Private Full Day Tour in Athens Through the History

New To The Site! Athens, Greece

8 hours (Approx.)

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Overview

Athens is a city with a lot of history. On this private tour, you'll have the chance to see 7 amazing monuments of Athens.

Your trip starts at the Acropolis, where you can marvel at the Parthenon, an ancient Grecian temple that is still standing and visible from almost anywhere in Athens and is considered one of the world's greatest architectural achievements.

You will then continue on to see the Areopagus and the Temple of Zeus.

Then, you will visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and see its famous gold and gilt statue. You'll then walk through the ancient city to see what remains from Athens' golden age, including the Theseion and a few ruins of other temples.

Then you will make your way to the ancient Hadrian’s Library and Archaeological Site of the Lyceum of Aristotle, home to 8,000 ancient Greek manuscripts.

Finally, you'll return to your hotel with a private driver for a well-earned rest after exploring all the monuments.

Description

Stop At: Acropolis, Via Dionysiou Areopagitou Str., Athens 10558

The Acropolis is a historic site in Athens, Greece. This temple is the most famous building from ancient Greece and is still used today for various religious festivals. It was built on top of a hill overlooking the city and features some of the most impressive architecture ever seen! The Acropolis stands at 400 feet and reaches a height of over 300 feet. It is made out of limestone with an enormous base that features 24 columns. During the 5th century BC, it was used as a citadel and reached its pinnacle during the time of Pericles in the 4th century BC.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Temple of Olympian Zeus, Leoforos Vasilissis Olgas, Leoforos Amalias, Athens 10557

Its construction began in 174 B.C. and was completed by the Roman emperor Hadrian in 131 A.D. Its unusually tall columns and ambitious layout made the temple one of the largest ever built in the ancient world.

The long side featured 20 columns each and the short sides 8 (octastyle dipterous). These were placed in double rows lengthwise and in triple rows on each short side. The columns are topped by highly decorative Corinthian capitals carved from two huge blocks of marble. Inside the cella were gigantic chryselephantine statues of Zeus and of the temple's main benefactor, Hadrian, who was accorded a status equal to that of the great Greek god.

The temple suffered over the centuries and much of its material was reused in other buildings, so today only 15 of the columns remain standing.

The site shows evidence of habitation since the Neolithic period.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Ancient Agora of Athens, Adrianou 24, Athens 10555

The heart of ancient Athens, the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity, the religious and cultural center, and the seat of justice.

The site was occupied in all periods of the city's history. It was used as a residential and funerary area as early as 3000 BC.

After a series of remodelings, it got its rectangular shape in the 2nd century BC, but suffered damage from the various invasions over the centuries and was gradually abandoned.

From Byzantine times until after 1834, when Athens became the capital of the independent Greek state, the Agora was redeveloped as a residential area, and work is still continuing. To uncover the entire Agora area it was necessary to demolish some 400 modern buildings.

In the 19th century the four colossal figures of Giants and Tritons on the facade of the Gymnasium were restored. The Stoa of Attalos was rebuilt as a museum and the Byzantine church of Agioi Apostoloi, built around 1000 AD, was restored.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Roman Forum of Athens (Roman Agora), Polignotou 3, Athina 105 55, Greece

The Roman Forum is situated right in the center of modern-day Athens. The Forum was built at the end of the 4th century B.C and included temples, public squares and basilicas. This central location allowed for easy travel to the rest of Ancient Greece, as well as to Italy and other parts of Europe.

The most important building in the Forum was the Temple of Castor and Pollux, which was a part of the great public square. It is also where Julius Caesar’s statue once stood.

The Roman Forum was separated into two major areas. One is the public square, which was the most important part of it, and the second area is where all of the temples were located.

There were three main temples in this area: one to Jupiter and Juno on the east side of the Forum; one to Minerva on the south side; and finally, there was the temple to Mars on the west.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Hadrian's Library, Areos 3, Athens 10555

Hadrian's Library was a public building in ancient Athens. Inspired by its beauty, the Roman Emperor Hadrian built a beautiful library under the supervision of such renowned scholars as Apollonius of Athens and Dion Cassius Longinus.

