Ancient Vouni

Viewed in the early morning or late afternoon, this rather surreal and 'what's-it-doing-here?' site is a bit of a mystery. The hilltop location of Ancient Vouni is simply superb, and is reached along a narrow road off the main highway. Look for the black-and-yellow Vouni Sarayı sign pointing north and up the hill. Go up to the car park and the ticket office at the very top.The site, which originally housed a palace or large complex of buildings, dates back to the 5th century BC.

The palace was built by the leaders of the pro-Persian city of Marion (today's Polis) following the failed revolt by the Ionian Greeks against the Persians. The details of this incident were described by Herodotus in Book V of his Histories. Built to keep watch over the activities of nearby pro-Greek Soloi, the palace consisted of a discernible megaron (a three-part rectangular room with a central hearth and throne), private rooms and steps leading down to a courtyard under which is a cistern. A curious guitar-shaped stone seen there probably supported a windlass (a machine for raising weights). The palace was burned down in 380 BC and never re-established. Today the site stands forlornly on its magnificent hilltop, commanding some of the best views of the region.