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SCHINIAS Schinias is situated in the south-east side of Marathon, 45km. away from Athens. Schinias has one of the best beaches in Attica. It is one of the few beaches that has a pine forest right next to the sea. The waters are shallow ideal for families with children. The visitor can find here several apartments, cafeterias and fish- taverns. «Karavi Schinias», is the most famous beach and water sports club, being located very close to the Olympic Rowing Center. There is an organized beach with umbrellas, water sports facilities, restaurants and bars SOUNIO Cape Sounion is a promontory located 69km. away from Athens. The site is a popular day trip for tourists with a beautiful sunset over the Aegean Sea. The visitor can find here a few hotels, a camping and a little beach with two traditional tavernas.
Archaeological finds on the site date back to 700 B.C. Herodotus tells us that in the 6th century B.C., the Athenians celebrated a quadrennial festival at Sounion.
The original, Archaic period temple of Poseidon was built of tufa, (a variety of limestone), and was destroyed in 480 B.C. by Persian troops. Opening hours: 10.00 till sunset
The inscribed name of the poet George Lord Byron, (1788-1824), carved into the base of one of the columns of the Temple of Poseidon, possibly dates from his first visit to Greece. «Place me on Sunium’s marbled steep,
SANCTUARY OF ATHENA SOUNIAS The sanctuary of Athena Sounias stands on a lower hill, about 400m. to the north-west of the headland. Two temples are preserved with a polygonal enclosure. The earliest small temple dates between 600-550 B.C. When the temple was destroyed by the Persians, a new larger temple was built, similar to the earlier.
VRAVRONA
• «Temple of Artemis» The excavation of the site began in 1945. Among the monuments of the settlement are: the Π-shaped stoa around the interior courtyard, the small temple, (perhaps a heroon of Iphigeneia), and the stone bridge over the Erasinos river. Small shrine: About 12m. southeast of the Temple of Artemis a small shrine was built. The area has been associated with the propitiation of Iphigenia, perhaps in the form of a heroon. Stone bridge: It is the only known example of a Classical period bridge in Greece. It uses the standard post and lintel construction of its time.
The small museum of Vravrona houses significant exhibits from the site throughout its period of use. The most famous exhibits are as follows: 1. The Arkton Statue, beautiful devotes marble statues of young children. Admission
RAFINA CHURCHES
MONASTIRAKI Monastiraki, (meaning « little monastery»), is situated under the shadow of the Acropolis. The old name of the flea market neighborhood was Monastirion, because of the small church found right on the Monastiraki square. The main flea market of Athens is at the Avyssinias square, at the end of Hephaestou street. There, the visitor can find a great number of shoe shops, clothing and music stores. Along the Adrianou street, (facing the Acropolis and the stoa of Attalos), there are several cafes and restaurants. Monastiraki is one of the most picturesque areas of Athens, so do not forget to visit it while doing your shopping under the Greek, warm sun…
CHURCHES, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Pantanassa church, (meaning «the Mother of God»), is situated on the Monastiraki square, dating in the 10th century. It is a three-aisled basilica, which used to be known as the Great Monastery. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was one of the most important parish churches in Athens. Towards the end of the 19th century, due to the archaeological excavations and the construction of the metro station, the church lost most of its monastic building. In 1911, the church was repaired and its western façade was altered, together with its tall bell tower.
The Library of Hadrian is located on the north side of the Acropolis, next to the metro station of Monastiraki. It was built in 132 A.D. by the emperor Hadrian, while it was destroyed by the Herculae in 267 A.D. In form, the complex consists of a large, rectangular walled enclosure with entrance on the west. It, also, comprises a Corinthian propylon on the west side, an open peristyle courtyard, a library, study and lecture halls. It was repaired by the Roman eparchus Herculius in 412 A.D. and in the 5th century the quatrefoil building of the early Christian church was constructed in the center of the peristyle court. Finally, during the Turkish occupation, it became the seat of the Voevode, (Governor), and in 1835, the barracks of king Otto were erected in the place of the Voevodalik.
