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St Paul in Athens half-day private tour
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Overview
Highlights of the half-day Christian tour in Athens
• Mars Hill and Ancient Agora, where St Paul preached in Athens
• The Acropolis of Athens and other important sites of Athens
• The original Byzantine church Ag. Apostoloi (10 century AD)
• Travelers can customize the tour within the itinerary!
Description
Stop At: Athens, Athens
We will pick you up from your accommodation in Athens. Our tour starts traveling directly to the Acropolis in order to avoid traffic and crowd.
Welcome to Athens, the historical capital of Europe. Welcome to the birthplace of democracy, arts, science, and philosophy of western civilization. Home of Plato, Socrates, Pericles, Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus. Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities. It’s recorded history spanning around 3.400 years and it is being inhabited since the 11th millennium B.C. E. Today, under the shadow of the Parthenon, the contemporary urban scenery of the sprawling city reflects its exciting history, its multi-cultural modern personality as well as the infrastructure and facilities.
The perfect Mediterranean climate with the legendary greek sunlight, the unique combination of glorious history with modern, urban innovation, the coexistence of great culture with astonishing natural beauty, the high standard hotel accommodation ...
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Acropolis, Via Dionysiou Areopagitou Str., Athens 10558
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, and its monuments are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world. In the second half of the 5th-century bc, Athens, following the victory against the Persians and the establishment of democracy, took a leading position amongst the other city-states of the ancient world. In the age that followed, as thought and art flourished, an exceptional group of artists put into effect the ambitious plans of Athenian statesman Pericles and, under the inspired guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, transformed the rocky hill into a unique monument of thought and the arts. The most important monuments were built during that time: the Parthenon, built by Ictinus, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles, and the small temple Athena Nike.
Stop At: Areopagus, Acropolis, Athens 10558
It is located just to the right of the exit of the Acropolis. Also known as the “Hill of Ares”. In classical times, this was the site of the Council of Nobles and the Judicial Court, which mainly dealt with homicide. It is said that Ares was tried here by the Gods for the murder of Alirrothios, one of the sons of Poseidon. Another trial said to have taken place here was that of Orestes who was alleged to have killed his mother Clytemnestra, and her lover.
In preclassical times, the Areopagus was where the council of the elders of the city would meet. The members were actually those who were held in high regard in public office. In 480 BC, the hill was used as a campsite by the Persians, when they were undertaking their siege of the Acropolis. It was also at the Areopagus that Saint Paul preached the famous “Sermon on an Unknown God”, apparently after seeing an altar to the “Unknown God”. This speech is commemorated with a bronze plaque that you can see at the foot of the rock.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Propylaia, Acropolis, Dionysiou Areopagitou, Athina 105 58, Greece
The Propylaea of the Athenian Acropolis was built on the west side of the hill, where the gate of the Mycenaean fortification once stood. The first propylon, or gate, was constructed in the age of Peisistratos (mid-sixth century BC), after the Acropolis had become a sanctuary dedicated to Athena.
A new propylon, built-in 510-480 BC, was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC and repaired after the end of the Persian Wars, during the fortification of the Acropolis by Themistokles and Kimon. The monumental Propylaia admired by modern visitors was part of the great Periclean building program. They have erected in 437-432 BC, after the completion of the Parthenon, by architect Mnesikles. The original building plan was particularly daring both in architectural and artistic terms but was never completed.
The pie-shaped building of Pentelic marble frames beautifully the entrance to the sacred precinct. The central section, the propylon proper, had an outer (west) and inner (east) facade...
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, Dionysiou Areopagitou, Acropolis, Athens 10558
The temple of Athena Nike stands at the southeast edge of the sacred rock atop a bastion, which in Mycenaean times protected the entrance to the Acropolis. The Classical temple, designed by architect Kallikrates and built-in 426-421 BC, succeeded earlier temples also dedicated to Athena Nike. The first one of these, a mid-sixth century BC wooden temple was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. The eschara, the altar believed to have supported the cult statue of the goddess, dates to this period. Under Kimon, c. 468 BC, a small temple of tufa was erected around the base of the statue and a new altar was built outside the temple.
The foundations of these early temples and altars are preserved inside the bastion under the floor of the Classical structure. Pausanias (1, 22, 4) refers to this temple as that of the Apteros Nike, or Wingless Victory, and mentions that the cult statue of the goddess had no wings so that she would never leave Athens. Apart from the cult of Athena Nike other...
