Athens

Island Overview

Athens is the capital of Greece and has a great history that dates back to over 3,000 years. It is also regarded as the symbol of Western Civilization. The city flourished greatly during the Classical period, and it is a great destination to go to for history lovers. The town offers tourists a great mix of historical and modern attractions that you can explore.

It also houses some of the most mesmerizing ancient ruins such as Acropolis, Temple of Olympian Zeus, etc. plus numerous majestic museums like Acropolis Museum, National Archaeology Museum, etc. where you can discover ancient artifacts. Athens is the capital of Greece, and it is surrounded by a wide range of attractions that you can visit, which makes it a perfect destination for all kinds of tourists. With its wealth of attractions, you can easily spend months in the city without seeing all that the city has to offer.

Marina

Zea Marina is a perfect place to anchor your ship, and you will find it between the coast of Salamis and Piraeus. It is usually crowded with ships at anchor, and you will need to be careful when you are navigating through this maze, especially at night. The depth of the water is 2-10m, and an attendant will help to direct you to a berth around the outer end of the outer mole if you will be staying for a short period. The inner berth is usually occupied by Athens-based yachts.

Another marina to anchor your yacht charter in Greece is the Athens Marina (Faliro Marina). You will find the entrance to the marina close N of Mounikas Marinas. The depth of the water at the marina is 4-6m and you can bows-to or stern at where you are directed.

Some of the other marinas for crewed charters in Athens are Flisvos Marina, Alimos Marina, Glifadha Marina, etc.

General Information

Athens offers a wide range of experiences – the historic Plaka, the modern shopping district Kolonaki, Monastiraki – the district of nightlife. Be sure to try Anafiotika, a little district right under the Acropolis, full of bougainvillea trees, strongly reminiscent of a Cycladic island. If you just came in, definitely experience the Greek cuisine – have some Souvlaki with tzatziki, maybe add some melitzanosalata (eggplant dip) with a side of Ouzo. Yes, Anafiotika is the best place for that – find a table on the stairs and welcome to Athens!

Places of Interest

Acropolis

This is the ancient citadel in Athens and a top tourist destination not to miss while in Greece. It is a famous Classical landmark that attracts millions of tourists all over the world. The Acropolis is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Site and few sights in the world can compare to it. The highlight of the Acropolis is the Parthenon, but you will also find the Erechtheion, Propylaea, and the Temple of Athena Nike to explore.

This is another tourist hotspot in Athens, and it houses thousands of artifacts that were discovered on the archaeological site of the Acropolis. It is located below the Acropolis hilltop, and it features 14,000 square meters of exhibition space. It is a great place to escape from the heat while you get an insight into the history of Greece.

This museum is among the largest and richest museums in the world. The galleries are filled with star exhibits that fascinate scholars for generations. You will surely be awestruck by its wealth of art collections from the finds from the Antikythera wreck to the Bronze Age frescoes from the islands of Santorini and Thera.

This is a neighborhood located on the top of the ancient Athens residential quarters. It features tight and twisting alleys with 19th-century facades surrounded by flowering bougainvillea. It is filled with family-run shops where you can shop for souvenirs. It is also a great place to go for a lovely dining and nightlife option while in Athens.

This is among the best destinations to go for history lovers while in Athens. The temple was dedicated to Zeus and the largest temple in ancient Greece. During its day, the temple was a more monumental structure than Parthenon. Because of its long building period, it has a different architectural style with 104 columns with scrolls and acanthus patterns. During the Herulian sack of Athens in 267, the temple was demolished, and you will only find about 15 surviving columns now.

The Ancient Agora was the center of classical Athens, and it was used for trade and public gatherings. It is located to the southeast of Acropolis and the Agoraios Kolonos hill to the south. The highlight of the Ancient Agora is the Stoa of Attalos, which was constructed by King Attalos II, and it would have been the spot of Socrates’ trial in 399BC. You should also make sure you do not miss the Temple of Hephaestus, which is located on the footpath to the Agora Hill. The temple is among the best-preserved ancient Greek temples because it was converted into a Christian church.

