What makes UNESCO consider the Acropolis of Athens particularly significant as a World Heritage Site?

An unprecedented conceptual design; embodied in architectural excellence
Put the best of science, art and philosophy together in one creation and you have the definitive monument of human civilisation. UNESCO calls it the symbol of World Heritage. The world calls it the Athenian Acropolis!
The history of the Acropolis of Athens is long, with moments when democracy philosophy and art flourished, leading to its creation. Then there were the times when its best standing pieces were removed and shipped away from the city, dividing the monument in two. Today, the international community wants to reunite all of the Acropolis sculptures in Athens and restore both its physicality and meaning.
The Acropolis, and the Parthenon in particular, is the most characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilisation. It continues to stand as a symbol in many ways: it is the symbol of democracy and the Greek civilisation. It also symbolises the beginning of the Western civilisation and stands as the icon of European culture. The Parthenon was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of the city of Athens and goddess of wisdom. It was built under the instructions of Pericles, the political leader of Athens in the 5th century BC. The Parthenon was constructed between 447 and 438 BC and its sculptural decoration was completed in 432 BC. In 1987 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site (UNESCO, 1987). Uniquely, capturing the gravity of the Athenian Acropolis as a symbol, UNESCO recognises that “[…] the Acropolis, the site of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art – the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum and the Temple of Athena Nike – can be seen as symbolizing the idea of world heritage” (UNESCO, 2006).
Despite the unique symbolic and cultural value of the monument, the issue of the removal of the sculptures from the Athenian Acropolis by Elgin continues to shadow their history. Today, more than half of the Parthenon sculptures are in the British Museum in London and their return to Athens, for their display in the Acropolis Museum together with the other originals, is a cultural issue awaiting to be settled.
It is recommended that you start your reading about the Parthenon and the Acropolis of Athens at the Acropolis of Athens page of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

The Acropolis hill, also called the «Sacred Rock» of Athens, is the most important site of the city and constitutes one of the most recognizable monuments of the world. It is the most significant reference point of ancient Greek culture, as well as the symbol of the city of Athens itself as it represent the apogee of artistic development in the 5th century BC.
A visit to Athens is not complete without visiting the Acropolis, hundreds of tourists each day accordingly make the pilgrimage. Acropolis from Filopappou Hill.
Acropolis at dusk from Lycabettus Hill.Acropolis fromAcropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon.
Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as «The Acropolis» withoutthere is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site’s most important buildings including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike.
The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians in the Morean War when the Parthenon was being used for gunpowder storage and was hit by a cannonball.
The Acropolis was formally proclaimed as the preeminent monument on the European Cultural Heritage list of monuments on 26 March 2007.
|From acropolis to Pireaus, Athens, Greece.|
|Amphitheater in Acropolis, Athens, Greece.|
|The Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens, Greece.|
|Erechtheum, Acropolis of Athens, Greece.|
|The Parthenon on the top of the Acropolis Hill, Athens, Greece.|
|The Propylaea of the Acropolis from inside, Athens, Greece.|
On the Acropolis
The Parthenon: The largest temple on the Acropolis, originally dedicated to the goddess of the city, Athena. Built between 447 and 438 BCE at the height of the Classical period.

In our last post, we celebrated the recent addition of ancient Ephesus to the UNESCO World Heritage List by describing the various sites of such distinction that we visit on our tours and cruises of Turkey.
The next post - incidentally - will be about Italy, where the Arab-Norman heritage of Palermo and surroundings received the same honour this year.
But, moving from East to West, there's some ground to cover first, some seas to cross and a whole country to deal with: Greece. The "cradle of western civilisation" is home to a host of immensely significant sites, places of importance, interest, beauty and impact. Not all of them reflect the civilisation we call Classical Greece - they range from prehistoric citadels via Classical temples to Byzantine monasteries and beyond.
WORLD HERITAGE SITES ON OUR TOURS AND CRUISES IN GREECE
The most obvious image of Greece and one of the most famous architectural monuments in the world, the Acropolis is the sacred rock in the heart of the city, ancient and modern. Settled since prehistory, it became the citadel of a Bronze Age realm and later the formal religious centre of the Classical city. Its redesign, masterminded by the political leader Perikles and the artist Pheidias, began in 450s BC, when Athens was at the height of her wealth and power. The main monuments than built include the awesome Propylaia, the ornate Temple of Nike, the highly original Erechtheion and – of course – the mighty Parthenon. A visit to the Acropolis should also include the shrines and sanctuaries along its slopes – and the state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum with its wonderful collections.
The Acropolis, in its full historical and urban context, is a central highlight on our Athens tour, and can easily be visited before or after our Peloponnese tour, which starts and ends in Athens. Guests on both tours could also easily add a visit to the UNESCO-listed monasteries at Daphni or Osios Loukas – or even a day trip to the Archaeological site of Delphi, the famous oracular sanctuary to Apollo, another World Heritage site.
The Peloponnese, the legendary and historical peninsula that makes up the southern part of the Greek Mainland, is an area of immense historical and cultural wealth.

The Acropolis of Athens, Greece, a monument of great architectural and historic significance, came in second after the Angkor site in Cambodia on a list composed recently by the American news network CNN about the most beautiful world heritage sites.
CNN made this list after the announcement that two people undertook the purchase of the most expensive vacation ever. The men, a Chinese student and an Italian businessman, will visit all 962 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in two years and the total cost of this luxury expedition, organized by the website VeryFirstTo.com, will surpass $1.5 million.
The survey listed the top 20 sites in the world. Of the Acropolis, CNN wrote: “The ancient Greek monument is enchanting whether someone walks on the rock or he admires it from a distance”.
According to CNN the most beautiful World Heritage Sites are the following:
1. Angkor, Cambodia
2. Acropolis, Greece
3. Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)
4. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
5. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, Turkey\
6. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
7. Hampi, India
8. Iguazu National Park, Brazil and Argentina
9. Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
10. Machu Picchu, Peru
11. Mont-Saint-Michel, France
12. Petra, Jordan
13. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
14. Rapa Nui, Chile
15. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
16. Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
17. Tulum, Mexico
18. Valletta, Malta
19. Venice and its lagoon, Italy
20. Yellowstone National Park, United States.

Achieving World Heritage status is a great honour and one that has been bestowed on many natural and architectural sites around the world. From Easter Island to Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal to the Acropolis, many UNESCO World Heritage sites are instantly recognisable.
Being listed as a World Heritage site isn’t just a matter of status, however, it also helps to protect the area or building from being harmed in any way by new developments or environmental factors. In July, 21 new places received the prestigious accolade. The list included the Lake District in the UK, caves and ice age art at Swabian Jura in Germany and Los Alerces National Park in Argentina.
In this article we will talk you through five of the most iconic World Heritage sites across the globe and exactly what it takes to be included in the list.
What does it take to become a UNESCO World Heritage site?

The Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention state that “a site which is nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List will be considered to be of outstanding universal value for the purpose of the Convention when the Committee finds it meets one or more of the criteria”
Criteria for the inclusion of cultural properties in the World Heritage List:
(i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; or
(ii) exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design; or
(iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared; or
(iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; or
(v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement or land-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change; or
(vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance (the Committee considers that this criterion should justify inclusion in the List only in exceptional circumstances and in conjunction with other criteria cultural or natural);
in addition they need to:
(b)(i) meet the test of authenticity in design, material, workmanship or setting and in the case of cultural landscapes their distinctive character and components
(ii) have adequate legal and /or contractual and/or traditional protection and management mechanisms to ensure the conservation of the nominated cultural properties or cultural landscapes. The existence of protective legislation at the national, provincial or municipal level and/or a well-established contractual or traditional protection as well as of adequate management and/or planning control mechanisms is therefore essential and, as is clearly indicated in the following.

If you pay some attention to UNESCO activities, you might have learnt of the world heritage site listings. This is a list of places that are regarded by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to have some physical or cultural importance. It may be of outstanding beauty or an uncommon natural phenomenon. This might be a beach, building, forest, mountain, water-fall and so on It is maintained by the International World Heritage program that is governed by UNESCO World Heritage Committee made up of 21 UNESCO member states that the General Assembly selects.
Examples of places listed here include The Pyramids of Giza and East Africa’s Serengeti’s wild diversity. Well, what is the usefulness of such a list or even the sites it contains? Read below to find out.
1. It brings a sense of honor and global recognition. Despite their location, UNESCO declares the world heritage sites accessible to everyone from allover the world. Currently, around 850 or more sites have joined the list. A site on this list will be flooded with international tourists thus reflecting on the economy of that community and country. The diversity brought closer home and stories shared between locals and tourists are a good learning avenue.
2. It helps protect and preserve these sites: By informing the international community about the existence of and significance of these sites, UNESCO instills in people the need to protect these sites both for ourselves and future generations. This is even more practical for the world endangered sites. Alongside UNESCO, The World Heritage Convention maintains a list of sites that risk being lost to a variety of circumstances; may be poaching, natural disasters, excessive tourism, urbanization or even war.
A site on this list enjoys increased international vigilance and routine preservation efforts in addition to more funding from UNESCO. By 2015, the list had 48 endangered sites, most of which were in the war-prone Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. By then, two properties had been delisted because of a proven impossibility to preserve them.
The World Heritage Convention set 10 criteria, six natural and four cultural, of which a site must meet one to be considered for addition into the list. Cultural heritage should be those that posses exceptional art or some historical cultural importance.
Natural heritage sites are to posses unparalleled beauty or some unmatched natural phenomenon, rich in indigenous biodiversity, or bear significance in the Earth’s history.

According to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre website: “To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria:
- To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius
- To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design
- To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared
- To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates significant stage(s) in human history
- To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change
- To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
- To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance
- To be outstanding examples representing major stages of Earth’s history, including the record of life, significant ongoing geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features
- To be outstanding examples representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals
- To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
As a result of UNESCO’s criteria, World Heritage sites include natural wonders such as Mount Fuji and Yellowstone National Park, as well as architectural marvels including Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Great Wall of China.
Easter Island, Chile
Perhaps one of the most iconic World Heritage sites is Easter Island. This remote Chilean island is famous for its 887 monumental statues, called moai. Found along the coast, often in formation, the moai were created by the island’s earliest inhabitants. The first humans on the island of Rapa Nui (the Polynesian name for Easter Island) are believed to have arrived in approximately 300-400 A.D.
The tall statues stand at an average height of 13 feet and weigh 13 tonnes.

In the near future, Philip's Palace and a second museum will be added to the site's attractions.
Meteora is one of Greece's best-known sites and perhaps its most picturesque, famous for its series of eremite monasteries, set in seemingly impossible locations on the tops of steep and tall rock pillars overlooking the fertile Plain of Thessaly. Monastic activity here began in the 11th century, but reached a peak of activity in the 14th to 16th. In Meteora's heyday, there were 24 monasteries, of which four are still occupied. They are fascinating not just for their incredible setting, but also for the fine examples of 15th and 16th century fresco paintings preserved in the chapels and attendant buildings.
The Archaeological Site of Philippi, another visit on From the Slopes of Mt Olympus to the Shores of the Aegean, is a candidate for future UNESCO listing (I believe it will be Greece's next site to reach that stage), as is Mt. Olympus itself. Intrepid visitors, as long as they are male, could also add a visit to the Monks' Republic of Mt. Athos, another listed site.
Surprisingly enough, our Crete tour includes no World Heritage sites so far. The reason is a deplorable one: none of the island's remarkable cultural, archaeological and historical heritage has been granted UNESCO recognition yet. Over time, that might change: the Minoan Palaces of Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros and Kydonia are candidates, as are the Venetian fortifications of Iraklio, Rethymno and Chania.
The same lack applies to our Cruising to the Cyclades, but is certainly not a reflection of a lack of fascinating places to see. No applications have been made so far, but I foresee that the Bronze Age city of Akrotiri on Santorini will one day receive UNESCO recognition.
Our second great island cruise, Cruising the Dodecanese, is a different affair. Three places along this grand itinerary have already been added into UNESCO's World Heritage list.