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Parthenon, Acropolis, Top of Dionyssiou Areopagitou, Athens 10558
The Parthenon, dedicated by the Athenians to Athena Parthenos, the patron of their city, is the most magnificent creation of Athenian democracy at the height of its power. It is also the finest monument on the Acropolis in terms of both conception and execution. Built between 447 and 438 BC, as part of the greater Periklean building project, this so-called Periklean Parthenon (Parthenon III) replaced an earlier marble temple (Parthenon II), begun after the victory at the battle of Marathon at approximately 490 BC and destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. This temple replaced the very first Parthenon (Parthenon I) of c. 570 BC from Periklis . The Parthenon was designed by architects Iktinos and Kallikrates, while the sculptor Pheidias supervised the entire building program and conceived the temple's sculptural decoration and a chryselephantine statue of Athena. The Parthenon is a double peripteral Doric temple with several unique and innovative architectural features.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Stop At: Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens 10558
The elegant building known as the Erechtheion, on the north side of the sacred rock of the Acropolis, was erected in 421-406 BC as a replacement of an earlier temple dedicated to Athena Polias, the so-called "Old temple". The name Erechtheion, mentioned only by Pausanias (1, 26, 5), derives from Erechtheus, the mythical king of Athens, who was worshipped there. The sanctuary also contained the grave of Kekrops and the traces of the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the possession of the city of Athens.
Another door on the south facade of the western temple opened onto the porch of the Karyatides, a pi-shaped structure with six female statues instead of columns to support the roof. Created by Alkamemes or Kallimachos, the statues were later named Karyatides after the young women from Karyes of Laconia who danced in honor of the goddess Artemis. Five of them are in the Acropolis Museum and another in the British Museum; those on the building are casts.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Temple of Olympian Zeus, Leoforos Vasilissis Olgas, Leoforos Amalias, Athens 10557
Located in southern Athens, between the Acropolis and the Ilissos river, the Olympeion was the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. Here stands one of the greatest ancient temples of Zeus and, according to Vitruvius, one of the most famous marble buildings ever constructed. The sanctuary's foundation is attributed to the mythical Deukalion. The site also comprises the temple of Apollo Delphinios - the sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios was traditionally associated with Theseus - and a tripartite building with a south courtyard of ca. 500 BC. The latter has been identified as the Delphinion Court, which was allegedly founded by Aegeas.
Pass By: National Garden, Leoforos Amalias 1, Athens 10557
The National Garden of Athens, located behind the Parliament and Syntagma Square, is a green oasis in the heart of the city.
The National Garden of Athens is a large green space of over 160.000 square meters adorned with over 500 types of plants and trees from all over the world.
Former Royal Gardens; The gardens were designed in 1839 by order of Queen Amalia of the Greeks, but were not open to the public until 1923 when they were renamed “National Garden”.
The designer of the gardens, Friedrich Schmidt, traveled all over the world in search of the most beautiful, exotic and unique flora. This task was also granted to the Hellenic Navy.
Pass By: Hellenic Parliament, Parliament Mansion, Athens GR
The history of the impressive building of the Hellenic Parliament is intimately linked to the history of the Modern Greek state. Initially, the building served as the palace of Kings Otto and George I. It became the Parliament and Senate building a hundred years after it was constructed and still houses the Hellenic Parliament today. Through all those years, the building has undergone a series of changes and has been modernized. From 1836 to 1862; After the selection of Otto, Prince of Bavaria, as King of Greece, and the relocation of the Greek capital to Athens, it was decided to erect the palace on Boubounistra Hill. It proved an inspired choice. The chosen location was in the center of the new capital, easily defendable and cool. On February 6th, 1836 the founding stone was laid at the highest eastern point of the city. The ancient quarry of Pentele was the source of marble. King and queen Otto, and Amalia, took up residence on July 25th, 1843.
Pass By: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Leoforos Vasilissis Amalias, Syntagma Square, Athens 10028
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial located in Syntagma Square in Athens, in front of the Old Royal Palace. It is a cenotaph dedicated to the Greek soldiers killed during war. It was sculpted between 1930 and 1932 by sculptor Fokion Rok. The tomb is guarded by the Evzones of the Presidential Guard.
Pass By: Syntagma, Athens
Syntagma Square has literally been the very heart of Athens ever since the city became the capital of the modern Greek state, and it's the perfect central location for sightseeing.
It is located in front of the 19th century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. With the Greek Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier looming over it, it is rich with history and is the place where most major events of the last two centuries have taken place.
Its name in Greek means “Constitution Square,” a name granted by Greece’s first modern royal, King Otto, on September 3, 1843, after an uprising of the people. This was a smart political move since the royal palace overlooked the square.
Stop At: Kallimarmaro, Athens
Admire the Kallimarmaro stadium, else Panathenaea stadium where here the first modern Olympic games took place in 1896. It is called Kallimarmaro because is all made of marble. A special marble called the Pentelic marble. Special because it changes color according to the day light. Cool with in the morning and in the afternoon it changes color to bone gold color. The monuments on the Acropolis and the temple of Zeus are made of the same Pendelikon marble.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Mitropoleos Square, Athens 99920
Dedicated to the Annunciation of the Mother of God, the three-aisled, domed basilica of the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral sits a short distance from Syntagma Square. Constructed between 1842 and 1862, the church enjoyed the participation of many prominent architects, including Hansen, Zezos, Boulanger, and Kalkos.
