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Greece is virtually overflowing with things to do, great things to do!
When you think of Greece you may think of the fabulous beaches, blue sea, clear skies, rocking nightclubs and the multitude of party islands but there is much more to a Grecian good time than that. Greece is the home of one of the great ancient civilizations, famous for great men such as Socrates, Plato, and Alexander the Great. Another one of the wonderful things about Greece is that you can actually touch history there.
The ancient city of Athens is also a bustling modern city and the home of approximately forty percent of Greece’s population. Although it has all the problems that any other big city has like air pollution and high traffic, it also contains some of the ancient world’s greatest treasures. Please don’t neglect the city of Athens in your enthusiasm for another day at the beach.
Overlooking the city of Athens is the Acropolis Hill. This religious complex consists of several temples built during the 5th century BCE. The three most important temples are the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Nike. A visit to Greece would be incomplete without a visit to the famous Acropolis.
The Parthenon, the international symbol of ancient Greek civilization, is a temple dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. This ancient structure was built between 447 and 438 B.C.E. Although the years have been unkind and damaged this building over time, a renovation began in the 1970’s and continues to this day to restore as much of the structure as possible. (Unfortunately, in the 19th century, the British ambassador in Constantinople, Lord Elgin, removed much of the sculptural decorations of this monument and sold them to the British Museum. These items comprise one of the most important collections at the museum.)
The Erechtheion was built in 420 B.C.E. This temple is dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon-Erechtheus.
The Temple of Athena Nike was also built in approximately 420 B.C.E.
Another must see is the National Archaeological Museum. Although many Greek treasures were shuttled off to conquering capitals over the years, the National Archaeological Museum contains rich collections of Greek art that represent the many cultures that have flourished in Greece. Be sure to visit the exhibit containing the 3,600-year old gold mask of Agamemnon. Also included in the museum is a section of exhibits from ancient Egypt.
150 kilometers west of Athens are the remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Construction on this temple began in 515 B.C.E. Today, just a few of the original 140 Corinthian columns can be seen. Those few columns are enough to help you envision how huge this particular temple once was.
180 kilometers northwest of Athens is Delphi. This is widely known as one of the most scenic regions of the Mediterranean. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus is the location of the famous oracle and the sanctuary dedicated to Apollo. Take a moment to soak up the beauty of the architecture, the valley and the sea below before moving on to the next attraction.
Once you’ve had your fill of the glorious history and architecture to be found in Greece, check into one of the many fabulous resorts overlooking the azure sea and enjoy the sun, sand, water and non-stop nightlife that can only be found in Greece.
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