State of Conservation
|Site||State Party||Year||Threats*||Danger List|
|acropolis, athensAcropolis, Athens||greece Greece||2004||Housing, Interpretative and visitation facilities,||No|
|acropolis, athensAcropolis, Athens||greece Greece||2003||Housing,||No|
|acropolis, athensAcropolis, Athens||greece Greece||2002||Housing,||No|
|acropolis, athensAcropolis, Athens||greece Greece||2001||Housing,||No|
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

Professor Frederico Mayor, UNESCO's General Manager, put together a scientific team of 7 specialists, to select 21 Monumental World Heritage finalists, created before the 21st century. The 7 specialists were: Cessar Pelli, former General Manager of UNESCO, Harry Seidle, Zaha Habid, Tadao Ando, Yung Ho Chang, and Aziz Tayod.
The criteria were social impact, culture, dimension, history and politics, hence the 21 finalists:
- The Acropolis of Athens - Alhambra, in Spain - Ankor, in Cambodia - The Pyramid of Chichen Itza, in Mexico - Christ Redeemer, in Brazil - The Roman Colosseum, in Italy - The Statues of Easter Island, in Chile - The Eiffel Tower, in France - The Great Wall, in Chine - Hagia Sophia, in Turkey - The Kiyomizu Temple, in Japan - Machu Picchu, in Peru - The Neuschwanstein Castle, in Germany - Petra, in Jordan - The Pyramids of Giza, in Egypt - The Statue of Liberty, in the United States of America - Stonehenge, in the United Kingdom - The Kremlin and Red Square, in Russia - The Sydney Opera House, in Australia - The Taj Mahal, in India - Timbuktu, in Mali
19 million people have voted so far, by sms, telephone and internet, contributing to the reconstruction of the Buddha's of Bamiyan in Afghanistan, which is the destiny of half of the election's revenues.
History is in the making, and it is your chance to be apart of it!
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The Acropolis is probably the most important ancient Greek monument. This 2,500-year-old ruin city dominates Athens from the top of Acropolis Hill. And although the Parthenon Temple with its landmark columns is the most famous monument on the hill, it is only one of the many treasures the Acropolis has to offer. After years of restorations, the palaces, columns and sculptures once again reflect the city’s splendour, power and wealth.
The Acropolis is much more than a world-famous monument. It once was a city composed of many buildings but over the centuries it suffered greatly, both at the hands of its enemies and of archaeologists. The Byzantines transformed the temples into churches, the Turkish governor used the Erechtheion sanctuary to house his harem, and 200 years ago the British bought up large quantities of marble sculptures. Fortunately, many structures have since then been restored. Take a stroll through this amazing birthplace of Western civilization.

One of the best-known historical sites in Athens, the Parthenon is an ancient Greek temple on the Athenian Acropolis, dedicated to the goddess Athena during the fifth century BC. Its decorative sculptures are considered to be some of the high points of classical Greek art, an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, democracy and Western civilization.
The Parthenon replaced an older temple of Athena, which historians call the Pre-Parthenon or Older Parthenon, that was demolished in the Persian invasion of 480 BC. Since 1975 numerous large-scale restoration projects have been undertaken to preserve remaining artefacts and ensure its structural intergrity.
THEATRE OF HERODES ATTICUS
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, known as the “Herodeon” is a stone Roman theatre structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens, on the Dionysiou Aereopagitou Street. It is considered to be one of the best open air theatres in the world.
ANCIENT CEMETERY OF KERAMEIKOS
The cemetery of ancient Athens was continuously in use from the 9th century BC until the Roman times. It is an extraordinary archeological site in 11 acres, filled with tombstones and statues of astonishing design and quality.
The archeological site of Kerameikos is located at the end of Ermou street, on the northwest of the Acropolis.
Overlooking the Acropolis and the Parthenon, the Philopappos Monument is an ancient Greek mausoleum, a square white-marble construction situated on he Philopappou Hill. It was dedicated to Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, a prince from the Kingdom of Commagene.
ANCIENT AGORA STOA OF ATTALOS
The Stoa of Attalos was a stoa in the Agora of Athens. It was built by and named after King Attalos II of Pergamon, who ruled betwe4en 159 BC and 138 BC. It currently houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora.
The collection of the museum includes clay, bronze and glass objects, sculptures, coins and inscriptions from the 7th to the 5th century BC, as well as pottery of the Byzatine period and the Turkish conquest.

How does a Place become a World Heritage Site?
To become a World Heritage Site, a place must be considered of universal interest and must meet one of the selection criteria produced by UNESCO. The State Party of a country, which in the case of the UK is the Government, compiles a tentative list of sites to be considered for inscription. They are then evaluated by either ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments and Sites) for cultural sites and / or IUCN (World Conservation Union) for natural sites. The sites are then presented to the World Heritage Committee who make the final decision.
The nomination process involves the production of documents to demonstrate that the property is of “Outstanding Universal Value”, and a management plan to show that mechanisms are in place for the future protection and conservation of the site.
For further information:
What is the Purpose?
The cultural heritage and the natural heritage are among the priceless and irreplaceable possessions, not only of each nation, but also of mankind as a whole. The loss, through deterioration or disappearance, of any of these most prized possessions constitutes an impoverishment of the heritage of all the peoples in the world. Parts of that heritage, because of their exceptional qualities, can be considered to be of outstanding universal value and as such worthy of special protection against the dangers, which increasingly threaten them.
The purpose is to identify the sites worthy of the status of World Heritage Sites and then ensure their protection and conservation.
What are the criteria for a site becoming a World Heritage Site?

Athens Acropolis - the rock star of ancient Athens Greece
"Athens Acropolis – learn why everyone rushes to visit Acropolis Greece, home of the Athens Parthenon dedicated to Athena Goddess"
The only problem with world famous cultural sights like the Athens Acropolis is this: we have a feeling we’ve seen them before.
Throughout our life we’re being bombed with images of the famous Athens rock: we’ve seen it in the text books, art monographs, postcards, travel brochures… and not to mention that the Athens Parthenon, the most important temple on the Athens Acropolis, is the most copied building in the world.
That’s why when we finally get to the real Acropolis it all looks somewhat familiar. We kind of almost take it for granted. To avoid this and to really appreciate the majesty of Athens Greece attractions like the Athens Acropolis, it helps to put it into an historical perspective.
First of all, think about this: Athens Acropolis was first inhabited 5000 years BC. And now think that the Parthenon, Propylaea and Erecheteion were all built 5 centuries before Jesus Christ was even born, and discovering America sounded like the wildest science fiction story. And they’re all still standing up for you to see to this day!
But apart from that, besides looking at its physical appearance only, when visiting the Athens Acropolis, you will be visiting the symbol of many things important to Western Civilization in general. Acropolis Greece is where some of the famous myths took place, earliest cults started, democracy developed… it is a place that has been inspiring the world for two and a half millennia, a symbol of free spirit, philosophy and architecture.
Dining-room table tidbit: The Athens Acropolis was also known as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man, Cecrops, the first Athenian king.
Although, when we say Acropolis, we automatically think of the Athens Acropolis, it’s important to know that every Greek town of that time had its own acropolis, for instance, you might have a chance to also see the Lindos, Rhodes acropolis as part of your Mediterranean cruise.
An Acropolis was a citadel of each town, built on a naturally elevated ground for the purpose of defence.

You can also start from The Review of the Seizure of the Parthenon sculptures, or read The Memorandum of the Greek Government for The Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles. But there is more to discover. This website brings you the key concepts associated with the Acropolis sculptures and the reasons why they should be reunited in Athens. You can find links to official pages and initiatives about the issue, as well as resources for your research as a traveller, student or academic! Welcome to AcropolisofAthens.gr!
UNESCO. (1987). WH Committee: Report of 11th Session, Paris 1987. Paris: UNESCO / World Heritage Center. Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/archive/repcom87.htm#404
UNESCO. (2006). Acropolis, Athens: (Cycle 1) Section II Summary. UNESCO / World Heritage Center. Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/404/documents/

Athens (//; Modern Greek: Αθήνα, Athína; IPA: [aˈθina]; Katharevousa: Ἀθῆναι, Athinai; Ancient Greek: Ἀθῆναι, Athēnai) is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state. A centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum, it is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, largely due to the impact of its cultural and political achievements during the 5th and 4th centuries BC in later centuries on the rest of the then known European continent. Today a cosmopolitan metropolis, modern Athens is central to economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece. In 2008, Athens was ranked the world's 32nd richest city by purchasing power and the 25th most expensive in a UBS study.
The city of Athens has a population of 655,780 (796,442 back in 2004) within its administrative limits and a land area of 39 km2 (15 sq mi). The urban area of Athens (Greater Athens and Greater Piraeus) extends beyond the administrative municipal city limits, with a population of 3,074,160 (in 2011),over an area of 412 km2 (159 sq mi). According to Eurostat, the Athens Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) is the 7th most populous LUZ in the European Union (the 4th most populous capital city of the EU) with a population of 4,013,368 (in 2004). Athens is also the southernmost capital on the European mainland.
The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all being the Parthenon, considered a key landmark of early Western civilization. The city also retains Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of Ottoman monuments.
Athens is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Acropolis of Athens and the medieval Daphni Monastery.

Athens, the capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery: as one of the world's oldest cities, its recorded history spans at least 3,000 years. The Greek capital has a population of 3.81 million (in 2011).
A bustling and cosmopolitan metropolis, Athens is central to economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece. It is rapidly becoming a leading business centre in the European Union.
Athens is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, largely due to the impact of its cultural and political achievements during the 5th and 4th centuries BC on the rest of the, then known, European continent. The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by a number of ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all being the Parthenon on the Acropolis, widely considered a key landmark of early Western civilization. The city also retains a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of remaining Ottoman monuments projecting the city's long history across the centuries. Landmarks of the modern era are also present, dating back to 1830 (the establishment of the independent Greek state), and taking in the Greek Parliament (19th century) and the Athens Trilogy (Library, University, and Academy).
The establishment of Athens as a city dates back to mythological times. The city’s history is still evident throughout Athens in the form of many Ancient, Roman, Byzantine and modern monuments. Today’s capital integrates the ancient and medieval history into the contemporary era. Monuments can be found all around the city center, side by side with contemporary constructions such as buildings, roads and train stations.
The Parthenon, a monument that constitutes the symbol of Greece worldwide, has been standing on the “sacred rock” of Athens, the Acropolis, for thousands of years. The Parthenon along with the other monuments of the Acropolis, are all excellent pieces of art, reflecting the Classical period and the Golden Age of ancient Athens in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C.
The Acropolis Museum
Designed by Bernard Tchumi in collaboration with Michalis Photiadis; the sparkling new museum, since its opening in June 2009, has already become the city’s top attraction and is expected to become one of the most visited and “must see” museums worldwide.

