When visiting Greece, specifically the Saronic Gulf, you cannot fail to visit its capital, located in the center of the Mediterranean, the oldest and most authentic Greek part. Well, yes, we are indeed talking about her.... The beautiful Athens!
To make your vacation truly unforgettable, before you set sail on a wonderful sailboat or, why not, at the end of your incredible cruise, carve out some time to explore the origins of this magnificent place. After a week spent relaxing in the waves of the sea and filling your eyes with the thousand shades of blue, it is time to delve into the past, seeing the most famous Greek sights that marked and wrote the history of the West. For the more athletic we recommend this short walking tour, while for those who want more comfort we recommend renting a minivan with driver or a car, so that you can move around in perfect autonomy following our itinerary. The cruise departs and returns from Alimos Marina in Athens, which could be your perfect home base. Visit as first, the hostess: the Acropolis.
Atop a so-called "protective" mountain, the Acropolis dominates the center of the city. It is, in fact, a veritable citadel that still retains the historical essence from which it came, almost as if the people of that time were treading the stones with you. Enter through what was once the main entrance to the Acropolis: the Propylaeum, a marble portico placed in front of the gates of a temple. The Acropolis is the home of the Parthenon, one of the most important parts to visit, a temple built of white marble from Mount Pentelicus to house the golden image of Athena Parthenos, an imposing and colossal sculpture 12 meters high.
Next head to the Temple of Athena Nike, located on the west side of the acropolis a few meters from the sheer cliffs that characterize it. This beautiful temple, through relief decorations tells, on three sides the battles between Greeks and Persians while on the fourth side to the east it depicts the Olympian gods intent on watching these bloody battles. Finally arrive at the memorable amphitheater known as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, an originally covered theater capable of seating thousands of people for the customary musical operas of yesteryear.
Delight then, with a typical lunch in the shadow of the Acropolis and Parthenon, before setting off again to explore the city. After relaxing properly, reach Syntagma Square, the most famous square in Athens that houses the Parliament building, built between 1836 and 1842 as a palace for Otto, the first king of Greece. Opposite the Parliament building is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is guarded day and night by "Euzioni": guards dressed in traditional uniforms that change as the hour changes.
After witnessing the iconic Changing of the Guard, a few steps away you will find the majestic Presidential Palace, the official residence of the President of the Republic, with its elaborately landscaped royal gardens. Your tour continues to the penultimate visit to the Kallimarmaron Panathinaiko stadium, the only large stadium in the world built entirely of pentelic marble. This stadium is most famous for hosting the first modern Olympics in 1896.
If you feel like taking a relaxing walk among nature, reach Philopappos Hill and follow its pristine paths that will take you straight to the top, which will give you a panoramic view of the Acropolis and the entire city of Athens, thus leaving you breathless! Treat yourself to an aperitif in the picturesque Parka district, located below the Acropolis Hill with its quaint streets lined with local stores.
Finally, dine at one of the typical local taverns and taste the most intriguing and tasty Greek dishes while letting yourself be carried away by this precious atmosphere rich in ancient history.
