located near the town of Nafplion.  An ancient theatre (renowned for its acoustics) with seating capacity of 14,000.  During the annual festival held every summer people still enjoy ancient tragedies by Euripides, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and comedies by Aristophanes.  Other highlights include the Sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, the father of Medicine, which hosted patients from all over Greece, the Banquet Hall, the Roman Odeum and Stadium.  The local museum includes statues, stone inscriptions and well-craved reliefs.

Delphi: The “naval of the earth” according to ancient Greeks, located on steep cliff edge of Parnassus mountain, among a valley of cypress and olive trees.  The Sanctuary dedicated to Apollo, the most acknowledged in Greece, was famous for its oracles for more than a thousand years, among Kingdoms as well as simple people, for “it would never lie”.   Apart from the Sanctuary itself, highlight sighs include the King of Argos monument, the Athenian Treasury and Council House, as well as the preserved ancient theater and stadium.  The local museum hosts Kore figures and the famous Bronze Charioteer.