Travel news: Seven things to do and see in Athens, Greece
Athens is the capital of Greece and has a variety of fifth-century BC landmarks from ancient times that are still standing.
I visited the "Birthplace of Democracy" in April 2018 and enjoyed the amazing food and culture that the country had to offer as well as its beautiful spring weather.
Here, Travel News Blitz’s Ayla Vaughan discusses seven things to do and see in Athens, Greece.
Byzantine and Christian Museum
The Byzantine and Christian Museum houses more than 25,000 exhibits with rare collections of pictures, scriptures, frescoes, pottery, fabrics, manuscripts and more.
Artifacts inside encompass the entire Greek world, as well as regions in which Hellenism flourished, where you can admire stunning artwork.
Odeon of Herod Atticus
The Odeon of Herod Atticus is a second-century stone theater built into the hillside where other monuments are located nearby such as the Parthenon and the Acropolis.
It was built in 161 AD by the orator Herodes Atticus in memory of his Roman wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla, and created as a gift to the city as a symbol of his generosity.
Also, there are a total of 33 rows of marble seats in addition to scenery structures 28 meters high with a capacity of 5,000 and was the largest of its time.
Monastiraki
Monastiraki is a lively flea market neighborhood with lots of small tavernas serving good-value local snacks, such as my favourite tzatziki with fresh bread.
Whilst on this street you can cool down from the heat by having some delicious ice cream or buy some souvenirs from local craftsmen to take home.
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National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece from prehistory to late antiquity.
Notable pieces inside include a bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon and a marble table support adorned by Dionysos, Pan and a Satyr.
Parthenon
The Parthenon is arguably the most famous Ancient Greek landmark in the capital, with its majestic ruins and iconic white marble columns with a perfect sense of proportion.
Unfortunately, a large part of the structure has scaffolding around it to preserve its structure from further damage, but you can still snap a stunning picture to remember this piece of history.
It was built in the fifth century BC to commemorate the Greek victory over the Persian invaders during the Greco-Persian Wars, but in modern times is known to be dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, warfare and handicraft Athena.
Plaka
In the neighbourhood of Plaka you can wander through the narrow cobblestone alleys at the foothills of the Acropolis and imagine life in Ancient Greece.
You'll find quaint shops selling jewellery, clothes, ceramics and souvenirs, as well as Roman columns, medieval churches and ancient landmarks such as the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates.
Acropolis Museum
After admiring all the Greek architecture, spend some time at the Acropolis Museum to learn the history behind all these structures and the city itself.
It lies over the ruins of part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens, which you can walk through underneath the museum if you wish to explore further.
Its modern design contrasts the ancient artwork inside such as artifacts and sculptures from the Erechtheum (it locates all five of the Caryatids of Erechtheion except for one located in the British Museum) and the Temple of Athena Nike.
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