Sights in Greece
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Acropolis
The magnificent Acropolis defines and dominates Athens. Unlike other cities where the main attractions are on the outskirts of town, the sacred rock on which the ancient Greek temples were built rises spectacularly above the centre of the city. The main entrance is from Dionysiou Areopagitou near the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, or from Theorias if you’re coming from Plaka (there’s another entrance near the Kanellopoulos Museum). Large bags must be left at the main entrance cloakroom.
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Ancient Delphi
Of all the archaeological sites in Greece, Delphi is the one with the most potent 'spirit of place'. Built on the slopes of Mt Parnassos, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth and extending into a valley of cypress and olive trees, this World Heritage-listed site's allure lies both in its stunning setting and its inspiring ruins. The ancient Greeks regarded Delphi as the centre of the world; according to mythology, Zeus released two eagles at opposite ends of the world and they met here.
In summer, try to visit the site early to avoid the crowds and the heat.
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Rhodes Town Beach
The town beach begins north of Mandraki and continues around the island's northernmost point and down the west side of the New Town. The best spots will depend on the prevailing winds but tend to be on the east side.
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Ancient Delos
The following is an outline of some significant archaeological remains on the site. For further details, a guidebook from the ticket office is advised, or take a guided tour.
The rock-encrusted Mt Kythnos (113m) rises elegantly to the southeast of the harbour. It's worth the steep climb, even in the heat. On clear days there are terrific views of the surrounding islands from its summit.
The path to Mt Kythnos is reached by walking through the Theatre Quarter, where Delos' wealthiest inhabitants once built their houses. These houses surrounded peristyle courtyards, with colourful mosaics (a status symbol) being the most striking feature of each house.
The most lavish…
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Knossos
The ruins of Knossos (k-nos-os) were uncovered in 1900 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. Heinrich Schliemann, the legendary discoverer of ancient Troy, had his eye on the spot, believing an ancient city was buried there, but he was unable to strike a deal with the local landowner in Turkish-controlled Crete.
Intrigued by Schliemann's discovery of engraved seals in Crete, and later pottery finds in Kamares, Evans sailed to Crete in 1894 and set in train the purchase of a share of the Knossos site, which gave him exclusive rights to the excavation. He returned five years later and began digging with a group of Cretan workmen. The first treasure to be unearthed…
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Church of Agios Dimitrios
Thessaloniki's enormous, 5th-century Church of Agios Dimitrios , is named in honour of the city's patron saint. A Roman soldier, Dimitrios was killed around 303 on the site (then a Roman bath), on the command of Galerius, infamous for persecuting Christians. The martyrdom site is now an eerie underground crypt, which you can visit during the day or during the special Friday-night service. In 1980, the saint's relics were returned from Italy, and now lie in an elaborate silver reliquary inside.
The Ottomans made Agios Dimitrios a mosque and plastered the walls. After they were kicked out, the plaster was removed, revealing Thessaloniki's finest church mosaics. While the…
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Meteora
The monasteries of Meteora are one of the most extraordinary sights in mainland Greece. Built into and on top of huge pinnacles of smooth rock, the earliest monasteries were reached by climbing articulated removable ladders. Later, windlasses were used so monks could be hauled up in nets, a method used until the 1920s.
The monasteries provided monks with peaceful havens from increasing bloodshed as the Byzantine Empire waned at the end of the 14th century.
Apprehensive visitors enquiring how often the ropes were replaced were told 'When the Lord lets them break'. These days access to the monasteries is by steps hewn into the rocks and the windlasses are used only for…
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White Tower
The history of Thessaloniki's most famous landmark, the pacific White Tower , is actually bathed in blood. In 1826, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II ordered here the massacre of janissaries (elite troops made up of forcibly Islamicised Christian boys) deemed disloyal. After Greeks captured the city in 1913, the 'bloody tower' was whitewashed to expunge the dark memories.
The whitewash has long been removed, though the name stuck. At time of writing, the tower's small Byzantine Museum was about to get a new permanent exhibit; it's up a wide circular stairway, where stands a small café offering impressive views of the city and sea.
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Kanellopoulos Museum
The imposing 1884 mansion on the northern slope of the Acropolis houses the Kanellopoulos family’s extensive collection, donated to the state in 1976. After a major refurbishment and expansion, it was due to open in late 2008. The collection includes jewellery, clay-and-stone vases and figurines, weapons, Byzantine icons, bronzes and objets d’art dating from every period of Greek history.
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Halki
The picturesque village of Halki lies at the heart of the Tragaea, a vast plain of olive groves and unspoilt villages, dotted with Byzantine churches. Halki is a must for its handsome villas, kitron (citron liqueur) distillery and enthralling ceramics gallery-shop, L'Olivier. Refuel in the shady town square and pop into Era for locally made sweets and jams.
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Museum of Byzantine Culture
The Museum of Byzantine Culture is a well-presented modern museum that uses ambient lighting and a good running wall text to enliven the 3000 or so artefacts in its permanent collection. They include frescoes, mosaics, embroidery, ceramics, inscriptions and icons from the early Christian period to the Fall of Constantinople (1453) in Macedonia.
