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More
about the Acropolis...
360 Animation of the Acropolis
The hill of Lykavittos is the highest point in Athens rising 270 metres
above the megalopolis. It is a pine covered hill visible from every
part of the city. The name of the hill means "hill of the wolves"
and the legend says that this name derives from the ancient times
when the wolves roamed freely on the hill, then surrounded by countryside.
Lykavittos hill is the highest point of Athens and offers an incredible
panoramic view over the entire city and the surroundings mountains.
Depending on the level of pollution, the hill permits, some days,
views to the port of Piraeus and even the islands of Salamina and
Aegina.
At the top of the hill is the 19th century picturesque chapel of St.George
built on the location of the Byzantine church of Prophet Ilias.
The Lykavitos hill is also famous for its theatre which welcomes many
artists from the national and international scene for jazz and rock
concerts, spectacles and many festivals.
The top of the hill can be reached by foot, by car or a funicular
rail-way from the neighbour of Kolonaki. The visitor can also find
at the top of the hill a café and one of the most luxurious
restaurants of Athens with both incredible views over the city.
360
Animation of the Lycabettus
This area is characterised by the Areopagus hill, the Filopappos Hill
and the Hill of the Pnyx and the Hill of the Nymphs. |
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The Areopagus Hill is easily accessible by steps sculpted into the
rock. The hill offers a great panoramic view over the acropolis, the
Ancient Agora and the west part of Athens. In summer time nights,
this place attracts many people and offers a peaceful atmosphere.
The Filopappos Hill or
the Hill of the Muses is located opposite to the Acropolis. The hill
took it name from the funeral monument built at its top in 115 A.D
in memory of Gaius Julius Antiochus Philopappos who was a Roman consul.
The monument was 10 metres high with statues of the family of Filopappos.
The hill is pine-covered and the top offers incredible panoramic views
over Athens, the acropolis and the Saronic Gulf. It is only accessible
by foot. The hill also houses the small Byzantine chapel of Agios
Dimitrios which contains some fine frescoes.
The Pnyx Hill is located between the Philopappos
hill and the Hill of the Nymphs. In the Ancient Times, in the 5th
century B.C., it was the meeting place of the Democratic Assembly
also called the "Assembly of the Demos".
All the famous orators of Ancient Athens such as Aristides, Demosthenes,
Pericles and Themistocles delivered many speeches. |
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The gardens contain some
interesting kind of trees and plants, duck ponds, a small zoo and
a botanical museum which houses drawings, paintings and photographs.
Many efforts have been done to clean up the gardens and to offer to
the animals captured in the zoo more comfortable conditions.
The gardens also houses a playground and some nice cafés.
360
Animation of Gardens
The Zappeion Gardens are located next to the National Gardens and
just off the central Square of Syntagma. In the center of the gardens
is located the Zappeion Megaron, a beautiful neoclassical building
erected in 1874-1888. It was originally built in order to host the
first modern Olympic Games which took place in Athens in 1896.
The building was since then used as a center for international conferences
and was many times witness of many of Greece's important political
moments.
360
Animation of Zappeion
The Areos Park is located on Leoforos Alexandras (Av.), not far from
the National Archaelogical Museum. It is a large and calm park. |
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