Acropolis

Athens, Greece

The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world. In the second half of the 5th century BC, Athens, following the victory against the Persians and the establishment of democracy, took a leading position amongst the other city-states of the ancient world. In the age that followed, as thought and art flourished, an exceptional group of artists put into effect the ambitious plans of Athenian statesman Pericles and, under the inspired guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, transformed the rocky hill into a unique monument of thought and the arts. The most important monuments were built during that time: the Parthenon, built by Ictinus, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles and the small temple Athena Nike.

The Acropolis of Athens is the most striking and complete ancient Greek monumental complex still existing in our times. It is situated on a hill of average height (156m) that rises in the basin of Athens. Its overall dimensions are approximately 170 by 350m. The hill is rocky and steep on all sides except for the western side, and has an extensive, nearly flat top. Strong fortification walls have surrounded the summit of the Acropolis for more than 3,300 years.

The first fortification wall was built during the 13th century BC, and surrounded the residence of the local Mycenaean ruler. In the 8th century BC, the Acropolis gradually acquired a religious character with the establishment of the cult of Athena, the city’s patron goddess. The sanctuary reached its peak in the archaic period (mid-6th century to early 5th century BC).

In the 5th century BC, the Athenians, empowered from their victory over the Persians, carried out an ambitious building programme under the leadership of the great statesman Perikles, comprising a large number of monuments including the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaia and the temple of Athena Nike. The monuments were developed by an exceptional group of architects (such as Iktinos, Kallikrates, Mnesikles) and sculptors (such as Pheidias, Alkamenes, Agorakritos), who transformed the rocky hill into a unique complex, which heralded the emergence of classical Greek thought and art.

On this hill were born Democracy, Philosophy, Theatre, Freedom of Expression and Speech, which provide to this day the intellectual and spiritual foundation for the contemporary world and its values.

The Acropolis’ monuments, having survived for almost twenty-five centuries through wars, explosions, bombardments, fires, earthquakes, sackings, interventions and alterations, have adapted to different uses and the civilizations, myths and religions that flourished in Greece through time.

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Acropolis, Athens, Greece
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Founded: c. 495-429 BC
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Greece

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4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Kristina Cajipe (39 days ago)
Must see when in Athens. February is quite busy but the experience is phenomenal. If you enjoy Greek history, you can't miss this.
Vincent Lombardo (41 days ago)
Recommend going early to beat the crowds. It’s a lot of walking and can take up to an hour if you soak it all in. Wear comfy shoes with a decent tread. It can get slippery on some of the smoother stones. I recommend seeing the museum FIRST to learn about it, then visit it in person. Great view!
Richard Salisbury (45 days ago)
I mean, really, how can you fault this? It's amazing. Went in February, lucky with the weather, and not too crowded because of the time off year. Just a shame they don't move the crane's and work paraphernalia when they're not working on it
Out 'n' About (2 months ago)
I highly recommend going early, we got there for the second slot at 9 am and there was hardly anyone else there with no wait times at all but it did start to fill up towards the end, when we were leaving queues were forming at the entrance. Obviously it's the biggest attraction in Athens and with reason, the views were amazing and you can see for miles on a clear day. We had plenty of time to walk around freely and take pictures and read all the history boards that are written in Greek and English.
D K (2 months ago)
Just three words describes this beautifully amazing place.... SIMPLY AMAZINGLY LEGENDARY. The most iconic ancient ruins of the world of all time, with all due respect!!! A must visit in once lifetime, if possible. LEGENDARY... AWESOME... CLASSIC.. UNIQUE... EXCEPTIONAL...
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