The historic neighbourhood of Plaka embosoms the Acropolis Hill on all sides. Together with Monastiraki, they contain an endless variety of antiquities of all eras. Plaka is the last remaining neighbourhood of the city which retains the neoclassical architectural style of old Athens. A walk through its winding streets is a glimpse in the way…
The private museum in the city’s chic neighbourhood of Kolonaki (1 Koumbari, 210 3671000) is housed in a beautiful 19th century neoclassical mansion, donated by Greek benefactor Antonis Benakis. The first floor is dedicated to the Palaeolithic and Bronze Ages, the Cycladic, Mycenaean and classical eras. There is a vast collection of tools, marble vessels,…
New galleries of modern art are popping up every year in Athens promoting painting, sculpture, installations, photography and graphic design. One of the most active ones is DESTE Foundation Centre (11 Fillelinon, & Emanuel Papa, Nea Ionia, train station Nea Ionia), established by art collector Dakis Ioannou in 1983. Striving to promote new as well…
As its name suggest, this museum (4 Neofytou Douka, Kolonaki, 210 7228321) showcases the largest collection of the gorgeous white marble figurines of Cycladic art, which have influenced modern sculptors with their grace, abstractiveness and shape. Most of them were discovered in tombs but their meaning is still debated. These figurines are mostly female, have…
Originally built in the 4th century B.C., the Panathenaic stadium (Vasileos Konstantinou, Mets, 210 3251744) was remade in marble by Lycurgus in 329 B.C. for the athletic event of Panathinaea. During this annual athletic event, the stadium hosted racing, boxing, jumping, javelin throw, chariot and horse racing. It was expanded by Herodes Atticus in 144…
Against all odds, the Acropolis Hill (entrance from Dionysiou Areopagitou Street) dominates the Athenian skyline in a remarkable way. Climbing the 70-metre Hill, the history of the ancient city unfolds before you, starting from Neolithic times, when the first findings are dated. The first building you encounter when you enter is the Propylaia (437-432 B.C.),…
The recent plan to unify the archaeological sites around the Acropolis Hill by pedestrianising the streets and restoring monuments and listed buildings in the area has met with such success that Athenians have forgotten (or have tried to forget) how it was before. The great thing about it is that you can do it any…
The August full moon is the biggest of the year and Athenians celebrate it accordingly. This year, the full moon is on Saturday 16th. On this night, the Ministry of Culture opens up many archaeological sites so that everyone can enjoy the full moon. Even if romance is the last thing on your mind, the…
The industrial chic cultural centre of Technopolis (100 Pireos, Gazi, 210 3461589) in Gazi represents the capital’s turn towards boosting contemporary architecture and art. The old gasworks building, dating from 1862, was converted into a complex of buildings refurbished to house exhibitions, festivals and concerts. The main building’s slender chimney, beautifully illuminated with red lights…
