Things to do in Greece
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Tower of the Winds
The well-preserved Tower of the Winds was built in the 1st century BC by a Syrian astronomer named Andronicus. The octagonal monument of Pentelic marble is an ingenious construction that functioned as a sundial, weather vane, water clock and compass. Each side represents a point of the compass, and has a relief of a figure floating through the air, which depicts the wind associated with that particular point. Beneath each of the reliefs are the faint markings of sundials.
The weather vane, which disappeared long ago, was a bronze Triton that revolved on top of the tower. The Turks allowed dervishes to use the tower.
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Ethnological Museum of Thrace
The traditional customs of old Thrace come alive at the Ethnological Museum of Thrace. Housed in a mansion built in 1899, the museum is divided into rooms, each devoted to a specific topic, ranging from traditional costumery and musical instruments to oil presses, a dye-room and sweet-making equipment. The accompanying texts will tell you, among other things, how many silkworms it takes to make 25g of silk and which Greek sweet is made by slamming the ingredients against a wall.
If you are travelling further in Thrace, the friendly staff can outline the most interesting sites. There's a small café out back.
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Athens Half-Day Sightseeing Tour
5 hours (Departs Athens, Greece)
by Viator
Combine the sights of modern Athens with sites of historical importance on this comprehensive 5-hour sightseeing tour by luxury coach. With an expert guide on…Not LP reviewed
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Garden of the Heroes
Just beyond the Gate of Exodus is the Garden of the Heroes , translated incorrectly as 'Heroes' Tombs' on the road sign. This memorial garden was established on the orders of the first governor of Greece following independence, Yiannis Kapodistrias. A small statue of Lord Byron features prominently in the garden. When Byron died, the Greeks were heartbroken at the loss of a British nobleman who had given his life for their freedom.
At the end of a national 21-day mourning period, Byron's embalmed body was returned to England, but his heart was kept by the Greeks and is buried beneath the statue.
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Temple of Hephaestus
The Temple of Hephaestus on the western edge of the Agora was surrounded by foundries and metalwork shops, and was dedicated to Hephaestus, god of the forge. It was one of the first buildings of Pericles' rebuilding programme and is the best preserved Doric temple in Greece. Built in 449 BC by Ictinus, one of the architects of the Parthenon, it has 34 columns and a frieze on the eastern side depicting nine of the Twelve Labours of Heracles.
In AD 1300 it was converted into the Church of Agios Georgios. The last service held here was on 13 December 1834 in honour of King Otho's arrival in Athens.
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4-Day Classical Greece Tour: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora
4 days (Departs Athens, Greece)
by Viator
Step back in time on this 4-day Classical Greece tour from Athens, seeing all the top attractions that date back to this fascinating era. With overnight…Not LP reviewed
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Athens Cathedral & Little Metropolis
The ornate 1862 Athens Cathedral on Plateia Mitropoleos (Mitropoleos Sq) is the seat of the archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Athens. However, far more significant, both historically and architecturally, is the small 12th-century church next to the cathedral, known as the Little Metropolis. Its official double-barrelled name – it’s dedicated to two saints – is Church of Panagia Gorgeopikoos (Virgin Swift to Hear) and Agios Eleftherios. The cruciform-style marble church was built on the ruins of an ancient temple and made using reliefs and pieces of ancient and early-Christian monuments.
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Ecclesiastical Art Museum of Alexandroupoli
Priceless icons, many brought by refugees from Asia Minor and Turkish Thrace, are exhibited at the Ecclesiastical Art Museum of Alexandroupoli. The museum, which also boasts early printed Greek books, is in the grounds of the Cathedral of Agios Nikolaos, which itself houses a miracle-working 13th-century icon of the Panagia Trifotissa, brought from Aenos (Enez in Turkish) on the other side of the River Evros.
The story goes that by praying before the icon, villagers whose eyes had been damaged by the glare of sunlight reflected on the salt marshes around Aenos had their vision restored.