I always find myself awed by grandiose edifices. Beholding the Parthenon up close, unfailingly grandiose despite its ruined state blended with a construction site, made the visit to Acropolis instantly worthwhile.
Built in the 5th century BC to honor goddess Athena, the patron of the city, the temple survived rise and fall of empires and had reincarnations as a church and a mosque, until grave damage was done to it at the end of the 17th century AD during hostilities between the Ottoman Empire and the Venetian Republic. In the early 19th century, representatives of the British Empire removed almost all of the then-remaining marble statuary, leaving the grand temple as an empty shell, which nonetheless retains the status of a signature piece of Doric architecture.
Acropolis, of course, is not just about the Parthenon. The monumental complex is an enduring symbol of the classical antique civilization that gave birth to many forms of art and schools of thought that we value today.
One of the other important monuments in Acropolis is the Erechtheion, which is just a few decades younger than the Parthenon.
The temple is associated with a number of sacred relics of the Athenians, including the olive tree that sprouted when Athena struck the rock with her spear in her successful rivalry with Poseidon for the city. The present-day tree, seen by the side of Erechtheion, is a nice link to the legend, even though it was only planted a hundred years ago.
“The Porch of the Maidens”, with six caryatids supporting the roof, is easily among the most eye-catching features of the Acropolis. The figures are all replicas, though; the originals are on display at the Acropolis Museum.
There are several other monuments on the hilltop and the southern slope of Acropolis. These are the remains of the temple of Asclepios.
One of the two major theaters, Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
A statue near the Theatre of Dionysus.
Being in the center of the ancient city, Acropolis offers elevated perspectives on all other points of interest in Athens, such as this familiar to us temple of Olympian Zeus.
The building in this perspective is the new Acropolis Museum, which is still less than 10 years old.
It requires a separate fee to enter and undoubtedly has a lot to offer, but we chose to leave it off our itinerary.

Walking past the Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Olympian Zeus and the ancient Angora I realized how similar Athens is to Rome. I had been to Rome three years ago and the similarities between the two in terms of architecture is obvious. After all, the Roman empire was influenced by the classical Greek culture. The ruins in Athens are 7000 years old.
Greece is a cradle of western civilization. Everywhere you turn, you will find ruins that are thousands of years old. If you love art, history or archeology, you'll love Greece.
At the Acropolis I soaked up on the gentle peace and the ancientness of the place which has seen life inhabited as far as the 4th millenium BC. From here you can look out at the sea (so blue and you now know why it's called the Aegean Sea) and down on the city, with the ancient Agora and Plaka hugging it's foothill. Acropolis means "city on a hill". As you look at this architectural wonder you are struck by the scale of this place steeped in history as you walk into the foot steps of the ancient Greeks . It's location definitely makes it the crowning glory of Athens. It stands above the city of Athens, an ancient citadel with some of the most significant monuments of global civilization. You can visit the holy places of Plato, Pericles and Aristotle, where democracy and philosophy were born.
Parthenon - It is the central and the largest of the Acropolis temples and is dedicated to Athena, the patron of the city. There are a total of 50 columns still remaining. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Since it has been built, the Parthenon has been used as a temple, a church, as a fortress and a gun powder storage facility. It was destroyed in a fire, in an explosion in 1687 and then looted by invaders. Standing in front of this monument I felt transported into ancient Greece. The feeling was very surreal.
Temple of Dionysos - is on the southern slope of the Acropolis and a site of two performance venues. The wide semi circle of audience seats is cut out of natural rocks and can seat about 5500 people.

Athens Acropolis facts:
Height: 150m (490 ft)
Area: 3 hectares
Proclaimed as the pre-eminent monument on the European Cultural Heritage list of monuments on 26th March 2007
Short history of Athens Acropolis
As mentioned before, the first settlements on the Athens Acropolis date back to Neolithic times, i.e. 5000 years ago.
In Mycenaean times, there was a palace here and a Cyclopean massive circuit wall was built and served as the main defence for the acropolis until the 5th Ct AD.
Before Classical times there were a couple of temples standing at the Acropolis, including the Older Parthenon which was still under construction when the Persians sacked the city in 480 BC and burnt and looted the building.
After Athens’ victory over Persia, the Golden Age of Athens followed, during which the classical leader Pericles commissioned the rebuilding of the temples and buildings on the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike.
The two architects responsible for the construction of the Parthenon were Ictinus and Callicrates, while Phidias was in charge of sculpture.
In Classical times, the power was moved down to the Agora and the Acropolis became a purely religious site.
During the Hellenistic and Roman times, many of the buildings in the area of the Acropolis were fixed and with every new usurper new monuments were built and added to the complex.
The last important ancient constructions were the Temple of Rome and Augustus during the Julio-Claudian period and the grand Odeon, the stone amphitheatre with a capacity of 5,000, built by Herodes Atticus.
Dining-room table tidbit: Through history the Athens Acropolis became the fortress of a medieval town, the Athens Parthenon was turned into a Byzantine church, crusader cathedral, an Ottoman mosque, then a warehouse to store gunpowder which is the reason the Parthenon doesn’t have a roof anymore. Namely, it was destroyed when the gunpowder exploded during the Venetian siege.
What were the main monuments of the Athens Acropolis
Here’s a what-is-what list and a plan of ruins that used to, or still stand, at the Athens Acropolis.
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|The World Heritage List
On the UNESCO World Heritage List are currently 690 properties, ranging from complete inner cities (Rome) to islands, churches, mosques, castles and pyramids. Each of them was submitted to the World Heritage Committee by a national government, because they are considered to be of outstanding universal value.
The meaning of this universal value is to be taken broadly. The Heritage List features not only monuments of human achievement, like the inner city of Rome, the Pyramids of Egypt, the temples of Angkor in Cambodia and the Taj Mahal in India.
The list also features places that were the scene of human folly:The Auschwitz Concentration camp in Poland, Robben Island in South-Africa and the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan. It is in this group that the Madonna of Nagasaki deserves its own, rightful place.
UNESCO World Heritage
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The Neolithic "city" of Çatalhöyük was renowned for its extraordinary arts and crafts, and the earliest finds were from 7,400 BC. The settlement was an international key to unlocking the basis of civilisation and agriculture. The social organisation of the Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük and its urban plan are believed to represent the ideals of equality. Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2012.
"Pergamon and Its Multi-layered Cultural Landscape", the only capital city from the Hellenistic period, inholding the layers of Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman and Ottoman periods have been inscribed to the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2014.
The Areas, insribed to the World Heritage List consist of nine components; Pergamon City (multi-layered city), Kybele Sanctuary, Ilyas Tepe, Yigma Tepe, İkili Tumuli, Tavşan Tepe, X Tepe, A Tepe and Maltepe Tumulus. Ancient Pergamon settlement at the top of the Kale Hill, the capital of Hellenistic Attalid Dynasty, represents the outstanding example of urban planning of the Hellenistic period with its monumental architecture. Temple of Athena, , the steepest theater of the Hellenistic period, library, Great Altar of Pergamon, Dionysus Temple, agora, gymnasiums and high pressured water pipe-line system are the most outstanding examples of this planning system and architecture in the period. Great Altar of Pergamon and many other works produced by Pergamon School of Sculpture represent the climax in the art of sculpture in Hellenistic period.
Bursa, as the first capital of Ottoman Empire located on the north-western slopes of Uludağ Mountain and Cumalıkızık founded as a waqf village during the same period have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.

There are over 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to choose from, all rich in history, culture and architecture. The United Nations selects these sites based on extensive research of historical, cultural and scientific importance. We’ve selected some of our favorite ones, which also happen to be breathtakingly beautiful and popular tourist destinations.
Here are some of the world’s most beautiful UNESCO sites to visit.
30.) Taj Mahal
The illustrious Taj Mahal is a palace built by the Mughal emperor to bury Shah Jahan to bury his favorite wife.
29.) Machu Picchu
The Machu Picchu is one of the biggest attractions in all of South America and all of the world. It was one of the biggest empires of the Inca and it reaches up to 8,000 feet high.
28.) Old Havana
The architecture that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time keeps plus the historical significance of the Cuban city center is why this is one of the World UNESCO site.
27.) Pyramids of Giza
The pyramids are a remnant from the powerful Egyptian empire from over 4,500 years ago.
26.) Great Wall
The Great Wall attracts more than ten million travelers a year to see it’s almost otherworldly vastness. The wall stretches for more than 13,000 miles and can be viewed from space.
Location: Athens, Greece
This UNESCO heritage site is the site of one of the biggest historical citadels on earth that housed several ancient culturally significant buildings.
24.) Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre are more than just a beautiful popular tourist destination, these five coastal Italian villages are preserved part of history.
23.) Vatican City
Vatican City is considered the world’s smallest country and has immense religious and historical significance. The country is also home to some of the most ancient art and artifacts from important historical eras like the Renaissance and Baroque era.
22.) Giant’s Causeway
Location: Ireland, United Kingdom
This is one of the most unique UNESCO world heritage sites, the Giant’s Causeway is a compilation of rock formations that are the result of years of volcanic activity.
21.) Chichen Itza
Mexico is home to many ancient ruins that are remnants of empires past; Chichen Itza is one of the best Maya ruins to see in the country.
20.)

The Municipality of Athens (also City of Athens) had a population of 664,046 (in 2011) within its administrative limits, and a land area of 38.96 km2 (15.04 sq mi). The urban area of Athens (Greater Athens and Greater Piraeus) extends beyond its administrative municipal city limits, with a population of 3,090,508 (in 2011) over an area of 412 km2 (159 sq mi). According to Eurostat in 2011, the functional urban area (FUA) of Athens was the 9th most populous FUA in the European Union (the 6th most populous capital city of the EU), with a population of 3.8 million people. Athens is also the southernmost capital on the European mainland.The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all being the Parthenon, considered a key landmark of early Western civilization. The city also retains Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of Ottoman monuments.Athens is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Acropolis of Athens and the medieval Daphni Monastery. Landmarks of the modern era, dating back to the establishment of Athens as the capital of the independent Greek state in 1834, include the Hellenic Parliament and the so-called "architectural trilogy of Athens", consisting of the National Library of Greece, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Academy of Athens. Athens is also home to several museums and cultural institutions, such as the National Archeological Museum, featuring the world's largest collection of ancient Greek antiquities, the Acropolis Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Benaki Museum and the Byzantine and Christian Museum. Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and 108 years later it welcomed home the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Places as diverse and unique as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, and the Acropolis in Greece are examples of the 788 natural and cultural places inscribed on the World Heritage List to date.
Today, the World Heritage concept is so well understood that sites on the list are a magnet for international cooperation and may thus receive financial assistance for heritage conservation projects from a variety of sources.
Tranquil beach in Coiba.
Sites also benefit from the elaboration and implementation of a comprehensive management plan that sets out adequate preservation measures and monitoring mechanisms. In support of these, experts offer technical training to the local site management team.
World Heritage membership also brings an increase in public awareness of the site thus also increasing tourist activities. When these are well planned for and organized, respecting sustainable tourism principles, they can bring important funds to the site and to the local economy.
A key benefit of ratification, particularly for developing countries, is access to the World Heritage Fund. Annually, about US$4 million is made available to assist in identifying, preserving and promoting World Heritage sites.