Most important monuments of the site:
The Stoa of Attalos is situated in the east side of the Ancient Agora in Athens, just opposite the Adrianou street in Monastiraki. It was built by and named after king Attalos II of Pergamon who ruled between 159 B.C. and 138 B.C. During antiquity, the building was the largest in length in Greece, (115 by 20 meters wide), made of Pentelic marble and limestone. The stoa is a large-scale building consisting of two floors. The ground floor belongs to the Doric style, while the first floor to the Ionic style. The two levels are connected by two staircases at the end of the building. The roof is covered with tiles. The stoa of Attalos is identified as a gift to the city of Athens for the education that Attalos received there. It was, both, an ancient shopping center and a place where citizens used to gather in order to discuss different matters. In the 1950’s, the stoa was fully reconstructed and made into the Ancient Agora Museum by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
The Stoa of Attalos houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. The collection includes clay, glass and bronze objects, sculptures, coins and inscriptions dating from the 7th o the 5th century B.C., as well as pottery of the Byzantine period and the Turkish occupation. The exhibits of the museum are, all, related to the functions of American democracy. Some of the most significant objects of the rich collection have as follows:
The Roman Agora is situated on the north side of the Acropolis, a short distance to the east of the Greek Agora. It was built between the 19th and 11th century BC. with the donation of Julius Caesar and Augustus. That information we know from an After the invasion of the Herculae, (267 AD.), the city of Athens was restricted to the area within the Late Roman fortification wall. The administrative and commercial centre was transferred from the Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora and the Library of Hadrian. During the Byzantine period and the Turkish occupation, the area was covered with houses, workshops and churches.
The Roman Agora consists of a large, open-air courtyard surrounded by colonnades on all four sides. On the southern side there was a fountain, while on the eastern side, there were a series of shops. The main entrance was on the west and there was a second entrance, (propylon), on the east, leading up to the public latrines (Vespasianae) and the «Tower of the Winds». The public latrines were housed in a rectangular building, consisting of an antechamber and a square hall with benches.
The Turkish mosque, («Fethiye Djami»), lies on the north side of the Roman Agora. It was constructed in 1456 AD. on the ruins of an Early Christian Basilica.
Finally, the Agoranomion, is a rectangular building on the east side of the Roman Agora, preserving the façade which used to have three doorways with arched lintels. An inscription found, mentions that the building was dedicated to the Divi Augusti and Athena Archegetis…
Note: Telephone: 210-3245220 Admission: Standard 2 euros Reduced 1 euro
The Tower of the Winds, (also known as the Horologion of Andronikos of Kyrrhos), is a tall, octagonal building, situated on the east side of the Roman Agora. It was built around 40 century BC. by the famous astronomer Andronikos to be an elaborate water clock, (on the inside), sundial, (on the outside), and weather vane, (on the top). It is made out of pentelic marble, originally topped by a revolving bronze weather vane depicting Triton. The nickname «Tower of the Winds» derives from the personifications of the eight winds carved on the eight sides of the buildings. More specifically:
CHURCHES
The Fethiye Mosque, (also known as the «Victory Mosque»), is situated on the corner of the Panos and Pelopida streets, close to the Roman Agora. It was built in 1458, after the arrival of Mehmed II Fatih, (the Conqueror), came to Athens.
Today, the mosque is property of the Archaeological Society acting as a storehouse. The building is, also, known as the «Mosque of the Wheat Market», due to its position close to the cereal market during the Ottoman period.
From October 1687 until April 1688, the mosque was converted into a Catholic church dedicated to Saint Dionysius Areopagite. In 1824, the place was used as School of the Filomoussos Society, while later on was managed by the Greek army.
The church of Agia Sotira, (also known as the «Savior of Kottaki»), is situated between the streets of Kydathenaeion and Sotiros. It was named after the Kottakis family, celebrating on the day of the Transfiguration of the Savior.
