|
Athens: Two must-see sites close to the Acropolis.
With
thousands of years of history still on display, Athens is one of the most
amazing and inspiring cities in the whole world. These days it's easier to get
to than ever before with regular cheap flights leaving from airports across the UK, not just the main London airports visit an online travel site such as Travelzoo to search for flights from your local airport or visit one of the larger cheap flight specialists such as Easyjet. For accommodation, an
easy option is to book through the airline or travel website you used to book
your flights. For this method, take a look at ASDA Travel.
When arriving in Athens one historical site is immediately apparent, even before you get off the plane: The Acropolis. Site of the Parthenon and many other key historical monuments, The Acropolis is usually the first port of call for any first-time tourists in Athens. However, once you've "done" the Acropolis, where else is there to visit?
For anyone staying longer than a weekend in the city or for repeat visitors high on your list of places to visit next should be The Plaka, an historical centre of Athens and just to the north of the Acropolis. The Plaka is a pedestrianised area lined with shops and restaurants, with great views of the Acropolis soaring above.
Whatever your itinerary the Plaka provides a pleasant location to unwind and seek refreshment after the sightseeing bonanza that is the Acropolis. The area was restored in the 19th century and has many ruins surviving from Roman times. At the west end there is a good example of Roman architecture, The Tower of the Winds a curious eight-sided building with each of the eight sides dedicated to a different deity connected to the wind that blows from that compass point.
This site is also known as the Roman Agora or the Roman Forum, an agora being simply a place where people would assemble either for military duty or to hear speeches from the king or council. Further down the road is the Ancient Agora of Athens, perhaps the best-known example of an agora and the former centre of the Athenian government in Classical times. Originally people lived on the agora until it was reorganised in the 6th Century and used purely for governmental purposes. The courts of laws were housed here and any citizen within the agora could be stopped and made to do jury service. There was even a special police force, called the Scythian Archers, who would wander around the agora looking for possible jurors.
In its heyday there were temples to the gods Zeus, Apollo and Hephaestus; however the only one to survive to present day is the impressive Temple of Hephaestus. Hephaestus was the lame god of metalworking and as such there were many potters and metal workers located in the area in classical times.
© offtolondon.com All rights reserved.
| 
