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The ancient Agora of Athens sits beneath the revered hill of the Acropolis. This sprawling site contains the remnants of what was once a vast and intricate marketplace complex. In ancient times, the Agora served as the beating heart of public life in the city-state of Athens. Numerous administrative buildings, temples, altars, and roofed shopping arcades known as 'stoas', as well as fountains were constructed around the open square, which took its final shape in the 2nd century AD. Common citizens would gather here to engage in political discussions and participate in the voting process for proposed laws. It was within the Agora council buildings, law courts, and streets that democracy took root and thrived.

In 507 BC, Athenian leader Cleisthenes introduced a system of political reforms which he termed "demokratia", or the "rule of the people". This consisted of three distinct institutions, such as the "ekklesia", a sovereign governing body responsible for drafting laws and shaping foreign policy; the "boule", a council of representatives from the ten Athenian tribes; and the "dikasteria" 鈥� popular courts where citizens presented cases to a panel of randomly selected jurors. Although Athenian democracy lasted only two centuries, it stands as one of ancient Greece's most enduring legacies to the modern world.

Beyond its role as the city's political center, the Agora also served as a venue for religious ceremonies, commercial transactions, theatrical and musical shows, and even athletic competitions. The city mint producing Athens' silver currency was here, just as the state prison in which philosopher Socrates was executed in 399 BC.

Tips:
Admission to the on-site museum is included in the Agora ticket. Water fountains and restrooms are conveniently located nearby.
The site also features a well-marked ancient temple complete with the remains of the ancient drainage system.

Ah, the Church of the Holy Apostles-small but mighty, still standing proud since the 10th century.

Tucked near the heart of the Ancient Roman Forum, this little Byzantine beauty has done what few buildings of its era have managed: keep most of its original structure intact. Built atop a 2nd-century shrine for Greece鈥檚 favorite mystical water nymphs, it was meant to honor Apostle Paul鈥檚 teachings in the Agora.

Speaking of its style: the exterior boasts intricate brick patterns that cleverly mimic Arabic calligraphy-because even in the 10th century, aesthetics mattered. The Ottoman era brought some changes (as they tended to do), but a mid-20th-century restoration swept away those 19th-century additions, bringing the church back to its Byzantine roots.

Visiting on a sweltering summer day, you鈥檒l be grateful for this shady little oasis. Inside, you鈥檒l find stunning Byzantine frescoes, lovingly salvaged from a demolished church-because good art deserves a second chance. And for the best part, this under-the-radar gem is rarely crowded, so you can soak up the history in peace.

No seating inside, but don鈥檛 worry-there are charming shaded benches nearby where you can rest, reflect, and pretend you鈥檝e time-traveled a few centuries back.

Why else visit? Well, it鈥檚 not colossal, so it won鈥檛 leave you breathless from sheer scale-but it does offer a rare, unaltered glimpse into the world of smaller Byzantine churches. A true hidden treasure, just waiting for you to stumble upon it.

While not much remains of this Roman-era library today, back in the 2nd century AD, it was the place to be. Imagine a massive cloistered courtyard, a hundred grand columns, and enough space to make even the most extravagant book hoarder jealous. And who do we have to thank for this intellectual paradise?-Emperor Hadrian, the ultimate fanboy of Greek culture. In fact, he was so enamored with it, that they nicknamed him 鈥淕raecula鈥� (which means 鈥淟ittle Greek鈥�).

He decked out this sprawling complex with art galleries, lecture halls, and a magnificent public space-because why stop at books when you can have everything? His reign ushered in a golden age of peace and prosperity, giving arts and culture a serious upgrade across the empire.

In its prime, the library housed precious papyrus scrolls and exquisite artworks-until the barbaric Herules (from modern-day Germany) came knocking (not for a book club meeting, unfortunately). After their invasion, a Roman official named Herculius took on restoration duties, but history had more plans for the ruins. Over time, they became the foundations for not one, not two, but three different churches-a Byzantine one in the 5th century, another in the 7th, and a cathedral in the 12th. That's what they call re-purposing real estate!

These days, the site is finally open to the public, though excavation is still ongoing. A few original Corinthian columns have survived the centuries, hinting at the library鈥檚 former grandeur. And here鈥檚 a fun twist: the remains of the Tetraconch Church, smack in the middle of the ruins, were built entirely inside the library鈥檚 old courtyard.

Tip:
Your Acropolis ticket covers entry, so if you鈥檙e in the area, it鈥檚 a no-brainer to check it out. Or, if you鈥檙e feeling more mysterious, just walk along the perimeter fence and steal a few glances through the gaps-because who doesn鈥檛 love a little architectural intrigue?

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens-or simply the "Metropolis", as the locals call it (because why bother with the full name when you can sound cool?). This grand cathedral has been standing tall since the mid-19th century, playing host to some of Greece鈥檚 most high-profile events-think royal weddings, state funerals, and the kind of ceremonies that make history books.