The decorative aspects are no less impressive, incorporating pieces from derelict Byzantine churches and churches razed for archaeological reasons. The Cathedral also houses marble shrines containing the holy relics of Agia Filothei and Patriarch Gregorius V.
Since opening, the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral has hosted a number of significant ceremonies, from royal weddings to funerals of important political and social figures. After the massive earthquake that shook Athens in 1999, the Cathedral began a series of maintenance and restoration projects. Services are temporarily being held in the Church of St. Dionysius, in Kolonaki.
Pass By: Church of Kapnikarea, Kapnikarea Platz, Athens
Standing in the shopping area of Ermou Street in central Athens stands the little eleventh-century Byzantine church of Panaghia Kapnikarea, It’s a really incongruous setting for a beautiful little church of such an age, one of the oldest in Athens, crowded in by high-rise buildings.
The church of Panagia Kapnikarea is built on the ruins of an ancient temple, dedicated to a female goddess, possibly Athena or Demeter. It was founded at the beginning of the 11th century (around 1050 A.D.) and was probably named after its donor.
The church is cross-in-square, of the complex four-column type, with three apses on the east side and a narthex on the west. A domed chapel dedicated to Aghia Varvara was added to the north side and the exonarthex, with three pitched roofs, was built slightly later in front of both churches. It was originally formed as an open portico but a small porch with two columns was constructed at its south end, possibly in the 12th century, along with the mosaics ...
Pass By: Thiseio, Thiseio, Athens, Greece
Thissio is actually pretty close to the city center, which means that it is easily accessible from some of the major tourist attractions, as well as both the Plaka and Monastiraki neighborhoods in the city. In fact, it lies to the southwest of Monastiraki. This makes Thissio a great place to visit or to even find a great hotel to stay at that will be tucked out of the way of some of the bustle that the center of Athens can experience. In fact, it is so close to the Acropolis that it actually boasts a pretty good view of it, which means that you are sure to have some great photo opportunities while there. There are also some trendy cafes, restaurants, and boutiques to visit while in this area and you’ll find plenty of local Athenians enjoying themselves here.
Stop At: Ancient Agora of Athens, Adrianou 24, Athens 10555
After our visit at Acropolis ,you will visit the Ancient Agora, 20 min travel. The ancient Agora of Athens is the best-known example of an ancient Greek agora, located to the northwest of the Acropolis and bounded on the south by the hill of the Areopagus and on the west by the hill known as the Agoraios Kolonos, also called Market Hill.
The word "agora" applies to an assembly of people and by extension marks the gathering place. In modern Greek, the term means "marketplace".
Just about every ancient and modern city includes a place for an agora, and the Agora of Athens is located at the heart of the city, remaining in use either as an assembly, as a commercial, or as a residential area for about 5000 years.
Consequently, the area has undergone countless building, destruction, and rebuilding cycles. Today these strata of history have been distilled through excavations to expose the Agora's important functions from Archaic to Greco-Roman and Byzantine times.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Athens, Athens
Our tour ends by dropping you off at the same spot we have picked you up. End of our services.
Thank you for choosing us for your tour in Athens.
Duration: 20 minutes
Schedule
- Reservations are REQUIRED for all bookings
- Book Your Package On-Line and Receive Your Confirmation
- Departure point: Detailed check-in instructions - including the address and parking information if applicable - will be included in your final confirmation email.
- Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
- Departure Time: 08:00 AM
What's Included
- A professional English speaking tour driver with good knowledge of history and culture of Greece.
- Entrance Tickets (Acropolis & Ancient Agora)
- Bottled water
- Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle appropriate for the size of your group.
- Private tour pick up/drop-off: Hotels in Athens, AirBnB in Athens, Piraeus port.
- Road tolls and local taxes
- Gratuities
- Airport pick up and drop-off not included in this price. (Additional cost)
- English speaking Licensed tour guide (Additional cost: 269€)
What To Bring
- Confirmation Voucher (printed or mobile)
- Any required or suggested items listed on your confirmation email.
- A Smile!
Hotel Pickup
Hotel pick-up is offered for this tour. Note: if you are booking within 24 hours of the tour/activity departure time, we cannot guarantee hotel pick-up. Once your purchase is complete, we will send you complete contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) for our local operator to organize pick-up arrangements.
Additional Info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Travelers can customize the tour within the itinerary in Athens and during 6 hours!
- Athens International Airport transfers can be arranged on request at an extra cost!
- Our vehicles do not have a ramp, our vehicles can accommodate foldable wheelchairs and strollers .
- Operated by Athens Tours Greece
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Reviews
Average 4.50 out of 5 stars based on 4 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor
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Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.