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Mylopotas Beach
The busiest and most popular beach on Ios used to be littered with people sleeping rough to avoid paying for accommodation. It's still busy and parties still prevail, but sleeping here is no longer allowed. Popular for good reason, the beach is long, sandy and safe, with a good smattering of watersports centres, cafes and places to stay.
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Myrtos
One of Greece's best beaches can be found at Myrtos. Pull off the hair-raising stretch of road to admire the white sand and exquisite blue water set between tall limestone cliffs. There are minimal facilities at the beach itself. Be aware that the water here becomes deep quite quickly and there can be a strong undercurrent.
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Athens Municipal Art Gallery
The municipality’s rich collection includes more than 2300 works from leading 19th- and 20th-century Greek artists, including works from the acclaimed ‘30s generation, as well as a fine collection of engravings.
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Nautical Historical Museum
The sparkling Nautical Historical Museum documents Greece's maritime history and Galaxidi's unique ship-building lore, which flourished during the days of commercial sailing ships.
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Museum
Menetes has a small but well-presented Museum on the right as you come in from Pigadia. Opening hours are upon request - the owner of Taverna Manolis will open it up for you.
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Ammoudara Beach
Ammoudara Beach, 3km from town, is a little better thank the town beaches and supports a fairly busy restaurant and accommodation scene.
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archaeological museum
The archaeological museum contains sculptures, pottery and coins dating from the Neolithic period.
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Folklore Museum
The Folklore Museum displays traditional embroidery and costumes.
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Ancient Olympia
The Olympics were undoubtedly the Ancient World's biggest sporting event. During the games warring states briefly halted their squabbles, corporate sponsors vied to outdo each other, and victorious competitors won great fame and considerable fortune (sometimes even living at public expense). You could say much the same about their modern-day equivalent, the main difference being that back then only men could compete and they did most of it sans underpants.
Held every four years until their abolition by killjoy Emperor Theodosius I in AD 394, the games lasted at least 1000 years. The World Heritage-listed site of Ancient Olympia is still a recognisable complex of temples,…
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Archaeological Museum of Iraklio
The outstanding Archaeological Museum of Iraklio is second in size and importance only to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens because of its unique and extensive Minoan collection. The museum recently underwent a major restoration.
The collection covers Cretan civilization from Neolithic times until the Roman empire and includes pottery, jewellery, figurines and sarcophagi, as well as some famous frescoes, mostly from Knossos and Agia Triada. All testify to the remarkable imagination and advanced skills of the Minoans. Among the highlights are the famous Minoan frescoes from Knossos, including the Procession fresco, the Griffin Fresco (from the Throne Room), the…
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Avenue of the Knights
An appropriate place to begin an exploration of the Old Town is the imposing cobblestone Avenue of the Knights where the knights lived. The knights were divided into seven 'tongues' or languages, according to their place of origin - England, France, Germany, Italy, Aragon, Auvergne and Provence - and each were responsible for protecting a section of the bastion. The Grand Master, who was in charge, lived in the palace, and each tongue was under the auspices of a bailiff.
To this day the street exudes a noble and forbidding aura, despite modern offices now occupying most of the inns. Its lofty buildings stretch in a 600m-long unbroken wall of honey-coloured stone blocks,…
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Ancient Delphi
Of all the ancient sites in Greece, Delphi is perhaps the fairest of them all - the one with the most potent 'spirit of place'. Built on the slopes of Mt Parnassos, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth and extending into a valley of cypress and olive trees, this World Heritage-listed site's allure lies both in its stunning setting and its inspiring ruins.
The ancients regarded Delphi as the centre of the world: according to mythology, Zeus released two eagles at opposite ends of the world and they met here.
The Sanctuary of Apollo is on the left of the main road as you walk towards Arahova. From the main entrance, at the site of the old Roman agora, steps lead to the Sacred…
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Dikteon Cave
Lasithi's major sight is the Dikteon Cave, just outside the village of Psyhro. Here, according to legend, Rhea hid the newborn Zeus from Cronos, his offspring-gobbling father.
The cave, also known as the Psyhro Cave, covers 2200 sq metres and features both stalactites and stalagmites. It was excavated in 1900 by the British archaeologist David Hogarth, who found numerous votives indicating it was a place of cult worship. These finds are housed in the Archaeological Museum in Iraklio.
The cave began to be used for cult worship in the Middle Minoan period and continued, though less intensely, up to the 1st century AD. An altar for offerings and sacrifices was in the upper…
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Phaestos
Pottery deposits indicate that the site was inhabited in the Neolithic era around 4000 BC, when the first settlers established themselves on the slopes of Kastri Hill. The first palace was built around 2000 BC and then destroyed by the earthquake that levelled many Minoan palaces. The ruins were covered with a layer of lime and debris, which formed the base of a new palace that was begun around 1700 BC. It, too, was destroyed in the catastrophe that befell the island in 1450 BC.
In the intervening centuries Phaestos was the political and administrative centre of the Mesara Plain. Ancient texts refer to the palace's importance and note that it minted its own coins.…
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