Visiting the Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis or Akropoli of Athens is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the world. The word ‘Acropolis’ is made up of two words ‘akron’ meaning edge and ‘polis’ meaning city. Thus, the word means city on the edge. In Greek, ‘Acropolis’ means "Highest City". For defense purposes, early settlers chose elevated grounds usually a hill with precipitous sides. This area on top of Athens' most famous rock acted as a defensive point for the ancient Greeks.

A monumental gateway called the Propylaea forms the entrance to the Acropolis. The sites that are not to be missed at the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the Acropolis museum, the Temple of Nike and the Erechtheion which is a shrine to Athena and Poseidon. Temple of Athena Nike lies to the south of the Propylaea. A bronze statue of Athena, sculpted by Phidias, originally stood at the centre of this temple. The famous Parthenon or Temple of Athena Parthenos lies at the centre of the Acropolis. The Erechtheum temple lies to the north of the Parthenon. At the foot of the Acropolis there are two Roman theaters. Firstly, there are the remains of the outdoor theatre called Theatre of Dionysus. A few hundred meters away from it, is the now partially reconstructed Theatre of Herodes Atticus. The Acropolis Museum contains valuable ancient artifacts and is located 280 meters from the Parthenon.

The best time to visit the Acropolis is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as the heat can become unbearable atop the hill in the afternoon. Carry binoculars to catch amazing vies of the city of Athens from the top. One can book a ticket on a tour or visit the place on his own. Public transportation is easily available and buses numbered 1, 5, 9, 230 or 231 can be taken to reach there. One can also take the Athens' Metro subway and exit at the Akropoli station. Acropolis is also within easy walking distance of many of Athens' central attractions and hotels. The visiting timings are different during the months of April through October than the remaining months of the year. The timings on Monday also differ from the timings of the remaining days. Thus, make sure to note the operating hours and dates of the Acropolis before planning your trip.

When in Athens don’t miss this historic, beautiful and memorable location.

Linus Orakles
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