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Rihardos
Who knew there were so many different kinds of bouzouki? Rihardos, one of Greece's biggest purveyors of traditional instruments, has a huge array of Greek instruments, as well as Western brand-name guitars and Chinese knock-offs that sound just as sweet for half the price. The friendly old owner, Rihardos, and his English-speaking son, Joseph, explain everything about the hundreds of unusual instruments. To get there, take Bus 31 from Egnatia east to the Faliro stop (five to 10 minutes).
Continue across the intersection with Paraskeopoulos, turn left and Rihardos is facing you.
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Roman Agora
The city’s civic centre under Roman rule was moved to this partly excavated site, where you can see the foundations of several structures, including a 1st-century, 68-seat public latrine to the right of the entry, and a propylon (entrance) at the southeastern corner. The well-preserved Gate of Athena Archegetis, flanked by four Doric columns, was erected in the 1st century AD and financed by Julius Caesar. The Fethiye Djami mosque on the northern side of the Agora is one of the city’s few surviving reminders of Ottoman times. Predating the Agora is the fascinating Tower of the Winds.
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2-Day Santorini Experience from Athens
by Viator
If you only visit one of the Greek islands, it's got to be Santorini! This former volcanic island has breathtaking views from the caldera whilst also boasting…Not LP reviewed
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Kafeneio
Just above the small square you'll probably see local black-clad gents under the mulberry tree of the old-style Kafeneio, where apart from the local myzithropita (cheese pie) with honey you can normally get a basic meal like local sausage, or on weekends traditional wild goat or lamb tsigariasto or vrasto (boiled), charged by the kilo. And lots of raki.
For a glimpse of traditional Sfakian village life, it is worth veering right off the main road to arrive at a small square flanked by four kafeneia and statues of local resistance heroes.
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Archaeology Museum
Apiranthos is an atmospheric mountain village of unadorned stone houses, marble-paved streets and alleyways that scramble up the slopes of Mt Fanari. Its inhabitants are descendants of refugees who fled Crete to escape Turkish repression; they retain a strong individuality and a rich dialect, and the village has always been noted for its spirited politics and populism. The village has an impressive trio of museums.
The Archaeology Museum is part-way along the main street. It has a marvellous collection of small Cycladian artefacts. Admission free.
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Teriade Museum
From the northernmost section of Pavlou Kountourioti, take a local bus 4km south of Mytilini to the village of Varia, where an unexpected treasure awaits: the Teriade Museum, with its astonishing collection of paintings by world-renowned artists like Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Le Corbusier and Matisse. The museum honours the Lesvos-born artist and critic Stratis Eleftheriadis, who Gallicised his name to Teriade in Paris.
Teriade was instrumental in bringing the work of primitive painter and fellow Lesvos native Theophilos to international attention.
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Acropolis of Rhodes
The Acropolis of Rhodes was the site of the ancient Hellenistic city of Rhodes. The hill is named after the English admiral Sir Sydney Smith, who watched for Napoleon's fleet from here in 1802. It has superb views.
The restored 2nd-century-AD stadium once staged competitions in preparation for the Olympic Games. The adjacent theatre is a reconstruction of one used for lectures by the Rhodes School of Rhetoric. Steps above here lead to the Temple of Pythian Apollo, with four re-erected columns. This unenclosed site can be reached on city bus 5.
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Fortezza
Rethymno's 16th-century fortezza is on the site of the city's ancient acropolis. Within its massive walls a great number of buildings once stood, of which only a church and a mosque survive intact. The ramparts offer good views, while the site has lots of ruins to explore. The main gate is opposite the Archaeological Museum on the eastern side of the fortress, but there were once two other gates on the western and northern sides for the delivery of supplies and ammunition.
In summer it is a stunning concert venue for the Renaissance Festival.
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Lykavittos Hill
A funicular rail car (which leaves from the corner of Aristippou and Ploutarhou) takes you up to cool breezes and superb views on the summit of Lykavittos. Summer concerts are held at the open-air theatre on the northern side. There are two cannons just below on the western side of the hill that fire salutes on special occasions. Regular church services are held at the Chapel of Agios Georgios, the most important being on 23 April, the day of the patron saint, St George, and Good Friday, when there is a moving candlelight procession along the hill.
