Two-day excursion: Athens - the birthplace of democracy and the citadel of the ancient world

An excursion to Athens is one of those trips that will not leave anyone indifferent. And it’s not just the spirit of a modern European metropolis, the atmosphere of a capital city or the sequence of facilities you visit. The bottom line is that you again touch the pages of school textbooks and books on ancient Greek history and mythology, and at the same time discover a lot of new things for yourself.

Not only history and gods with heroes will fill your acquaintance with the city of democracy with special content, but also a number of pleasant surprises and surprises await you in Athens. And first of all for you it will be an acquaintance with the uniqueness and originality of the city, which combines the history of five thousand years with the life of the metropolis of the 21st century. This amazing symbiosis in Athens implies not only the neighborhood of the majestic ruins of the 5th century BC with modern shopping centers and buildings of the 19th century, built in the neoclassical style, but also a special atmosphere in which antiquity meets the era of technological progress.

Day one

The first stop in Athens takes place in Piraeus – making a circle through the territory of the port city, you stop at the harbor of Canfaros, which offers a wonderful view of the center of Piraeus with the ruins of the Ietion Gate, which was once part of the system of fortifications of the Pericles era and from where ferries to various Greek islands leave. Further after moving through the picturesque yacht berths in Pasalimani, there will be a small photo-stop on the observation deck, overlooking Faliro, the old port, the city center and the Gimette Mountains.

Then you delve into the center of Athens, followed by a stop at the Olympic Stadium of Kallimarmaro, where the first revived modern Olympic Games took place in 1896; the temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch. And after that, you will climb the funicular to the hill of Lykavitos, which offers a dizzying view of the capital of Greece. Lunch in a small restaurant on the top of Licabetta will complement the impression of the trip and help to recuperate before the new stage of the tour.

After lunch, you take a course to the southeast of Attica, leave the city center, pass the picturesque areas of Glyfada and Alimos with anchor piers and a station for the capture, treatment and study of sea turtles caretta caretta. Pass the karst lake Vuljagmeni with thermal water and continue your path along the coast of the Attic Riviera, the relief of the coast of which resembles intricate lace. At the most southeastern point of Attica is Cape Sounion with the ruins of the temple of Poseidon - a masterpiece of ancient architecture, on one of the columns of which Byron's autograph is still visible. Sunset in Sounion is considered one of the most picturesque in Greece.

* Visit to Piraeus.
City survey: Arditos Hill and Kallimarmaro Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian Arch, ascent to Likavitos
Sounion

Day two

The day will begin with a visit to the Acropolis. A beautiful view opens up on the Odeon of Herod Atticus lying below, but we leave it behind in order to pass through the colonnade of the majestic Propylae, admiring the miniature temple of Athena Niki, also called the temple of Niki Apteros – Wingless Niki; approach the temple of Erechtheion with its caryatids – columns in the form of female figures. And, of course, we freeze in awe and trepidation before the most majestic and grandiose not so much in size, but in the thoughtfulness of architectural details and perfection of the form of ancient architecture, the Parthenon - not only the most popular cultural monument in the world, as it was repeatedly recognized, but also a symbol of beauty and harmony.

After visiting the Acropolis, the tour continues in the new Acropolis Museum, which in 2009 moved from the premises near the Parthenon to a new building. After the Acropolis Museum will be followed by a walk through the historical center of the city. You will pass the Peripatos trail, which encircles the Acropolis and in honor of which the Peripatetic school of philosophers was named. Stop near the rock of the Areopagus, where the ardent sermon of the Apostle Paul sounded at one time. Walk along the Agora, where the social life of ancient Athens pulsated throughout the history of the polis. Descend from the foot of the Acropolis to the Tower of Winds, another monument of antiquity.

Stroll through the picturesque area of Plaka, which has preserved the spirit and atmosphere of old Athens, and at the end of the trip stop for lunch in one of the local cozy homemade taverns, where not only recover your strength and refresh yourself with beautiful dishes of national Greek cuisine, but also enjoy the atmosphere of this wonderful area, where it seems that time has stopped.
At the end of the two-day tour of Athens, you will have a great opportunity to admire one of the most colorful acts of Athenian everyday life: the change of the guard of the Evzones, soldiers of the National Guard.

On the way back there is a stop in the Thermopyla Gorge, where King Leonids and 300 Spartans performed a feat that is not forgotten even today not only by the Greeks, but also by the whole world.

Acropolis (Parthenon, Propylaea, Temple of Nike Apteros, Temple of Erechtheion, Odeon of Herodes Atticus)
The New Acropolis Museum
Walking tour of the center of Athens: Areopagus hill, Athens agora, Tower of Winds
* Church of Evangelistria - Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God, Plaka
Parliament, Syntagma, Changing of the Guard (Evzones)
Thermopylae, monument to Leonid

Interesting facts:
Quote from the ancient comedy: “Yes, you are a churban, if Athens has not seen;” The ass, when he saw it, did not delight; the camel, when he left them, did not complain. ?
According to the research of Victor Davis Hanson, when recalculated to the current rate, the construction of the Parthenon alone cost 206 million euros;
Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, continuously inhabited for at least 5,000 years.
The Acropolis of Athens is not only listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987; the temple on the organization’s flag is often associated with the Parthenon.
The Acropolis is visited annually by about 7 million tourists.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus was the largest temple of antiquity.

Useful information:

total mileage of the excursion (with departure from Thessaloniki) - about 1200 km;
For your comfort and safety, wear comfortable shoes; do not forget to bring headgear with you;
The route program can be changed for reasons beyond the control of the company (force majeure); weather conditions and at the discretion of the guide, if necessary;
Do not forget to take with you essentials, there is an overnight stay in Athens (hotel 3*, accommodation in triple or double rooms).

All transfers under the program on comfortable transport Mercedes Vito.
services of a Russian-speaking driver (1450 - the cost of a tour with a Russian-speaking guide);
* Accommodation in a 3* hotel in Athens in double or triple rooms with breakfast (single room surcharge - 30 euros per person).
* when leaving Halkidiki, change in value.

Separately paid:

* Lunch;
Dinner?
entrance tickets to museums, archaeological parks;