Greece was elected to the World Heritage Committee together with 11 other countries during the 23rd General Assembly of the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention which met at UNESCO headquarters in Paris this week.
During the session chaired Tebogo Seokolo, ambassador extraordinary and permanent delegate of South Africa to UNESCO, the general assembly elected 12 new members to the World Heritage Committee, namely Greece, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Zambia.
“Greece was elected in the first round as a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the next four years. This is an exceptional distinction for our country,” said Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, adding that it was a result of “hard work and systematic efforts by delegations from the ministries of foreign affairs and culture.
“Our goal is the active protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage – which now has to deal with the effects of the climate crisis – as well as the preservation and strengthening of the universal value of monuments in all geographical regions of the world,” said Mendoni.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Twitter said the government was grateful to the countries that supported Greece’s candidacy.
“Greece has just been elected to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee with 119 votes… Our country is ready to work to promote the protection of the world cultural heritage,” said Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.
The World Heritage Committee is responsible for selecting the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites – including the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger – defines the use of the World Heritage Fund, and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.
The committee consists of representatives from 21 state parties elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a four-year term. These parties vote on decisions and proposals related to the World Heritage Convention and World Heritage List.
Current members of the committee are: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, and Zambia.

Athens. The city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshiped by gods and people, a magical city. The enchanting capital of Greece has always been a birthplace for civilization. It is the city where democracy was born and most of the wise men of ancient times. On this excursion you will be “face to face” Greek capital! It will be our pleasure to guide you to Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that stands in front of Parliament House on Constitution Square, and see the Presidential Mansion that served as the Royal Palace before the country’s monarchy was abolished in 1974. You will see Panathenian Stadium – site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 – and then relax as your coach drives along Panespistimiou, home to Athens’ National Library and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, known locally as Mitropoli.
After seeing the highlights of modern Athens, you’ll step back in time with a tour of Athens’ past. Visit the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus, and then stop at Athens’ crowning glory – the incredible Acropolis of Athens. Built on a rocky hill towering above the city, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Acropolis is a cluster of ancient buildings that acted as a fortress – all reflecting the splendor and wealth of Athens during the 5th century BC.
Highlights of the Acropolis include the Pantheon, the Propylaea gateway and the Temple of Athena Nike – built to represent Athens’ ambition to be the leading Greek city. After spending time at leisure here, you’ll make your way back to your starting point by coach.
If you opt to upgrade your tour to include an entrance ticket to the Athens Acropolis Museum, your guided tour will actually finish here at the Acropolis. After receiving your ticket from your guide, head inside this fascinating museum to see a staggering collection of more than 4,000 artifacts. Highlights include statues from the Archaic period and the impressive Pantheon Hall — dedicated to the history of the famous temple on the peak of the Acropolis.

Athens, city of gods
Diving in a permanent sunbathing, the beautiful city of Athens keeps shining, dominated by a plethora of archaeological remains that crossed the ages. Founded in 800 BC by the goddess Athena or by the hero Theseus (there are several different legends), the capital of Greece is today one of the oldest cities in the world. It has a stunning historic cityscape listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and jealously preserved by its inhabitants.
A democratic and religious capital
The political and cultural cradle of the Mediterranean, Athens also founded the first republic of the history and saw the birth of many philosophers – such as Plato, Socrates and Aristotle (who later wrote the Athenians’ constitution) whose precepts continue to influence our Contemporary societies. At the same time, most Athenians also had religious functions for many centuries – the gods being an integral part of their lives.
The monuments of Athens: prowess of men at gods’ service
In order to honor the gods, many temples and other religious buildings were built by the Athenians. The Acropolis is one of them. This high rocky plateau surrounded by buttresses, was both a citadel and a religious sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Athena. The Athenians built many other temples, including the Parthenon, the Erechtheum and the temple of Athena Nike, as well as other spectacular monuments such as the Propylaea, the theater of Dionysus and the odeon of Herod Atticus. The Acropolis is today one of the most impressive men’s achievements.
Another place not to be missed is the Agora where the Athenians use to meet to debate laws and ideas. On the same site, the temple of the god Hephaestus (5th century) is one of the oldest witnesses of ancient Athens.
Many other vestiges in Athens shows the importance of the Gods during Antiquity. Our team of professional guides has set up tailor-made tours to help you discover these architects and their secrets.

The Castle of Pylos or Niokastro
It was built in 1573 A.D. by the Turks, then it passed to the Venetians and was restored in 1829 by the French Marshal Maison. The head office of the Underwater Archaeology Center is located here. (6 km - 00h.09΄). Read more at pylos.info.
One of the most important and imposing temples of antiquity. The building was erected in the second half of the fifth century B.C. and it is believed to be the work of Iktinos, the architect of the Parthenon. It is the only known temple of antiquity which combines three architectural orders. Read more at whc.unesco.org.
The most important religious and athletic centre in ancient Greece. Its fame rests upon the Olympic games during the classical period. Here, the great sculptor Pheidias crafted the gigantic chryselephantine statue of Zeus, listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The Archaeological Museum of Olympia is one of the most important museums in Greece with many precious exhibits. Read more at whc.unesco.org.
The history of the ruined Byzantine town of Peloponnese begins from the middle of the 13th century when the Franks accomplished the conquest of the Peloponnese. Mystras is a precious source of the historical knowledge, the art and the civilization of the two last centuries of Byzantium. Read more at whc.unesco.org.
Its fame comes mainly from the Asclepieion, the most celebrated healing centre of the Classical World, which, among other buildings, includes the Theatre. It was designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th century B.C. It seats up to 13 000 people and is marveled at for its exceptional acoustics. It is still used for performances today. Read more at ancient.eu.
The centre of the Mycenaean civilization from about 1600 B.C. to about 1100 B.C. In 1874 Heinrich Schliemann undertook a complete excavation. He found the ancient burial vaults with their royal skeletons and spectacular funereal artifacts made of gold. The site has been well- preserved and the admiration of visitors is aroused by the massive ruins of the Cyclopaean walls as well as the many vaulted tombs.

The National Library also forms part of the so-called “Neoclassical Trilogy” of the city of Athens. It consists of three solid parts, out of which the one in the middle, which is also the biggest, houses the reading room. To enter this part, one has to pass through a Doric-style row of columns (designed after the Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora of Thission, which served as its model), after climbing a monumental curved double Renascence style staircase.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the last part of the Neoclassical Trilogy. It was a design of the Danish architect Christian Hansen. The University of Athens in 1932 was officially named National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in honour of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of Greece, after the nation’s independence. Today, this building houses the Rectorate, the Senate, the Great Hall of Ceremonies and important central services. Its forecourt, the Propylaea, is socio-historically significant as it has served as a main site for political rallies and demonstrations by students and other social groups involved in social rights movements.
On the hill of Acropolis we will visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the Parthenon, a temple which is dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although decoration of the building continued until 432 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy, western civilization and one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments.
New Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological site-specific museum, housing more than 3.000 famous artefacts from the Athenian Acropolis, the most significant sanctuary of the ancient city. Architect Bernard Tschumi’s new Acropolis Museum replaced the old Museum on the Rock of the Acropolis.

Parthenon – undoubtedly the rock-star of the Athens Acropolis and one of the most important architectural structures in the world. Read more about it in our article on Athens Parthenon.
2. Old Temple of Athena – archaic temple dedicated to Athena Polias, patron deity of the city. It is possible it was built on top of the remains of the Mycenean palace.
3. Erechtheum – a temple built in the 5th Ct BC, dedicated either to the legendary Greek hero Erichtonius or the legendary kind Erechteus II. Phidias was in charge of its sculpture. On its south side there is the famous "Porch of the Maidens", with six draped female figures (caryatids) as supporting columns. The caryatids that can be seen there today are the casts. The originals have been moved to the New Acropolis Museum to protect them from further destruction by the Athens city smog.
4. Statue of Athena Promachos – at this spot used to stand the gigantic bronze statue (7m high on top of a 2m base) of Athena goddess, patron of Athens, standing with her shield resting upright against her leg, and a spear in her right hand. The statue could be seen from the sea. It was one of the first works of Phidias. It was one of the most famous statues of antiquity. It stood overlooking the city for over 1000 years until it was deported to Constantinople in 465 and finally destroyed by a Christian mob in 1203.
5. Propylaea – the monumental entrance to the flat top of the Acropolis. It was one of the buildings built by Pericles in the 5th Ct. Besides providing security, its role was to create a dramatic first impression before seeing the Parthenon.
Under Frankish occupation (1204-1456) the Propylaia were converted into a residence for the Frankish ruler, and in the Ottoman period (1456-1833) into the Turkish garrison headquarters.
6. Temple of Athena Nike – a small temple dedicated to one of many of Athena goddess’ forms, Victory. The Temple of Athena Nike was an expression of Athens' ambition to be the leading Greek city-state in the Peloponnese.
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Over the course of the next 15 years, money was poured into new transportation infrastructure projects, the restoration of surviving neoclassical buildings, the gentrification of the city's historical center and the renovation of many former industrial areas and the city's coastline. The restoration of charming neoclassical buildings in the city's historical center has been accompanied by the construction of attractive post-modern buildings in newer districts; both of which have begun to improve the aesthetic essence of the city. Athens today is ever evolving, forging a brand new identity for the 21st century.
But, there is a piece of famous architecture in Athens, and it is named The Parthenon. The Parthenon sits at the top of the Acropolis, a very important hill in Athens, which now serves as the city center. The Parthenon was built to honour the goddess Athena/ Athene, patron of Athens and goddess of war, wisdom and crafts. She is a maiden goddess.
Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. While most of the sporting venues were located outside the city proper -in various locations throughout Attica- the entire urban area of Athens underwent major lasting changes that have improved the quality of life for visitors and residents alike. Aside from the excellent transportation infrastructure that was completed in time for the 2004 Olympics (from new freeways to light rail systems), the city's historic center underwent serious renovation. Most notable among the city's facelift projects are the Unification of Archaelogical Sites -which connects the city's classical-era ruins and monuments to each other through a network of pleasant pedestrianized streets- and the restoration of the picturesque neoclassical Thissio and Pláka districts.
Athens first appears on the pages of history around 1400 B.C., at which time it was already a major cultural center of the Mycenaean civilization. The Acropolis and remnants of the Cyclopean Walls attest to its status as a Mycenaean fortress city. In 1200 B.C., many Mycenaean cities were destroyed and resettled by invading bands of Dorians, but Athenian tradition maintains that Athens escaped this fate and retained a "pure Ionian bloodline." Beginning as early as 900 B.C., Athens became a leading trade center within the Greek world, owing to its central location, possession of the heavily fortified Acropolis and its quick access to the sea.

