From Athens with Love: Acropolis

Showing posts with label Acropolis. Show all posts

Friday, May 4, 2012

The perfect weather is now

The weather on May in Athens is superb for anything and yet everything. The days are already perfectly hot and sunny but the nights are still cool. The city has not absorbed the sizzling summer heat into it yet.

It is the time to admire the blooming city, climb up Acropolis to check out Parthenon or enjoy a nice and long Greek dinner outside. Forget the spray tanning and explore the city on its best!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The haven of Kerameikos

You can find Kerameikos (Greek: Κεραμεικός) archaeological site and park from the northwest of the Acropolis. It is located between Ermou, Peireos and Asomaton Streets. The entrance to the site is from the Ermou pedestrian street.

In 478 BC the area was divided by the Eridanos River and Themistoclean Wall to Inner and Outer Kerameikos. The inner part was a famous residential area of potter´s and vase painters. The outer part was the most important cemetery of the Ancient Athens were the earliest tombs date from Early Bronze Age (2 700 – 2 000 BC). The wall had two gates, Dipylon and the Sacred Gate, by the roads to Eleusis and Acropolis.

There is a great feeling of peacefulness when you enter the Kerameikos and start to walk down to the park. After hustle and bustle of the streets of Athens this place is unexpectedly silent. Strolling between ancient yards you can feel at the same time some holiness and history of the place around you.

Archaeological excavations in the Kerameikos began in 1870 by the Greek Archaeological Society and were continued from 1913 by the German Archaeological Institute at Athens until now. Thanks to them, there is a small museum on the left side of the entrance. You can go inside and start to walk clockwise around the giant bull from the tomb of the Dionysios dominating the rooms of museum.

From the four rooms you can find the most important findings from the Kerameikos excavations: archaic tombstones, grave reliefs, human statues, animal figures, vases of ancient Greek art and potsherds inscribed with the names of famous Athenians.

The Museum of Kerameikos is small but beautiful and very informative. It has some excavation pieces out on the courtyard and a collection of grave marks right next to the museum building.

The area is something that people usually bypass even it is a big outdoor park and has a great significance for the city of Athens. Visiting the site is a great experience, especially if you are a freak of The Ancient World. People working on the site are very friendly and if you are lucky, you can also spot one of the numerous little turtles living in the park.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

A for Athens

A new magnificent hidden place over the roofs of Athens has just arrived. The small terrace on two floors has minimalistic and modern design with contemporary Greek twist.

Talking about the view... it´s insane. It gives the most astonishing panoramic view in the city to the Monastiraki Square, Plaka and most importantly to the Acropolis.

This is most likely to be the number one down town destination for people in Athens on the future. It´s a great place to check the city away from the hustle and bustle of the streets during the day, for romantic date on sunset or meeting friends over delicious cocktails later on. Go immediately to Monastiraki Square and look up to the skyline for the roof top heaven!

How to get there? Well, walk away from the Monastiraki (ΜΟΝΑΣΤΙΡΑΚΙ) metro station, pass the little white church on your right and look for an ice cream store on your left on the corner of Miaouli and Ermou streets. From Miaouli street 2-4 go in under the sign "A for Athens" and take the elevator to the top floor.

Tips:

The elevator is extremely tiny and only for 3 people. Be prepared to wait your turn for a while or even take the stairs.
Remember to check the work of graffiti artist Alexandros Vasmoulakis behind the rooftop bar.

Friday, February 18, 2011

OCC - the dream of art

The brand new Onassis Cultural Centre (OCC) is Athens' emerging cultural space for theatre, dance, music and art. The OCC covers an entire city block and can be found from Syngrou Avenue. It is located next to the headquarters of the Ethniki Asfalistiki insurance company, and opposite Panteion University.

From the outside the OCC is airy and white huge building with innovative use of white marble bands. Inside it has sixteen levels, nine of which are underground. It includes an 880-seat amphitheatre, a 220-seat auditorium, 5th floor lecture/exhibition space, underground exhibition hall, a number of open spaces and Liquid Sky meeting point.

The ground-floor has a nice bar-café for sipping few drinks. From the top floor one can find the jewel of the OCC. There is a restaurant just waiting for one of those long Greek diners with a good company. During summertime it has a rooftop terrace that offers stunning views of the Acropolis, Lycabettus hill, the Philopappos monument and the Saronic gulf. The only downside is that The OCC is rarely open to the public to just walk in. You usually need a reservation to enter.

There are three easy ways to purchase your tickets to numerous events: online, by phone or from the OCC box office and some other selling points in town. Tickets go on sale three weeks before an each event. Reduced prices are for persons: over the age of 65 or below the age of 18, unemployed, with disabilities (and their companion), and students in educational institutions.

Open Mon-Sun 12.00-21.00. Syngrou Avenue 107-109. Information/Tickets: 0030 210 900 5 800.