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Athens, the vibrant and multi-dimensional capital of Greece, was named after the goddess of wisdom and Zeus’ daughter, Athena. As her name reveals, Athens is a city with a rich ancient history that goes back centuries, all of which are filled with magnificent relics and monuments for the modern and future people to marvel at.
Any traveller visiting Greece should make a stop at Athens in order to visit all the landmarks and archaeological sites and learn about Athens’ glorious mythical past.
The ancient landmarks in the Greek capital are now heritage not only to Greek civilization but the global civilization as well with grave archaeological and historical importance and a beauty that leaves every visitor in awe.
It’s quite impossible to name all of the monuments in Athens and it’s an even harder task to rank the most significant ones as each of these monuments bears importance and heavy historical value.
In this article we will try to rank the 5 most significant monuments in Athens based on visitor popularity and ticket selling as well as recognition among visitors.
Written by Savina Skourmalla on 02-01-2024
5 most significant monuments in Athens – The Acropolis of Athens
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Without a double, the Acropolis of Athens is the most famous and recognizable monument in Greece. The Parthenon that sits atop the Acropolis hill is the protagonist of many history books when the subject comes to ancient Greece.
The Parthenon, as well as all the other monuments that reside on the Acropolis hills were all constructed between the 5th and 4th century BC during Athens’ so called ‘Golden Age’.
The impressive temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena, the official guardian of the city.
The Acropolis of Athens is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site list and it’s the most visited monument in Athens and one of the most visited monuments in the world.
Visiting the Acropolis is a must for anyone who visits the Greek capital for many reasons.
History and archaeology wise, this monument carries the roots of Greek ancient history and gives a true insight into the past of the birthplace of democracy.
Art and architecture wise, the Acropolis hill is home to some of the world’s most impressive buildings and constructions that inspired and continue to inspire the world with their simple beauty, well designed lines and orientation.
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During summer months the Acropolis of Athens is usually crowded with visitors, especially in the early hours of the day. The long lines outside the ticket boxes of the Acropolis might look forbidding, especially for those who are staying in Athens for only a short period of time.
For that reason, and with the aim of providing everyone who visits Athens for the first time with the most complete overview of Athens’ history and vibe, we have created a unique tour that combines a bike tour of the city as well as a tour to the Acropolis!
Our Acropolis Tour by Bike is the only tour in Athens that combines a fun family activity with an in-depth visit of the Acropolis with a licensed guide. This tour is a skip the line tour which means there is no waiting time to explore the cradle of Greek history!
5 most significant monuments in Athens – Theatre of Dionysus
Next up on the list, we have the most known theatre in the world, the imposing Theater of Dionysus on the south slopes of Acropolis.
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Greek tragedy has been the pioneer of the art of theatre and became the reference point of the modern art of cinema and film. The theatre of Dionysus takes pride in having the title of the birthplace of this art as many historical play writers have presented their place in that same theatre, with Aristophanes, Euripides and Sophocles among them.
In its initial stages, the Theater only had a wooden stage and orchestra and a few bleachers and in later stages, the compartments were replaced by stone and marble and the theatre could accommodate up to 17k spectators along its 78 rows of seats.
If you are interested in the history of theatre and drama, visiting this monument is a must as just standing between its ruins and looking around one will instantly travel to the past and imagine themselves watching or performing one of antiquity’s tragic plays.
5 most significant monuments in Athens – Odeon of Herodus Atticus
The Odeon of Herodus Atticus was built during the Roman times in the grand spirit of the empire, around 161 AC. Originally, it served the purpose of hosting performances for the distinguished and wealthy Athenians and today, the Odeon is still used for many performances and cultural events.
This famous landmark that is located on the way to the Acropolis hill is now one of the most famous stages in Greece that hosts numerous events throughout the summer season.
There is an annual schedule with all the concerts, performances and events held at the Odeon of Herodus Atticus which you can check out if you wish to be part of this majestic experience.
The breathtaking view of the Acropolis from the seats of this theatre will certainly offer you an unforgettable and magical experience.
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Even if you decide not to attend an event, the Odeon is still worth visiting before entering the Acropolis as it will give you the opportunity to understand the different phases of the city’s glorious history.
5 most significant monuments in Athens – Temple of Olympian Zeus
Not far from the Acropolis of Athens, the ruined temple of Olympian Zeus constitutes as an open air museum that hosts one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and it is one of the most preserved ancient sites in the city.
The Doric style temple was built during the 6th century BC and used to house a 12 metre statue of Zeus that was considered one of the 7 wonders of the world.
In its original form, the temple consisted of 104 huge columns around its structure but in later years, after a barbaric attack, most of the columns as well as the golden and ivory statue of Zeus were destroyed.
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Today, only 15 columns remain, giving a glimpse and an insight of what the temple used to be. A small addition to the monument’s rich history is that the rest of the fallen columns were then used to re-construct other sites around Athens.
Don’t lose the opportunity to wander through the ruins of what used to be a magnificent temple and marvel at the architecture of this rich archaeological site.
5 most significant monuments in Athens – Panathenaic Stadium
If you were lucky enough to watch the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic games on tv then you must have surely wondered about the large and impressive stadium that it was held at.
The Panathenaic stadium stands at a 10 minute walking distance from the Acropolis and it’s iconic in its presence and essence.
This stadium is the only one of its kind in the world that is completely made of marble but it’s also inexplicably connected to the Olympic games and athletic spirit.
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Built around the 4th century BC, it used to host competitions, festive games and other celebrations and it was restored in the 2nd century by the Roman emperor Herodes Atticus.
It can accommodate over 50.000 spectators and in 1986 it was that very stadium that hosted the first modern Olympic games.
All visitors to the stadium can marvel at its magnitude and walk (or run) in the steps of athletes of past centuries and feel like ‘Olympians’ themselves in the true spirit of athleticism.
There are countless beautiful monuments that are worth visiting while in Athens.
All you have to do is manage your time accordingly and absolutely dedicate a day to visiting all these sites that make Athens the cradle of the ancient world!
