Named for the Greek goddess Athena, Greece’s capital embodies that godly wisdom. Athens did not need to develop this wisdom. Rather the city has the wisdom of the ages, being one of the oldest cities in the world. Athens’ history spans over 3,000 years. Throughout that time, some of the key ideas used throughout the world grew up in Athens. Today, Athens can be called gritty and a little rough and tough, but its booming metropolis won’t leave you bored. As the past meets the present, the two have a conversation much as the Greek philosophers did around town. The largest city of Greece and one of the oldest cities in the world makes for an interesting dialogue, bursting to tell of all that it contains.
Missing the Acropolis in Athens would be similar to visiting Pisa and not seeing its Leaning Tower. Or it could equate with stopping in Cairo and never going home with a photograph of the Egyptian pyramids. The Acropolis carries the weight of the ancient Greek world on its precious shoulders. The site can’t hide the fact that it is one of the most significant historical areas in the entire world. Since Neolithic times, the area has been inhabited. By 650 B.C., it transformed into the official place of worship for the Goddess Athena. Three other temples make up this area including the Parthenon, Erechteheion and the Temple of Nike. While viewing the Acropolis is powerful, those that can’t get enough should stop at the Acropolis Museum for more excavated treasures found in the area.
The temples do not end there. Athens is home to the Agora. Entrenched deep in the heart of ancient Athens, the Agora served as the center for political, commercial, social, and administrative life in Athens. Also since Neolithic times, people have been occupying the area. The thoughts and exchanges that went on in the Agora are legendry. Some of the greatest minds and philosophers of all time argued under this venue of monuments and temples.
Entering Athens, the imaginary sign looms around every corner titled “Land of Museums”. The museums of the city trace Athena’s finest artistic, cultural, and historical achievements. If you only have time for one museum while in town, make it the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. The Museum is not one of the top 10 museums in the world for nothing. The collections are impressive, displaying Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean, and classical Greek art. The Byzantine Museum is also worth a look. The structure holds art from the city’s 4th to 9th century ages in a Florentine style villa. Another one of Athens’ works of museum art falls in the Museum of Cycladic Art. Within, travelers commence a journey through over 5,000 years of Cycladic history in relic form. The museum holds a fine collection of Cycladic and ancient Greek art.
Just down from the Acropolis, the old timer in Athens may be somewhat touristy, but it is for a reason. The Plaka remains one of the oldest parts of modern Athens. With stone-paved narrow streets, the Plaka is the perfect place to take in a cooling beverage at one of the many cafes, restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the area.
While ruins are all fine and well, sometimes you just need a little greenery. In Athens, the National Garden is the only place to seek out green refuge in central Athens. The National Gardens is peppered with lakes, ponds, and even a zoo. They were the former gardens of the royal family, but today are accessible to all.
Athens may have its moments and shortcomings, but it is difficult to find a reason not to like the city. The birthplace of democracy and the cradle of some of the greatest ancient civilizations doesn’t need billboards and advertisements boasting its features and achievements. Athens is already achieved. The likes of gods and mortals mingle in Athens, creating heaven, hell, and all that is in between on earth.
