The Feeling of Seeing An Iconic Sight For The First Time - Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Outside and below the Acropolis of Athens
I know this is a blog and this will be a funny thing to say…
But words cannot describe the feeling of wanting and dreaming of something for your whole life and finally walking in and seeing something so incredibly iconic for the first time.
It literally takes your breath away.
After a cluster-bomb of a time getting to Athens (try 55+ hours, a 2-hour delay causing me to be a day and a half late, a strike in Italy, baggage being stuck and no one wanting to get it for us, being the only person who didn’t get on the earlier rebooked flight, etc.) having this be one of the first things we did was exactly what I needed to start turning this trip around.
No matter what time or day you go there are a lot of people there and long lineups so just brace yourself and get in line.
The sight is worth the wait and it didn’t take all that long. I highly recommend buying tickets online ahead of time and even finding a combined pass.
The pass we got was $30 each for 5 days and included all of the major attractions including the Acropolis. Look around on Google to find the best deal
When you enter you head to the South Slopes and you see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
Looking down on the theatre was really neat. It looks huge. However, when you compare it to the Theatre of Dionysus on the other side of the hill you realize it’s actually quite small!
Imagine watching a play at either of these theatres! It must have been exhilarating.
Next, walk all the way up to the Acropolis area itself.
The entrance to the Acropolis, Propylaia, is amazing! Built between 437 BCE and 432 BCE, the marble pillars tower above you like this incredible dominating presence. The first time we went you could walk right up the middle. There were no ropes partitioning the sides.
The feeling of walking through this entrance makes you feel like you’re part of greatness. You’re walking into something great. The ancient Greeks certainly liked to make their greatness known and this entrance is absolutely a statement of that.
My favourite part about travelling around Greece and going to all of the historical sites was imagining when these places weren’t tourist attractions but the real town.
Imagining what the people at the time were like, what they did, how they interacted with these things. I imagine ancient Athenians walking through this entrance to get to the Acropolis. I imagine myself as an ancient Greek walking through this entrance into the Acropolis and seeing the Acropolis for the first time.
At that moment all of the tourists ceased to exist and it was just myself and other ancient people going about our business here!
Just when you think you’ve seen the most amazing thing you enter the Acropolis.
Videos don’t do it justice.
Just imagine walking through this incredible hilltop when it was in its prime.
Fun fact, nothing is allowed to be built taller than the Acropolis in Athens. So still to this day, the Acropolis is the tallest feature in the city. When we were walking around almost everywhere nearby you caught a glimpse of the Parthenon at the Acropolis.
We, of course, took photos every time we caught a glimpse.
At the top of the Acropolis, there are a few different sights to see. Of course, you have the Parthenon which is the biggest presence at the Acropolis (and throughout the city). When we went it was going through some restorations so we had to use our imaginations a bit (ooo, a tough one for me hey).
This incredible temple is one of the largest temples to have ever been built in Greece. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos and was completed in 438 BCE in time for the Great Panathenaic Festival (Lonely Planet).
The Parthenon consists of 8 columns at each end and 17 on each side and were meticulously sculpted.
You can also walk over to this round tower where the Greek flag is and look out over the side to see the rest of the ancient city (all of the sights of Athens are quite close to each other naturally).
Aside from the incredible Parthenon the Acropolis is also home to the Erechtheion which consists of the Porch of the Caryatids and the Temple of Poseidon.
The Erechtheion was an incredible sanctuary. It was said to be built on the most sacred part of the Acropolis Hill; the spot where Poseidon struck the ground with his Trident. The goddess Athena also planted a sacred Olive Tree at the back of the sanctuary (a tree that still resides there today).
Attached is also the Porch of the Caryatids which is supported by 6 maidens designed as columns. However, the columns residing there today are recreations. 5 of the 6 original columns are currently housed in the Acropolis Museum with one empty spot for the 6th column which is in the British Museum.
On the back side of the Sanctuary is the Temple of Poseidon. It is recognizable by its 6 incredible columns and the fissure in the floor which is said to either be from Poseidon’s Trident or Zeus’ Thunderbolt.
The back side is also where you can find Athena’s sacred Olive Tree.
This ancient building may seem quaint in comparison to the Parthenon residing on the same hill but let me tell you, it holds its own and has an even more incredible mythology.
To me, the stories, the history and the mythology are the parts I care about. I invested in doing some reading before I left for Greece and since being home have also been researching. That’s why I love letting my imagination run wild in my own little world while exploring these incredible pieces of history. My husband, however, prefers to know how it was built and when it was built so he spends a lot of time reading the signs at the different sights.
The best part is that there is a little bit for each of us up there. He can casually take his time reading the signs and I can gaze at the different landmarks and zone out.
You can head back down the opposite side of the Parthenon from the hill.
The back side shows another beautiful view. There are a series of signs that depict the entire process (my husband was in heaven) and you get a great view of the Theatre of Dionysus (a fraction of its former glory. To see what the theatre looked like originally spend a day in the Acropolis Museum).
It may feel like you’re leaving but there is still plenty to see.
On this backside, you’ll be able to see the Temple of Athena Nike. It almost feels like it’s hidden but I assure you, it’s a hidden gem you want to see. It’s small but mighty. Inside is a statue made of wood of Athena as Victory (you can get a better view in the Acropolis Museum which also houses a depiction of Athena Nike fastening her sandal (Lonely Planet)).
I highly recommend taking a quick stop back toward the entrance to see the Beulé Gate before heading to the lower slopes. The gate is an interesting feature. Beware, it’s quite hard to get a photo without other people (I used the magic of Photoshop for mine) but if you have a bit of patience you can find a lull and get a photo with very few people.
From there backtrack to go past the Odeon of Herodes Atticus so you can reach the lower slopes.
I particularly loved the lower slopes for their light and peaceful atmosphere. It almost seemed like most people didn’t realize there were things to see down here.
But there are a few great smaller things to see such as the Asclepieion, the Stoa of Eumenes, the Temple Of Themis and a gallery of statues.
Take your time down here. The Acropolis Hill is loud, bustling and overwhelming but down here is a lot more serene and you don’t feel rushed.
There are a few sights in Athens that are well worth seeing. Some take you a short amount of time while others may take a little bit longer. I will be writing a blog on the length of time the other sights take to help you plan your time in Athens.
But if you only have a day or two in Athens, the Acropolis and slopes is a must-see attraction. It is often quite crowded but you get the biggest bang for your buck and you get an amazing big picture of what life in Athens was like in ancient times.
Enjoy!
All photos taken on iPhone 14 Pro