- 1 Why was the Greek Parthenon built?
- 2 What happened to the Acropolis?
- 3 What is the difference between the Parthenon and the Acropolis?
- 4 Why is the Parthenon so important?
- 5 Why was the Parthenon destroyed?
- 6 What is so special about the Parthenon?
- 7 What is the most famous Acropolis?
- 8 Who destroyed Acropolis?
- 9 Did slaves build the Parthenon?
- 10 How much is entry to the Acropolis?
- 11 How much did Lord Elgin pay for the Elgin marbles?
- 12 Who gave Lord Elgin permission to take the marbles?
Why was the Greek Parthenon built?
The Parthenon was the center of religious life in the powerful Greek City-State of Athens, the head of the Delian League. Built in the 5 century B.C., it was a symbol of the power, wealth and elevated culture of Athens. It was the largest and most lavish temple the Greek mainland had ever seen.
What happened to the Acropolis?
There’s no recorded history of what happened at the Acropolis before the Mycenaeans cultivated it during the end of the Bronze Age. In 480 B.C., the Persians attacked again and burned, leveled and looted the Old Parthenon and almost every other structure at the Acropolis.
What is the difference between the Parthenon and the Acropolis?
Acropolis is the area the Parthenon sits on. What’s the difference between Acropolis and the Parthenon? The Acropolis is the high hill in Athens that the Parthenon, an old temple, sits on. Acropolis is the hill and the Parthenon is the ancient structure.
Why is the Parthenon so important?
Why is the Parthenon important, special and famous? The Parthenon is so special because first of all is the symbol of Athens democracy. It was built after the victory on the Persians who occupied Athens in 480 BC. It was built to celebrate the victory and Athens political, economic and cultural superiority.
Why was the Parthenon destroyed?
On 26 September 1687 Morosini fired, one round scoring a direct hit on the powder magazine inside the Parthenon.

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UNESCO, United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization is an agency of the UN (United Nation). And its headquarter is in Paris, capital of France.
The main task of this organization is to promote education, culture and science among people of the world.
It has 193 members and 11 associate members.
It also declares various heritage sites that need to be preserved. As these sites represent the cultures of different nations.
In India, UNESCO has also declared 37 sites
Indian history is full of cultural and heritage sites, here since Indus valley civilization culture is flourishing and needs preservation.
UNESCO helps in many ways preserving our golden culture.
Our cultural value mainly contains paintings, Architecture, Poetry, and Natural vegetation which represent the true face of our culture.
What UNESCO has given definition is the place on earth that enhances the universal value of humanity
heritage sites are the past which we one can see or observe in present.
Under international treaties, these sites are irreplaceable and unique sites.
Criteria for listing sites among World Heritage Sites as follow
1. It has to be a masterpiece and should represent culture.
2. Should represent human values over a period of time and architectural design, unique town planning or designs.
3. The site should contain signs of civilization that is living or has lived in the past.
4. A building must have extraordinarily built design. Besides, it should also represent the history of the evolution of human age during its time interval.
Criteria for Natural sites
1. Natural sites must have diverse species and natural beauties.
2. Should contain symbols of earth natural changes, proofs of lives, current geographical changes
3. Especially, if it contains endangered species or natural habitat it fulfils the requirement.
Benefits in listing as a world heritage site
Gets recognized all over the world. And along with it environmentalists, NGOs pushes money to save these site.
Tourism also increases, national as well as at the international level. Which helps government generating revenues and employment.
countries governments, signatories of the Geneva Convention, who are bound to protect natural habitats and poaching also take part in saving these sites.

Have you ever walked across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco? Taken a picture by the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Climbed the Great Wall in China? Explored the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia? Or traveled to the Egyptian pyramids? Besides being popular tourist destinations, these sites are also World Heritage sites.
What is a World Heritage site you ask?
It’s a natural or man-made structure or place that has been determined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as culturally important and something that should be protected. In other words, this group has decided that these sites need some extra attention and it would be a shame if we didn’t all do our best to make sure they’re around for generations to come (that’s your kids and their kids and so on!).
In July, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee met in Krakow, Poland to decide which of the thirty-three nominated sites would be added to the list of World Heritage site. Twenty-one sites were added to the existing 1,052 sites on the list.
So, what were some of these sites? Here are just a few that we couldn’t resist sharing:
Turkey: The city of Aphrodisias and the marble quarries near the city.
China: The pedestrian-only island of Kulangsu (also known as Gulangyu)
Georgia: The Gelati Monastery played an important role in science and education.
Croatia, Italy, Montenegro: Venetian Works of Defence between 15th and 17th Centuries included a number of forts to protect the area from possible enemy attacks.

Hospitable Greeks helped us organize our trip to Athens. We are very grateful to Yiannis Yiannakakis, head of Athens Walking Tours travel agency. In response to our "cry for help" in obtaining photography permits, he and his colleagues not only offered support in this tricky business and secured official permits for all requested locations, he also helped us with accommodations, transportation, and logistics, absorbing considerable portion of our expenses. Traveling the world, we have never met such generous hosts before.
Additional information about our hospitable guides is available here.
Being one of the oldest cities in the world Athens was first mentioned in 15th century BC. Athens is called the "cradle of civilization" — it's the birthplace of democracy, western philosophy, political science, literature, theater, and the Olympics.
Athens is the land of Gods. According to ancient Greeks' beliefs, the city was a battleground where Athena, goddess of wisdom, fought with Poseidon, lord of seas. Athena emerged victorious and the city was named after her. However, offended Poseidon had his revenge by making the area waterless. Of course, this story is only one of many great ancient Greek myths, but the fact remains that water shortages plague the city to this very day. Moreover, hot Athens weather, probably, makes Greeks wish for a different outcome of the legendary battle.
For centuries Athens has been an important cultural center and a large powerful city. Many Athens landmarks have survived to this day, and the most famous of them, without a doubt, is the Acropolis. Actually, the word "acropolis" simply means "upper city" or "a high place" — such places were used to build temples for patron deity and could be found in almost any Greek settlement. But it was the Acropolis of Athens that became the famous landmark of the world and a symbol of Greece, just like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Kremlin in Moscow.
In ancient times (650 — 480 BC) numerous temples and sculptures of Greek deities were located here on a 300x130 meters rocky spur. Later, during the Mycenaean period (15-18th century BC) the Acropolis served as a fortified royal residence. Temples were built during peacetime or destroyed if the city was at war.

Our Exploring the Peloponnese tour is an in-depth experience of its remarkable beauty and variety. Currently, that itinerary includes no less than five UNESCO World Heritage sites!
The Archaeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns
These are the two best-preserved of the great Mycenaean citadels surrounding the Plain of Argos. Linked with the mythology of the Homeric heroes and of Heracles, the quintessential hero of the Greek mainland, they were the incredibly well-defended centres of the palatial civilisation we call Mycenaean, thriving between 1500 and 1200 BC. Complex gates, underground cisterns, the so-called palaces, enormous tombs in their vicinity, and many other features make them first-rate sites, expressions of a still poorly-understood ancient culture.
To this day, their remains are jaw-droppingly monumental and highly evocative – but hard to understand without an expert guide(!). On our tour, we bring them to life and help you understand their significance, helped by the superb accompanying museums at Nafplio and at Mycenae itself.
The Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidauros
Near the shores of the Saronic Gulf, this is a place renowned for its peaceful and serene atmosphere, for its setting in a particularly peaceful and lovely Mediterranean landscape, with the scent of pine trees wafting across the site, but especially for its ancient theatre. The latter is considered the most beautiful and most perfectly proportioned of its kind, creating a strong sense of focus, helped by the superb acoustics, and an impression of harmony that belies its enormous size: it seats over 14,000. The remains of the nearby sanctuary, dedicated to Asklepios, the God of Healing, are also fascinating, showing the structure and functions of an ancient health resort.
The Archaeological Site of Olympia
One of antiquity's most famous places, Olympia is the site of a major panhellenic (all-Greek) sanctuary dedicated to Zeus and locale of the original Olympic Games. Its remains, mostly from the 7th century BC to the 5th AD, are extremely interesting, making it easy to imagine the place in its heyday.

When people talk about visiting Greece, it seems like they go straight to talking about beautiful islands with all white buildings and serene blue seas. For me, my trip to Greece would not have been complete without the three days I spent in the capitol city: Athens. Athens is an incredible city and full of so much history. It’s insane to me that some people might visit Greece and skip this amazing city! There are so many great parts of Athens. Its history, the monuments, the food… Athens is incredible and eveyone should add it to their upcoming travel itineraries!
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Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities with its history dating back over 3,000 years. Back before the unification of Greece, the city-state of Athens was known as a center for the arts, culture, and philosophy. Home to philosophers like Plato and Socrates and the birthplace of Democracy, the history of Athens is rich and has influenced all of our lives in some way. As a history buff, this was one of the main things that drew me in.
Athens is also the birthplace of the Olympics both in their ancient and modern iterations. It seems like you see history at every turn in the city. You can see the Acropolis from almost anywhere(more on that in a minute). You can make your way to the Panathenaic Stadium, where the opening ceremony of the first modern olympics was held. It is also the only stadium in the world that is built entirely from marble!
It seems that everywhere you go in the city you can see the Acropolis nestled high above the city. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s clear that the Acropolis is important, but it’s also incredibly beautiful. On your hike up to the top you pass the Theatre of Dionysus, then at the top you get to see The Parthenon, the Erechtheum, and sweeping views of the entire city!
Built over 2000 years ago, the Acropolis has definitely seen better days, but if you want to see renderings of what it looked like in its prime, you can visit the amazing Acropolis Museum after you come back down.

The most outstanding contribution to the appearance of the Acropolis was made in 447 — 438 BC by Ictinus and Callicrates, architects who built the Parthenon, a giant temple in honor of the patron deity of these lands — the virgin goddess Athena Parthenos. Despite the fact that the Parthenon is in a rather poor condition, its facade with columns is the most famous landmark of Greece.
The Parthenon's meticulous design, thought out right to the smallest details, which are completely invisible to the outside observer, creates an interesting optical illusion. The temple seems perfectly rectilinear, but in fact its contours don't have any straight lines. For example, the corner columns are not circular in the cross-section and thicker than others in the diameter. Otherwise they would seem thinner, but thanks to this technique all columns visually look the same.
There has always been a struggle for the Acropolis during the centuries of its existence. When Christianity came to Greece the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church of Virgin Mary, and the statue of Athena Parthenos was moved to Constantinople. In the 15th century, after the conquest of Greece by the Turks, the church was turned into a mosque with attached minarets, and one of the temples of the Acropolis, the Erechtheion, served as harem for the Turkish pasha.
In the 17th century the entire central part of the Parthenon was destroyed by a cannonball shot from a Venetian ship. After that persistent Venetians broke several sculptures while trying to remove them. In the beginning of 19th century Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, took everything that was possible to take: from friezes to caryatids (and Greece is still trying to persuade Britain to return the monuments back to where they belong). In addition to that Turks were constantly sapping the Acropolis in order to blow it up. They did not succeed, but during one of the ensuing battles Turkish cannonball heavily damaged the Erechtheion temple.
Only at the end of the 19th century the Acropolis finally saw some peace (with the exception of museum staff strikes). Its ancient appearance was restored where possible, some of its original bas-reliefs and sculptures are now in museums of London, Paris and Athens, and those sculptures that we see outdoor nowadays are copies.