The original cell of the church dates back to the end of the 10th century, being one of the earliest Byzantine churches in Athens. During the Greek War of Independence, Agia Sotira suffered extensive damage, while between the years of 1827 and 1855, it functioned as the parish for the Russian community in Athens…
The church of the Savior of Lykodemos, (also known as the Russian church), is situated on the corner of Filellinon street and Amalias avenue. It is one of the most significant Byzantine monuments of the 11th century, being the parish church of the Russian community in Athens. It was built around 1031 within the perimeter of the city’s defensive wall. That information we know due to the two inscriptions found on the northern wall of the church. The first mentions the year 1031, while, the second says that Stephanos, (the major donor, died in 1044.
During the Byzantine period and the Ottoman rule, the church was a katholikon, (main church), of a monastery. The Savior of Lykodimos has suffered a great number of natural disasters and wars, such as the earthquake taking place in 1701. In 1780, all the additional monastery buildings were destroyed, while in 1827, the church was further damaged by the shells dropped from the Acropolis.
In 1847, the church was purchased by the Russian Government and in 1850, was restored by Tsar Alexander II. The post-Byzantine mural paintings were replaced by paintings of the German artist Ludwig Thiersch, (1825-1909). Nowadays, the Russian church dominates, still, the area in terms of size and construction quality…
VARKIZA
Varkiza, also known as Alianthos, is a picturesque suburb of Athens, only 22km. away. Most of the streets’ names are named after Greek mythology. The organized, sandy beach is ideal for swimming and water sports. The visitor can find here several hotels, apartments, tavernas and nightclubs.
VOULIAGMENI
Vouliagmeni, (meaning «sunken»), is a picturesque peninsula situated on the eastern edge of Athens, (only 20km. away from the center). It has a population of approximately 7,000 inhabitants and the western half of the region consists of two peninsulas, namely: Megalo and Mikro Kavouri, (Big and Little Crab), with sandy and pebbled beaches. Vouliagmeni is famous for its lake with the mineral water spa, standing at a 40cm. elevation. The lake’s water maintains a constant 24 degrees Celcius temperature all year round. The lake is recognized as a wonder of nature because of its unique appearance. The visitor can find here a great variety of hotels, restaurants and shopping centers. The sandy beaches are ideal for swimming and water sports, many of them being awarded by the Blue Flag.
Ruins of the Temple of Apollo Zoster have been excavated in the region. Unfortunately, today, the temple is sunken almost at sea level. Other remnants of early human habitation found in Vouliagmeni, include Neolithic and Bronze Age building foundations. GLYFADA
Glyfada is a suburb of Athens situated in the southern parts of the city, only 18km. away from the capital’s center. The area stretches out from the foot of the Hymettus mountains, being the largest of Athens’ southern suburbs. It has a population of approximately 80,000 inhabitants and it is known as the «Beverly Hills of Greece». Here, the visitor can find a great variety of hotels, restaurants, boutiques and cosmopolitan summer clubs. Additionally, Glyfada offers beautiful sandy beaches, ideal for swimming and water sports. Glyfada Marina, includes marine space and coastal land area of 3km, while the Glyfada Golf Club, for the lovers of the sport, is situated south of the old Airport of Athens. PALAIO FALIRO
Palaio Faliro is situated next to Piraeus, along the coast of the Saronic gulf, with a population of approximately 65,000 inhabitants. It is the seaside suburb nearest to Athens’ center, ideal for swimming with beautiful, organized beaches. The yacht harbor, (Marina Alimou), lies to the south east, while the Trokadero harbor lies to the northwest. Here, the visitor may choose among various hotels, restaurants and night-clubs. Of great importance is the Stadium of Peace and Friendship, together with the Karaiskaki Stadium. The region hosted several sea sports during the Olympic Games of 2004. If you visit Palaio Faliro in early July, do not forget to attend the biannual Naval Week.
Archaeological News
The 1,8 m. tall marble torso of a young man, (dating in the 1st century A.D.), is a Roman copy of a 4th century B.C. classical original, representing, possibly, Apollo Lykeios.
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