As for the story of its construction, it all started on Christmas Day, 1842, when someone had the bright idea to build a monumental church. But where to find all that marble? Easy-just dismantle 72 other churches across the country and re-purpose their stones. After 20 years and three architects juggling the job, the church was finally finished, proudly dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin. And its size-40 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 24 meters high-makes it the biggest religious building in Athens.

Step inside, and you鈥檙e greeted by a Greek Orthodox feast for the eyes: lavish icons, intricate murals, and an abundance of golden accents that make even the most skeptical visitor pause in awe. But beyond the grandeur, the cathedral also holds the tombs of two martyrs-Saint Philoth茅i, a woman who dedicated her life to rescuing Greek women from Ottoman harems (and was martyred for it in 1589), and Patriarch Gregory V, who was executed by the Ottomans in 1821. His body had quite the journey-rescued by Greek sailors from the Bosphorus, sent to Odessa (which is modern-day Ukraine), and eventually brought home to Athens 50 years later.

Out front, the statues tell even more stories. One honors the last Byzantine Emperor, who fought to the bitter end defending Constantinople in 1453. The other? A tribute to the Archbishop of Athens, a hero who helped protect the city鈥檚 Jewish community during World War II.

And if all this history has worked up your thirst, the square in front of the cathedral is the perfect place to sit back, sip a coffee, and take in the city鈥檚 rhythm-a little oasis amidst Athens' ever-busy streets.

Originally part of the Rangavas family estate, this typical 11th-century Byzantine church, which was reconstructed in the 18th century and partially restored to its former grandeur in the late 1970s, integrates marble columns and other remnants of ancient structures into its outer walls. Situated in Pl谩ka, it is among the cherished parish churches of the area and is frequently chosen for vibrant Greek weddings, often extending into the streets on weekends.

Notably, it was the first church in Athens to acquire a bell following the War of Independence in 1821, and this bell rang out as a symbol of the city's liberation from German occupation on October 12, 1944.

Presiding over the Acropolis like a timeless guardian of Athens, the Parthenon is one of the finest and most recognizable examples of classical architecture. This 5th-century BC temple was the brainchild of Pericles, the man who decided Athens needed an upgrade-preferably in glorious white Pentelic marble.

Replacing an older sanctuary, the Parthenon was dedicated to Athena, the city's patron goddess, whose grand 12-meter-tall statue, adorned in ivory and gold, once dazzled anyone lucky enough to lay eyes on it. More than just a temple, the Parthenon was a statement piece-loud and clear-about Athens' dominance following its victories in the Persian Wars and its leading role in the Delian League (uniting under its umbrella equal city-states against Persia). In other words, it wasn鈥檛 just about worship; it was about showing off.

Designed in the Doric style, the temple was built to withstand the test of time-but history had other plans. Over the centuries, it transformed from a Greek temple to a Byzantine church, then a Turkish mosque, and finally, in 1687, into a really unlucky storage facility for gunpowder. That decision ended about as well as you'd expect when the Venetians decided to bombard the Acropolis, causing a spectacular explosion. And if that wasn't enough, Lord Elgin of Great Britain came along in the 19th century and helped himself to much of its sculptural beauty, now sitting in the British Museum.

Yet, despite the looting, wars, and centuries of wear, the Parthenon still reigns supreme, standing as an enduring emblem of Greek culture and a favorite inspiration for neoclassical buildings worldwide.

Tips:
Go early-unless you enjoy waiting in long lines under the scorching Athenian sun.
Use both entrances to explore the site fully.
Get a combined ticket-it covers multiple iconic spots, including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Theater of Dionysus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Ancient Agora. Because if you're traveling back in time, you might as well see it all.

Near the heart of Athens, at the entrance to the National Garden, stands a statue representing Greece personified as a woman, bestowing a laurel wreath upon the British Romantic poet Lord Byron (1788鈥�1824).

Back in 1809, when Athens' Psyrri neighborhood was notorious for its underground criminal activities and served as a gathering place for revolutionaries, Lord Byron took up residence there. During his stay, he explored the regions of Epirus and Attica in the company of his friend John Cam Hobhouse. It was in Athens that he penned 'The Maid of Athens', inspired by his affection for the daughter of his landlady, as well as portions of 'Childe Harold鈥檚 Pilgrimage'. These writings catapulted him to overnight fame, and upon his return to London in 1812, Byron famously declared, "If I am a poet, it is the air of Greece which has made me one".

Due to his ardent desire to support the Greek War of Independence against the Ottomans, he was welcomed as a hero upon his return in 1823. Mementos of Byron's involvement in the struggle can be found at the National Museum and the Ben谩ki Museum; alas, on Easter Sunday in 1824, he tragically fell victim to a fever in the cholera-ridden town of Mesol贸ngi, never witnessing the country's liberation.

Greece continues to hold Lord Byron in high esteem, with streets and even children named in his honor. The Greek version of "Byron," 螔蠉蟻蠅谓 ("Vyron"), remains a popular masculine name, and a suburb of Athens is named Vyronas in tribute to the revered poet.