Adrian, who had encountered a certain Apollonius of Athens near Rome, felt great respect for the man's knowledge and learning. He also admired his physical appearance so much that he made him the official architect of all his buildings and monuments.

One day, an eagle flew over a flaming pine tree at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli and dropped a pine cone on the emperor's head. Hadrian was so excited about this occurrence that he immediately ordered construction of a library for the Athenians in Athens and asked Apollonius of Athens to supervise its construction.

It is believed that the library became one of the world's greatest libraries, with many famous works that helped shape Western civilization.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Kerameikos Cemetery, Ermou 148, Athens 10553

Kerameikos is a complex of ruins dating back to the Mycenaean era. It is spread over a large area east and west of what was once the city's main east-west thoroughfare, the Sacred Way. The Acropolis, one of Athens' most important ancient landmarks, can be seen in the distance.

Kerameikos has been a source of inspiration for many writers and artists.
Kerameikos is mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey, describing it as "a walled city near to Arene", where Odysseus stayed with Tiresias. It was also the site of a major battle between Greeks and Persians in 480 BC.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Aristotle's Lyceum, Athens

Aristotle Lyceum is a hub of cultural, creative and intellectual life situated in the center of Athens and extending over 60,000 square-meters. It is located on Fokionos St., in what was Aristotle's home, adjoining the Old Lykeion and the Academy.

The building has been in use for many years as a center for cultural events, especially those relating to the arts and Letters.
The building was originally built by Karaiskakis in 1843 as an artillery barracks; its central tower can still be seen on the site. After this period of military use, it was converted into a school for the daughters of wealthy families and then into a home for Aristotle, who had been expelled from his school.
After he was cremated, it became a memorial to him. The Lyceum still contains his study and the library of manuscripts which he left behind when he died in 322 BC.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Parthenon, Acropolis, Top of Dionyssiou Areopagitou, Athens 10558

The Parthenon is one of the most famous buildings in Greece.

Temple is dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena (who is also known as Minerva). It was built around 447 BC and stands on the eastern side of the Acropolis in Athens. It is made of huge limestone blocks, which are so big that four horses can be ridden up each front side without dismounting. The pediment above the main entrance is decorated with relief sculptures of the goddess Athena.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, Dionysiou Areopagitou, Acropolis, Athens 10558

Built between 426 and 421 BC to replace older temples whose remains are preserved inside the bastion.

The small Ionic temple had a frieze carved in relief with different thematic representations on each side. The east side depicted a gathering of gods around Zeus enthroned, while the other sides featured scenes of warfare between Greeks and Persians or Greeks with other Greeks. The south side depicted the victorious battle of the Greeks against the Persians at Marathon in 490 BC, led by the Athenians. Few sculptural remains of the pediments of the temple are preserved.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens 10558

While the Parthenon was the most impressive temple on the Acropolis, the Erechtheion was built to house the religious rituals that the ancient temple it was built on housed before it, and shows the cultural maturity of Athens. It is an intricate temple, designed to accommodate the radically uneven terrain of the site, and to avoid disturbing sacred shrines, such as the altars to Poseidon (Erechtheus), and to Hephaestus, or the place where Poseidon struck the Acropolis with his trident.

The temple is unusual in that it incorporates two porticoes (protaseis); one in the northwest corner which is supported by tall Ionic columns, and another in the southwest corner which is supported by six huge female statues, the famous Caryatids which have become the characteristic feature of the temple, as they stand and seem to casually support the weight of the portico roof on their heads.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Mount Lycabettus, Athens

At 277 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in Athens. The view from Lycabettus Hill is best enjoyed at sunset as you wait for the lights of the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium and the Ancient Agora to come on. You'll also remember that Athens is surrounded by sea with spectacular views of the Aegean.

At the top of the hill you will find the whitewashed Greek church of Agios Georgios (St. George) and all are welcome to enter. The observation deck in front of the church offers sweeping views of Athens, stretching all the way to the city's coastline. There is a cafeteria open for breakfast and lunch.

Duration: 30 minutes