When you visit Athens, you must see the worlds most inspirational building: the iconic Parthenon. This temple dedicated to Athena has inspired the architecture of public buildings, banks and edifices around the world. Found at the top of the Acropolis, the Parthenon rewards those with comfortable footwear, a sturdy stride and a determination to see this glorious edifice. No matter how many times youve seen this temple in photographs, youll not be prepared for the sheer grandeur of it in person.
Considered to be one of the most important surviving buildings of classical Greece and the most exquisite of Doric temples, the Parthenon has perplexed architects, historians, archaeologists and reconstruction engineers alike. Currently buttressed with scaffolding, it will take your breath away, whether you visit it in the morning, in the heat of the day or at night with the sun setting behind it.
To see important artefacts and friezes from this temple, go down to the Acropolis Museum. For a complete history of the area, visit the National Archaeology Museum. For an intact Doric temple, visit the nearby Temple of Haphaestus.
This is a conveniently situated apartment in an upscale area, next to the Hilton hotel. Built in the 1930's, this 110 square meters apartment is a fine example of the Bauhaus architecture of Athens. Tall ceilings, unique architectural features, lots of windows, spa …see more
The apartment is located in Acropolis area one of the most fashionable areas of Athens in the most beautiful pedestrian street.
The apart is within walking distance to the Acropolis Rock, a few meters from the Ancient Theater of Dionysus, the Herodion Ancient Odeon and …see more
Spacious, luxurius house
In the heart of Athens historical centre,just across the New Acropolis Musuem ,only 50 m away from the Partenon and Acropolis 's entrance.
Next to Herodium Odeon and the Acropolis archaeological sites.
In walking distance from the Acropolis …see more
We call our apartment KA7.
This apartment is located in a residential building and it is minutes walk away from the Acropolis museum. It has two bedrooms, one living room, a fully equipped kitchen, one bathroom and all modern cons including free WiFi.

The aim of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention is to protect valuable cultural and natural sites around the world. Verla was named a World Heritage site due to its status as a unique and culturally and historically significant example of an industrial settlement from the turn of the 20th century.
The UNESCO World Heritage Convention
UNESCO, founded in 1945, is an educational, scientific and cultural organisation and a specialised agency of the United Nations. Its purpose is to promote peace, reduce poverty and contribute to sustainable development and intercultural dialogue by promoting cooperation between nations through the use of science, education and culture.
The UNESCO World Heritage Convention is one of the most well-known international conventions. The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted in 1972. Finland ratified the convention in 1987. The purpose of the convention is to safeguard the preservation of valuable cultural and environmental heritage worldwide and protect it from destruction and decay. Around the world, 191 nations have committed to honouring the convention. As of July 2017, there are World Heritage sites in 167 different countries.
The prime catalyst for the World Heritage Convention was a major international effort in 1959–1968 to rescue the Abu Simbel temples in Egypt, which were threatened by the rising waters of the Nile due to the construction of a dam. The rescue operation awakened a strong international urge to protect the world’s irreplaceable cultural heritage.
The World Heritage Convention is based on a concern for safeguarding the world’s endangered cultural and environmental heritage for future generations. Its mission is to demonstrate the value of the world’s most significant cultural heritage sites and to preserve them through international cooperation. World Heritage is a matter of the common cultural and environmental heritage of the entire human race.
Criteria for Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites
In order to be included in the World Heritage List, a cultural heritage site must be regarded as a masterpiece of human creativity or bear an exceptional testimony as to an existing or already extinct culture. For example, the site can be a building type that represents a significant historical era or illustrates the traditional settlements of a certain culture. It can also be associated with events, living traditions, ideologies, religions, beliefs or artistic and written works.
An environmental heritage site, on the other hand, could reveal something about an important developmental phase in the history of the Earth itself or be an example of ongoing ecological or biological change.

|Construction started||447 BC|
|Destroyed||Partially on 26 September 1687|
|Height||13.72 m (45.0 ft)|
|Other dimensions||Cella: 29.8 by 19.2 m (98 by 63 ft)|
|Size||69.5 by 30.9 m (228 by 101 ft)|
|Design and construction|
|Other designers||Phidias (sculptor)|
The Parthenon (; Ancient Greek: Παρθενών; Modern Greek: Παρθενώνας) is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC although decoration of the building continued until 432 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered the zenith of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and western civilization, and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure.
The Parthenon itself replaced an older temple of Athena, which historians call the Pre-Parthenon or Older Parthenon, that was destroyed in the Persian invasion of 480 BC. The temple is archaeoastronomically aligned to the Hyades. While a sacred building dedicated to the city's patron goddess, the Parthenon was actually used primarily as a treasury. For a time, it served as the treasury of the Delian League, which later became the Athenian Empire. In the 5th century AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
After the Ottoman conquest, it was turned into a mosque in the early 1460s. On 26 September 1687, an Ottoman ammunition dump inside the building was ignited by Venetian bombardment. The resulting explosion severely damaged the Parthenon and its sculptures.

East meets West and classic meets contemporary in this iconic European capital. Athens is the crown jewel of Greece and a fascinating city for any visitor.
The history of Athens is world-renowned. Ancient attractions such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, Agora and Dionysus Theatre, created during the Greek Golden Age, have influenced architecture throughout the Western world.
The Athenian Acropolis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is instantly recognisable. Sitting high above Athens on the Acropolis Rock, this 5th-century site and its majestic temples were created to pay tribute to the gods and demonstrate the supremacy of Ancient Greece. It continues to impress today, but make sure you visit early in the day to avoid the burn of the scorching summer sun.
Entering the Acropolis via the towering columns of the Poplyaia, you won’t fail to be impressed. On your way, you’ll see the unmissable Parthenon or ‘Temple of the Virgin,’ a famous national symbol, dominating the Athens skyline. This was once the most elaborate temple in Greece, framed by classic Doric style columns, with ornate friezes and sculptures. Inside, sat a precious statute of the city’s protector-goddess Athena made of ivory and gold.
Below the Parthenon sits the notable Dionysus Theatre. This grand mosaic-tiled, open-air theatre was the set of many Greek tragedies and plays and is one of the world’s first theatres. See the marbled seats of the elite and dignitaries, including Roman emperor Hadrian’s exclusive seat.
Another noteworthy site, the modern Acropolis Museum, houses many ancient sculptures and artefacts for even more insight into early Greek civilisation. The museum’s star attraction is the beautifully displayed Parthenon Marbles depicting scenes of ancient Athens. If you are lucky, you might even see live restorations and excavations at this impressive living museum.
If you love museums, Athens has all sorts. The National Archaeological Museum is one of the most prestigious in the world. Founded in the 19th-century, it contains the most comprehensive reference of Ancient Greek culture with more than 11,000 exhibits.
At the heart of civic life in Athens was the must-visit Roman Agora. Although difficult to imagine from its ruined remains, it contained the city’s busiest marketplace, libraries, courts and baths.

The Acropolis treasures that currently reside in the British Museum in London – where we saw them several times during our time of living in the UK – are a gaping hole in the museum’s collection, and the Greek government have been waging an understated battle for over three decades now to have them returned to their rightful home. When they are returned to Greece, the museum will become an essential companion to the World Heritage site.
A perspective towards Mount Lycabettus.
And a dawn view towards both Acropolis and Lycabettus from another high hill, Philopappos.
Acropolis is the focal point of Athens, unmissable if you spend any time in the city. Ticket lines can get pretty long in the middle of the day, so either come right before the opening or wait until 5pm or so; only right after the opening and right before the closing time will you have a chance of not sharing the site with hundreds of other tourists. Of the two main entrances, the southern one has shorter lines at all times of the day. Minimum of one hour is needed to see all there is to see; if you let the awe overtake you, it could be quite longer.

Expert guide to Athens
An insider's guide to the best things to do and attractions in Athens, including visiting Acropolis, Plaka and Mt Lycabettus as well as day trips to the Temple of Poseidon and Delphi. By Jane Foster, Telegraph Travel's Athens expert.
The Acropolis, a Unesco World Heritage site, is Athens’s absolute must-see. Nearby, the New Acropolis Museum is a stunning 21st-century exhibition space which more than warrants a visit in this city where the juxtaposition of ancient and modern are part of the appeal.
Five top sights
Rising above the concrete jungle that is modern Athens, the “sacred rock” is crowned by three temples dating from the fifth century BC, attracting three million visitors per year. The obvious starting point for a first-time visit is the largest and most impressive temple, the Parthenon, supported by 46 Doric columns and considered classical architecture’s most influential building. Be sure to walk below the Acropolis at night, too, when it is at its most magnificent, bathed in golden floodlighting.
Address: Acropolis Hill, Plaka
Contact: 00 30 210 321 4172; odysseus.culture.gr
Opening times: daily, 8am-8pm (summer); 8.30am-3pm (winter)
Admission: €20; free on the first Sunday of the month Nov-Mar
Inaugurated in June 2009, this light, airy glass-and-concrete building was designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi. Archaic and classical finds from the Acropolis site are displayed here – proud statues of the ancients and life-like stone carvings of animals. The top floor is devoted to the marble frieze that once ran around the top of the Parthenon. About half of the pieces are originals, while the remainder are white plaster copies. The missing pieces were removed by Lord Elgin in 1801 and are now in the British Museum in London. The Greeks have wanted them back for decades, and hope that this blatant presentation will finally convince the British to return them. There's also an excellent restaurant on the second floor, open during museum hours, and till midnight on Fridays.

The Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens is a temple, originally dedicated to Athene, the Ancient greek godess of war and Wisdom.
Built betwwen 447 and 432 B.C, it is seen as a pinnacle of Ancient Helenic archetecture, being a classic example, on a grand scale of the standard "Doric" Temple design prevalent in ancient Greece.
The site of the Acropolis itself shows signs of inhabitation stretching back in to the stone age, this probably owing to the fact that it has a good viewpoint, and unusually for plateaus like this, it has an ample supply of water from fresh springs.
Parthenon 3D Video Flythrough (Format: Flash, Size: 500Kb)
Parthenon & Ancient Greece Crossword

- What is the history of Acropolis?
- Who bombed the Acropolis?
- What happened to the Acropolis?
- Are they rebuilding the Acropolis?
- What’s the difference between the Parthenon and the Acropolis?
- What was the Acropolis used for?
- When was the Acropolis built?
- Why did the Acropolis need to be rebuilt?
- Who destroyed the Acropolis?
What is the history of Acropolis?
The Acropolis was home to one of the earliest known settlements in Greece, as early as 5000 BC.
In Mycenaean times – around 1500 BC – it was fortified with Cyclopean walls (parts of which can still be seen), enclosing a royal palace and temples to the cult of Athena..
Who bombed the Acropolis?
Bombing the Parthenon Armed with knowledge of the Parthenon as a pivotal battle site, Francesco Morosini ordered subordinate Antonio Mutoni, head of the mortar brigade, to target the Parthenon. After three days of shelling, a mortar struck to Parthenon and detonated the gunpowder on September 26, 1687.
What happened to the Acropolis?
In 480 B.C., the Persians attacked again and burned, leveled and looted the Old Parthenon and almost every other structure at the Acropolis. To prevent further losses, the Athenians buried the remaining sculptures inside natural caves and built two new fortifications, one of the rock’s north side and one on its south.
Are they rebuilding the Acropolis?
Historic Decision Made to Rebuild Part of the Parthenon. The Greek Central Archaeological Council (KAS) decided on Wednesday that a part of the Parthenon, now in ruins on the Athens Acropolis, is to be rebuilt using mostly materials which are now lying on the ground.
What’s the difference between the Parthenon and the Acropolis?
What’s the difference between Acropolis and the Parthenon? The Acropolis is the high hill in Athens that the Parthenon, an old temple, sits on. … Acropolis is the hill and the Parthenon is the ancient structure.
What was the Acropolis used for?
History of the Acropolis The Acropolis in Athens was a fortress and military base during the Neolithic period, due to its position which offers a great view of the land and the sea.