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Agia Roumeli Beach
The gorge ends at the 12.5km mark just north of the almost abandoned village of Old Agia Roumeli. From here it's a further uninteresting 2km hike to the welcoming seaside resort of Agia Roumeli, with its much- appreciated fine pebble beach and sparkling sea, where most hikers can be seen between after midday taking a refreshing dip or at least bathing sore and aching feet. Be warned, falling rocks can be a hazard and people have been injured, including two fatal incidents in 2006.
On extremely hot days the gorge is closed for safety reasons.
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Maximos (Panagiotis Fanariotis)
Not to be missed is the walled cliff-top village of Kastro, 3km from Apollonia. A pleasant path circumnavigates Kastro and is especially scenic on its northern side - midway round the northern side, above the glittering sea, is the wonderful little art workshop of Maximos (Panagiotis Fanariotis) , whose speciality is handmade jewellery in original gold and silver motifs.
Prices for these lovely pieces start at about around €6 and are far below the usual price charged for work of this high quality. There is also accommodation here.
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Myrsini
Myrsini serves up hearty portions of authentic Cretan dishes for Thessasloniki's boisterous young hedonists. The food is delicious and healthy, from rusks topped with tomato, Cretan olive oil and soft cheese (dakos) and flavourful wild greens (horta) to roast rabbit, pork and - crucially - mizithropitakia (flaky filo triangles with sweet mizithra cheese).
Décor is simple, with worn wood floors and traditional accoutrements. Violin and bouzouki music from Greece's best island plays on in the background.
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Hadrian's Arch
Hadrian's Arch is a lofty monument of Pentelic marble that stands where busy Leoforos Vasilissis Olgas and Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias meet. It was erected by Hadrian in AD 132, probably to commemorate the consecration of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The inscriptions show that it was also intended as a dividing point between the ancient city and the Roman city.
The northwest frieze bears the inscription 'This is Athens, the Ancient City of Theseus', while the southeast frieze states 'This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus'.
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Exobourgo fortress
The ruins of the Venetian fortress of Exobourgo, atop a 640m (2099ft) hill, stand sentinel over a cluster of unspoilt villages. At the fortress, built on an ancient acropolis, the Venetians made their last stand against the Turks in 1715.
The ascent can be made from several villages; from Volox head south past the Koumaras turn-off on the road to Steni, then go right up a side road that ends at a church. From here it's a steep but reasonable 15-minute walk to the summit where the view will take away whatever breath you have left.
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2-Day Tour to Meteora from Athens
2 days / 1 night (Departs Athens, Greece)
by Viator
Don't miss the chance to see the amazing cliff-top monasteries of Meteora. This two-day tour takes you across the scenic Plain of Thessaly to Kalambaka and one…Not LP reviewed
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Naval Museum
The Naval Museum has an interesting collection of model ships dating from the Bronze Age, and naval instruments, paintings, photographs and memorabilia from the Battle of Crete.
It is housed in the Firkas Fortress, once the old Turkish prison.An authentic replica of a Minoan ship, which sailed from Crete to Athens as part of the Athens 2004 Olympics ceremonies, will be the star attraction of the museum's new Ancient and Traditional Maritime Museum annexe in the Venetian ship sheds being created at the far end of the harbour.
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Shipwreck Beach
Photos of the famous Shipwreck Beach (Navagio) grace virtually every tourist brochure about Zakynthos, but when the excursion boats offload hundreds of passengers around noon the charm fades quickly. Avoid the crowds by visiting in the morning or from mid-afternoon, and bring supplies as there are no facilities.
If you can handle heights, be sure to visit the precariously-perched lookout platform over Shipwreck Beach, on the west coast, signposted between Anafronita and Volimes. The view is well worth the adrenaline rush.
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