Temple of Hephaestus is a Doric Peripteral temple, and you will find it on a 65m Agoraios Kolonos hill on the northwestern part of the Agora of Athens. The temple was built in the second half of the 5th century BC and was designed by Ictinus. The temple is a great place to go for history lovers as it is in a fantastic state of preservation. It was dedicated to Athena and Hephaestus, and it features six fluted columns on its western side and 13 on its southern and northern part. You are going to find numerous sculpted elements here such as Labour of Hercules, pronaos, and opisthodomos that depicts Theseus with the Pallantides and the battle of Centaurs and Lapiths.

Temple of Hephaestus is a Doric Peripteral temple, and you will find it on a 65m Agoraios Kolonos hill on the northwestern part of the Agora of Athens. The temple was built in the second half of the 5th century BC and was designed by Ictinus. The temple is a great place to go for history lovers as it is in a fantastic state of preservation. It was dedicated to Athena and Hephaestus, and it features six fluted columns on its western side and 13 on its southern and northern part. You are going to find numerous sculpted elements here such as Labour of Hercules, pronaos, and opisthodomos that depicts Theseus with the Pallantides and the battle of Centaurs and Lapiths.

This theatre was constructed into the rocky southern slope of the Acropolis, and it is regarded as the first theatre to be ever built. It is also the place where European drama was born, and it was first used for performances in the 6th century BC. You should not miss this theater if you are a history or architecture enthusiast, as it has gone through lots of modifications over the year. This theater hosted the Dionysia Festival at its peak, and it is the spot where lots of classical masterpieces were first performed.

The stadium is a modern reconstruction of an ancient stadium that was constructed for the Panathenaic Games in 330BC. This modern stadium was constructed for the 1896 Olympics, and it features a U-shape layout. It was also used during the 2004 Athens Olympics for archery events and the finish line for the men’s and women’s marathon. It is a great destination to go for sports lovers and other kinds of travelers. The stadium can hold 45000 spectators, and its highlight is the highest tiers where you will enjoy the views of the Acropolis and National Garden.

This museum was founded by a couple called Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris in the 1960s, and it houses the largest collection of prehistoric art in the world from the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean. The museum was opened in 1986, and it houses over 3000 pieces of Cycladic, Cypriot, and ancient Greek art that dates from 3000 to the 4th century BC. The museum is a must place to go for art lovers, and you should ensure you do not miss the Cycladic marble figurines while at the museum.

This museum is situated in the Stoa of Attalos, which is among the iconic monuments in Agora. The building was first constructed in the mid 2nd century BC before it was wrecked by Hercules in 267, and it was later rebuilt in the 1950s. The building is an excellent destination for archaeological and history lovers on a yacht charter in Greece. The museum houses artifacts found during excavations in the ancient Agora, such as figurines, weapons, and vases, which dates from Neolithic to Geometric period. You will also find fascinating pieces that relate to the Athenian democracy in the Classical and Late Classical periods, such as official bronze weight, clay measuring devices, and so on.

History of Athens

According to Mythology, Athens was named after the goddess Athena had a competition with Poseidon on who will be the protector of the city. From the myth, Poseidon gifted the town a spring with seawater while Athena offered an olive tree. The people then accepted Athena as their protector, and the city was named after her. This shows the strength of Athens as a city of wisdom and also a sea power.

The first settlers in the city came from numerous ethnic groups that were organized in several kingdoms, and they settled close to the crag. According to mythology, Cecrops (half man and half serpent) founded the city and was the first king. During the 10th century BC, the settlers formed 12 cities, and Athens was dominant. The mythical king Theseus also unifies the cities in Attica under Athens after he subdued the town of Eleusis. After the cities were unified, Athens held the Panathenaic Games to honor Athena.

When the king ruled the city, the monarch directed the political and military affairs of the city while being assisted by the Areopagus, the king’s court. The city later evolved from monarchy rule to aristocracy, which then turned to Athenian democracy.