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Discover the Cradle of Olympics- Athens, Greece Part 1 Posted by Elizabeth D’Costa on 21st, August 2012

Discover the Cradle of Olympics- Athens, Greece

The Olympic fever has finally ended…or has it? To tell you the truth, ever since it began in 776 BC on Mount Olympia in Greece, it never did end! It just took a few centuries of unplanned vacations until revived by Coubertin in 1896!

The London 2012 Olympics ended in true British fashion and flamboyance despite a few raised eyebrows at the costs spent on the colorful extravaganza witnessed by around 80,000 spectators! The crowds were hysterical with performances by some of the world famous musicians and Brazil’s 8-minute invitation to the 2016 Olympics displayed through its sounds, costumes and colors.

Olympics- As the fervor gradually melts away, let’s take a trip down to where the oldest sporting event in the world

came into existence… in the cradle of Western Civilization- Greece! Although it looks like a tiny little speck on the European continent, Greece actually comprises of 1200 islands, only 227 of which are inhabited. Tourism is a major source of employment and directly and indirectly makes a contribution of 36 billion Euros to Greece’s economy.

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London Travel Guide

ATHENS- a seat of learning

Athens is the largest Greek city dominating the Attica region which is one of the 13 regions of Greece. This 3400-year old city is one of the oldest cities in the world and is referred to as the cradle of western civilization. The centre of ancient Greek art and a powerful seat of culture, learning and philosophy, Athens was home to some of the greatest pioneers and minds in Greek architecture, drama, culture, science, mathematics and philosophy. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle together were known as the Athenian school of Philosophy.

When to visit

So whether you are a history buff or a student of art or architecture, Athens would be your seat of learning offering an unforgettable experience. Like most of Greece, Athens enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate most of the year and one can avoid the peak traffic by visiting between March-June or Aug-Oct. The winter months between Oct-April are for hibernating unless you like to travel to the ski resorts on the mainland.

All Athens Offers- Places to Visit

Athens is a place where ancient settings blend with modern comforts. You can get an accommodation depending on your budget but it is best to pre-book and travel so that you don’t become the victim of changing exchange rates or local touts who seem to be a universal breed anywhere on the globe.

1. The Acropolis Tour

If you travel to Greece and don’t plan on visiting the Acropolis just because you have seen or read too much on it already, you simply don’t deserve to travel to Greece! And yet it is surprising to note that many of the local people have never bothered to climb the steps of one of the greatest historical structures standing in the world today.

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Acropolis means a citadel that is constructed on an elevated ground which was a good vantage point for the military in its defense strategy. The Acropolis in Athens was the high point of worship with the famous temples of Parthenon, Erechtheion and Athena Nike built on it. There are licensed guides who organize tours based on your preference of language. As they lead you around, the magnificent view of the city from the top, it transports you back in time where you may never have felt so present to history itself.

A good time to visit is when you can beat the sun. By moonlight, the Acropolis transforms into a star under the skies!

Propylae

This is the monumental gateway that marks the entrance to the Acropolis. In 432 BC, after the Persian wars, the sculptor Phidias under the direction of the Athenian leader Pericles and the architect Mnesicles took up the rebuilding

of the whole Acropolis. But the Propylae’s construction was never completed.

Erechtheion

An ancient Greek temple built between 421-405 BC, it was dedicated to the legendary figures of Poseidon Erechtheus and Athena Polias. The Erechtheion was built by the same sculptor Phidias, who built the Parthenon. The temple is associated with some of the most holy relics of the Greeks. The statues of the Caryatids and many of the other relics have been transported to the New Acropolis Museum and visitors can see the laser restoration works on cameras inside the museum.

Join me in part two (2) as I continue on my adventure travel to Athens Greece.