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World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as being of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.
The following is a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 23 countries.

Named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom,
Agorá (Market):In its heyday, Agora was the centre of city life – today it hosts ruins from different periods. It was here that ordinary people, stall holders, and merchants mingled with public figures, officials, philosophers and politicians. The main attraction here is Hephaisteion (Temple of Haephaistos), one of the best-preserved ancient temples in Greece, and dating to the fifth century BC. Also visit the Museo tis Agoras (Museum of Agorá) that houses an amazing range of everyday artefacts found in the area. It is housed in the Stoa of Attalos.
Acropolis: This UNESCO World Heritage Site dominates the city and the skyline. Acropolis refers to the rocky outcrop that formed the original settlement in
Delphi:According to Greek mythology, Delphi is located at the point where the two eagles released to the East and West by God Zeus met, thereby marking the centre of the world. Delphi is the sanctuary of Apollo and the seat of his oracle. The ancient site is in ruins but still attracts thousands of visitors who throng here to see its remains. The site also houses the impressive Delphi Museum which exhibits various statues and offerings from the sanctuary of Delphi. The UNESCO World Heritage Site houses the Temple of Apollo, the Sacred Way, an amphitheatre, and a stadium.
National Archaeological Museum: The museum is housed in a late 19th century building and houses one of the finest collections of ancient Greek artefact including the fascinating Mycenaen Collection comprising beautifully crafted gold work dating from between the 16th and 11th centuries BC, and the Bronze Collection.
Tourism is one of the main industries in Greece and continues to flourish even in the uncertain economic times. Every year,

The monuments visible at Olympia include the famous Temple of Zeus, once home to the gold-and-ivory statue that was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the venerable Temple of Hera, the bouleuterion or council chamber, an ancient hotel, the training facilities and – of course – the mother of all stadiums. The fact that all of the Greek World attended the Games, which took place every four years, meant that the participating city states all tried to be visibly represented and commemorated on the site, making it a microcosm of what ancient Greece was.
The site also includes a superb museum, full of first-rate sculpture, weaponry, athletic equipment and much more, including the wonderful statue of Hermes by Praxiteles - one of the very few surviving pieces by a famous ancient sculptor.
The Temple of Apollo Epikourios at Bassai
This extraordinary and romantic monument is one of the least-visited World Heritage sites in the country, due to its remote location in the rugged mountains of Arcadia. The same remoteness has ensured its extraordinary preservation, comparable to the better-known Greek Temples of Sicily, as it was never used as a quarry.
The modernist tent-like structure that currently covers the site to protect it from erosion adds to the strange and out-of-this world atmosphere that prevails at this near-perfect example of a 5th century BC Doric edifice. Getting to Bassai entails a drive through some of the Peloponnese's most remarkably scenery and some of the region's famously beautiful mountain villages.
The Archaeological Site of Mystras
Mystras is one of Greece's Medieval marvels. Initially founded in 1249 by William of Villehardouin, who erected the fortress on the hilltop above, the site, located near Sparta, became the Byzantine capital of the Peloponnese, especially in the 13th to 15th centuries, when it was a centre of thought, faith and art. Today, what is left of the once-busy town are the castle, the bulking Palace of the Despots, and especially numerous chapels, churches and monasteries, many of them richly decorated with fresco paintings of the Palaiologan Period. The site offers wonderful views over the plain of the river Eurotas and modern Sparta.

The ensuing explosion caused the cella to collapse, blowing out the central part of the walls and bringing down much of Phidias’ frieze.
What is so special about the Parthenon?
The Parthenon is surely the most important monument of ancient Greece and is one of the most famous in the world. It was the most sacred of monuments, and was famous in antiquity as a Greek architectural masterpiece. The monument was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.
What is the most famous Acropolis?
The most famous acropolis is the one in Athens. The Athenian Acropolis is home to one of the most famous buildings in the world: the Parthenon. This temple was built for the goddess Athena. It was decorated with beautiful sculptures which represent the greatest achievement of Greek artists.
Who destroyed Acropolis?
Another monumental temple was built towards the end of the 6th century, and yet another was begun after the Athenian victory over the Persians at Marathon in 490 B.C. However, the Acropolis was captured and destroyed by the Persians 10 years later (in 480 B.C.).
Did slaves build the Parthenon?
Yes, it is likely that slaves served as most or even all of the labor force for the Parthenon, given that the Athenian government owned many slaves
How much is entry to the Acropolis?
The cost of entrance to the Acropolis is about 20 euros and is good for the other sites in the area including the ancient agora, theatre of Dionysos, Kerameikos, Roman Agora, Tower of the Winds and the Temple of Olympian Zeus and is supposedly good for a week. You can also buy individual tickets to these other sites.
How much did Lord Elgin pay for the Elgin marbles?
The excavation and removal was completed in 1812 at a personal cost to Elgin of around £70,000 (equivalent to £4,430,000 in 2016 pounds). Elgin intended to use the marbles to decorate Broomhall House, his private home near Dunfermline in Scotland, but a costly divorce suit forced him to sell them to settle his debts.
Who gave Lord Elgin permission to take the marbles?

In its July 15th 2005 meeting in Durban, South Africa, the World Heritage Committee inscribed Megiddo and two other biblical tells in Israel — Hazor and Beersheba — on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
"Tels, or pre-historic settlement mounds," says the World Heritage Committee, "are characteristic of the flatter lands of the eastern Mediterranean, particularly Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Eastern Turkey. Of more than 200 tells in Israel, Megiddo, Hazor and Beer Sheba are representative of tells that contain substantial remains of cities with biblical connections. The three tells also present some of the best examples in the Levant of elaborate Iron Age, underground water collecting systems, created to serve dense urban communities. Their traces of construction over the millennia reflect the existence of centralized authority, prosperous agricultural activity and the control of important trade routes." (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1108)
The Advisory Body Evaluation explains the nomination in the following words:
"Megiddo is one of the most impressive tells in the Levant. Strategically sited near the Aruna Pass, overlooking the fertile Jezreel Valley and with abundant water supplies, from the 4th millennium BC through to the 7th century BC, Megiddo was one of the most powerful cities in Canaan and Israel, controlling the Via Maris — the main international highway connecting Egypt to Syria, Anatolia and Mesopotamia. Epic battles that decided the fate of western Asia were fought nearby."
"Megiddo also has a central place in the Biblical narrative, extending from the Conquest of the Land through to the periods of the United and then Divided Monarchy and finally Assyrian domination...."
"Megiddo is said to be the most excavated tel in the Levant, its twenty major strata contain the remains of around 30 different cities...."
"Megiddo ... represents a cornerstone in the evolvement of the Judeo-Christian civilization through its central place in the biblical narrative, its formative role in messianic beliefs, and for its impressive building works by King Solomon."
According to the Advisory Body Evaluation, the inscription of Megiddo and the two other tells as World Heritage Sites is based on four criteria:

The City of Athens
Athens is the city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshipped by gods and people, a magical city. The enchanting capital of Greece has always been a birthplace for civilization. It is the city where democracy was born and most of the wise men of ancient times. The most important civilization of ancient world flourished in Athens and relives through some of the world’s most formidable edifices.
Who hasn’t heard of the Acropolis of Athens? Photos and history of the most famous archaeological monument in Europe have made the world tour causing feelings of admiration by thousands of people. Acropolis is nominated to be one of the 7 wonders of modern world. In fact the trademark of Athens is one of the favorites. The Holy Rock of Acropolis dates back to the 5th BC, the famous Golden Age of Periklis.
Athens is a city of different aspects. A walk around the famous historic triangle (Plaka, Thission, Psyrri) the old neighborhoods, reveal the coexistence of different eras. Old mansions, well-preserved ones and other worn down by time, luxurious department stores and small intimate shops, fancy restaurants and traditional taverns. All have their place in this city. The heart of Athens beats in Syntagma Square, where the Greek Parliament can be found. Monastiraki, Kolonaki and Lycabettus Hill attract thousands of visitors all year round. A few kilometers from the historic center in Faliro, Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni you can enjoy the sea breeze.
Athens and Attica in general have the most important archaeological monuments (Acropolis, Odeion of Herodes Atticus, Roman Market, Panathinaiko Stadium, the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio etc.). In the capital you will admire many imposing neoclassic buildings, true ornaments of the city (The Greek Parliament, Athens Academy and the Athens University). Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the museums hosting unique treasures of Greece’s cultural inheritance (The New Acropolis Museum, the Archaeological Museum, The Byzantine Museum, The Cycladic Museum etc).
The climate in Athens is mild and relatively warm. The average temperature in Athens in May is about 25-28°C.

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The Historic Areas of İstanbul, situated on a peninsula surrounded by the Sea of Marmara, Boğaziçi (Bosphorus), and Haliç (Golden Horn), were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
İstanbul is the only city situated on two continents in the world. The Historic Areas of İstanbul are represented by four main areas: Sultanahmet Archaeological Park, Süleymaniye Conservation Area, Zeyrek Conservation Area and Land Walls Conservation Area. These areas differ from each other in terms of the periods and characteristics of the cultural properties that they house, and they display the urban history of İstanbul.
Göreme National Park and Cappadocia were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1985 as 7 parts: Göreme National Park, Derinkuyu Underground City, Kaymaklı Underground City, Karlık Church, Theodore Church, Karain Columbaries and Soğanlı Archaeological Site.
The most significant feature of Göreme National Park and Rock Cut Cappadocia Region is the existence of a plenty of fairy-chimneys, formed by the wind and the rain water. The columbaries on the high slopes of Soğanlı, Zelve and Üzengi Valleys, and the monk cells carved in the depths of the valleys add value to the site.
The first Turkish buildings inscribed on the World Heritage List are the Ulu (Great) Mosque and Hospital of Divriği. This building complex was commissioned in the 13th century by Ahmet Shah and his wife Melike Turan of the Principality of Mengücekli. Renowned for its monumental architecture and traditional stone carving decorations of Anatolia, this masterpiece, with its two-domed mosque, hospital and tomb, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
Having been founded around 1650 BC, Hattusha was the capital of the Hittite Empire and became the focus of the arts and architecture of that time. It has been on the World Heritage List as a cultural asset since 1986.
Hattusha is an open-air archaeological museum consisting of two sites, the Lower City and the Upper City. Visible at the Lower City are the remains associated with civic life.

The Temple of Athena Nike: First temple on the Acropolis to be built in the Ionic style, and one of the few exemplars of an amphiprostyle temple in all of Greece: what made it truly unique was the unit by which it was planned, which turns out to be the Egyptian foot of 300 mm.
The Erectheion: Dedicated to the worship of the two principal gods of Attica, Athena The Propylea: The ancient monumental gateway to the Acropolis.
On the South Side
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus: This ancient theatre is still used today for concerts and plays.
The Theatre of Dionysus.
New Acropolis Museum. Designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi at a site south of the Acropolis, opened in June 2009. Located in Makryanni just below the Acropolis, it’s easily accessed from the Acropolis station of the Metro.
|Acropolis of Athens.|
|Acropolis of Athens.|
|Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis of Athens.|
Following European regulations, disabled access to the Acropolis can be gained by means of special paths and a purpose-built lift on the north face of the hill. Apparently this is only for the use of those in wheelchairs.

Landmarks of the modern era, dating back to the establishment of Athens as the capital of the independent Greek state in 1833, include the Hellenic Parliament (19th century) and the Athens Trilogy consisting of the National Library of Greece, the Athens University and the Academy of Athens. Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic games in 1896, and 108 years later it welcomed home the 2004 Summer Olympics. Athens is home to the National Archeological Museum, featuring the world's largest collection of ancient Greek antiquities, as well as the new Acropolis Museum.
Main article: History of AthensThe oldest known human presence in Athens is the Cave of Schist, which has been dated to between the 11th and 7th millennium BC. Athens has been continuously inhabited for at least 7000 years. By 1400 BC the settlement had become an important centre of the Mycenaean civilization and the Acropolis was the site of a major Mycenaean fortress, whose remains can be recognised from sections of the characteristic Cyclopean walls. Unlike other Mycenaean centers, such as Mycenae and Pylos, it is not known whether Athens suffered destruction in about 1200 BC, an event often attributed to a Dorian invasion, and the Athenians always maintained that they were "pure" Ionians with no Dorian element. However, Athens, like many other Bronze Age settlements, went into economic decline for around 150 years following this.
Iron Age burials, in the Kerameikos and other locations, are often richly provided for and demonstrate that from 900 BC onwards Athens was one of the leading centers of trade and prosperity in the region. The leading position of Athens may well have resulted from its central location in the Greek world, its secure stronghold on the Acropolis and its access to the sea, which gave it a natural advantage over inland rivals such as Thebes and Sparta.By the 6th century BC, widespread social unrest led to the reforms of Solon. These would pave the way for the eventual introduction of democracy by Cleisthenes in 508 BC. Athens had by this time become a significant naval power with a large fleet, and helped the rebellion of the Ionian cities against Persian rule.

Listen to the Episode “The Acropolis and the Golden Age of Athens”
The Acropolis of Athens, Greece, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of the world and belongs on any Greece itinerary. But to hear Ryan Stitt of The History of Ancient Greece podcast tell it, depending on when you were born, you won’t recognize the same Acropolis as the people who came before. The Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis were built around 460 B.C., and as Ryan tells me in this episode, the controversy over who the Acropolis is for and what it means is still raging on.
The Not-so-Humble Beginnings of the Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most recognizable historical landmarks in all of the world. Associated with the Golden Age of Greece, it was designed, from the very beginning, to be an ostentatious sight and site. Ryan Stitt, host of the “History of Greece” podcast, told me about how there’s archaeological evidence that people lived on The Acropolis as early as 6000 BC. But the construction of the Parthenon and other temples really took shape around 460 BC. Everything that stands today is from the Classical period. All of the architecture from the archaic times was destroyed during a war with Persia (though some statues were buried, and remained for archaeologists to find).
A Beautiful Tourist Destination, a Perfect Battleground
The plateau of the Acropolis made it the perfect place for Athenians to stand and fight for their city-state. As Ryan told me, the Acropolis was alternately attacked by the Phoenicians, the Byzantines and the Ottomans, who all left their cultural touch on the landmark. But after it gained its independence from the Ottomans, the citizenry of Athens was overcome with national pride. And that pride in all things Greek motivated the people to preserve what was built by Greeks, and wove the idea of Ancient Greece into the fabric of their lives, leading up to today, when tourism is still a huge part of the Greek identity.
Pericles Does Work on the Acropolis
So what is left on the Acropolis of Athens, and how did all of this magnificent architecture get built? Once the threat from Persia ended, the famous Athenian leader Pericles began an ambitious building program.

The Athenian Acropolis - Visit-Ancient-Greece
The temples on the north side of the Acropolis housed primarily the earlier Athenian cults and those of the Olympian gods, while the southern part of the Acropolis was dedicated to the cult of Athena in her many qualities: as Polias (patron of the city), Parthenos, Pallas, Promachos (goddess of war), Ergane (goddess of manual labour) and Nike (Victory).
Ministry of Culture and Sports | Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis became a sacred precinct in the eighth century BC with the establishment of the cult of Athena Polias, whose temple stood at the northeast side of the hill.
The temples on the north of Acropolis housed earlier sects and Olympian Gods and those at the south were dedicated to the Goddess Athena and her forms such as Polias, Parthenos, Pallas, Promachos, Ergane and Nike.
The Acropolis of Athens (Ancient Greek: Ἀκρόπολις, tr
There's another fascinating detail in the walls to the right of the Erechtheion. When the Athenians regained possession of the acropolis after they had defeated the Persians, they determined to keep the remains of the temples as they were, as a memorial. But later they decided to use the remains to fortify the walls. If you look closely, you can see where they inserted the old column sections into the walls to reinforce them.
Acropolis in Greek means "The Sacred Rock, the high city"
When you get to the east of the Parthenon (the Parthenon dominates the acropolis, we'll leave it until last) turn north. You'll come across the Rome and Augustus Altar. This was built by the Athenians in honour of Rome and the emperor Augustus.
History of the Acropolis - Ancient Greece
In the mid-fifth century BC, when the Acropolis became the seat of the Athenian League and Athens was the greatest cultural centre of its time, Perikles initiated an ambitious building project which lasted the entire second half of the fifth century BC.
History of the Acropolis Geography
The design of the Propylaia leads you through onto the acropolis itself. As you go through you suddenly catch sight of the Parthenon.

World Monuments Fund and UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Over the course of World Monuments Fund’s forty-seven-year history, many of our projects have been at UNESCO World Heritage sites. Our engagement has ranged from catalytic support, helping local groups prepare site for World Heritage inscription, to conservation work at sites already on the list. World Heritage cultural sites reflect the achievements of communities over time and this vast array of special places recognizes that our planets is filled with extraordinary sites that range from the humble and obscure to the grand and famous.

The Temple of Apollo Epikourios
Some 14km into the mountains south of Andhrítsena stands a World Heritage Site, the fifth-century BC Temple of Apollo at BASSAE (Vásses), occupying one of the remotest, highest (1131m) and arguably most spectacular sites in Greece. In addition, it is one of the best-preserved Classical monuments in the country and is considered to have been designed by Iktinos, architect of the Parthenon and the Hephaisteion in Athens.
There’s just one problem: nowadays to protect it from the elements during its complicated restoration, the magnificent temple is swathed in a gigantic grey marquee suspended from metal girders; and what’s left of its entablature and frieze lies dissected in neat rows on the ground to one side. Panels make clear that the work is badly needed to keep the whole thing from simply tumbling, stone by stone, into the valley it overlooks – and the marquee is quite a sight in itself – but visitors are likely to feel a bit disappointed, at least until you enter the tent and are awe-struck by the sheer scale and majesty of the thing, even more so as you walk all around it.

World Heritage sites are recognized for their OUV – places that are so unique and exceptional that their protection should be a shared and common responsibility of us all. A central difference between marine protected areas (MPAs) and marine World Heritage sites is the international oversight that comes with monitoring, evaluation and reporting obligations for the latter. To ensure the characteristics that make up a site’s World Heritage status will endure all sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List are subject to systematic monitoring and evaluation cycles embedded in the official procedures of the 1972 World Heritage Convention. Along with the recognition and inscription of an area on the List, the State of Conservation process is a key value added to the protection of MPAs that are globally unique. This monitoring and evaluation of all natural sites, including all marine ones, on UNESCO’s World Heritage List is done in cooperation with IUCN, which has an official advisory role, formally recognized under the World Heritage Convention.
The World Heritage Marine Programme has worked to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and resources across the community of managers of marine sites on the World Heritage List, creating a global network of conservation leaders that is increasingly equipped to navigate a changing ocean. Designation as a World Heritage site raises the visibility and profile of key ocean conservation concerns, and equips managers to advocate more effectively for their protection. Hence, the World Heritage Convention has played a crucial role in ensuring that local conservation problems receive international attention when their exceptional values are in jeopardy.

Around the Palace Tholos graves have been excavated with remarkable objects, the closest being found at a distance of 80 metres from the Central Palace.
The Palace is a complex of buildings with a total of 105 ground floor apartments and other public spaces. It consists of four main buildings (western, central, northeast & wine warehouse), as well as some smaller buildings. The most important part is a large rectangular Crown Room" with a circular hearth, also the bathroom with its clay bathtub and warehouses with numerous storage vessels.
Temple of Apollo Epikourios
On the bare rocky slopes of Mount Kotilio stands one of the most important and imposing temples of antiquity, dedicated to Apollo Epikourios ("Apollo the Helper").. The temple is situated in a prominent position and is on the U.N.E.S.C.O. list of World Cultural Heritage sites along with the Egyptian Pyramids, the Parthenon and other monuments worldwide.
The Temple of Apollo Epikourios is one of the best surviving monuments of classical antiquity. In particular, it is the best preserved after the Temple of Hephaestus's in Athens. Of all the temples in the Peloponnese, after the Temple of Tegea, it could take first place for the quality of its marble and its harmonious ensemble.
The temple was dedicated to Apollo Epikourios by the inhabitants of Figalia because they overcame a plague epidemic. The inhabitants of Figalia had erected a temple in honour of Apollo Vassita in the 7th century B.C., and worshipped him with the name Epicure supporter in war or illness. He was given the name Epicurean during the wars against the Spartans around 650 B.C. The final Temple was built during the second half of the 5th century BC (420-410) by Iktino who was also the architect of the Parthenon and for this reason is sometimes referred to as the Parthenons Twin.
The construction managed to combine many iconographic characteristics that showed the conservative religious tradition of the Acadians embracing the new features of the classical era. Characterised by a multitude of both original outer and internal fittings which make it a unique monument in the history of ancient Greek architecture. Is has a Doric pavilion from local limestone.

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
The city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996 thanks to its gigantic ossuary of huge and bulky ramparts and palaces, that the city owes to the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who was behind the first great work of the Alawite dynasty, reflecting the greatness of its designer.
A circuit of nearly 13 kilometers allows to appreciate the size of the ramparts covering a historic belt of 40 kilometers.
The presence of this historic city today, containing rare remains and important monuments in the midst of a changing urban space, gives this urban heritage its universal value.
The features of Meknes reflect its outstanding universal value and relate partly to the monuments and partly to the entire urban fabric of the city, illustrating its shape of the 17th century.
The medina and its kasbah contain all the elements that testify to the exceptional universal value of this particular site : fortifications, urban fabric, earth architecture, civil, military and cultual buildings and gardens.

Athens is a vibrant and exciting city, packed with museums, monuments, parks, and squares, crammed with tavernas, restaurants, bars and cafes. Named after Greek goddess, Athena, it is a city full of culture and simply brimming with buildings of archaeological and historic significance. Athens holidays, whether short or long stay are a fantastic way to see part of this magnificent country.
Athens is home to some of the most important heritage sites of Greek civilisation from antiquity through the Middle Ages to modern times. Although visitors will want to explore its culture and history, the city also offers a vibrant nightlife with a multitude of restaurants, tavernas, bars and clubs. With a wealth of sites to see, holidays or even city breaks in Athens will keep your itinerary filled with things to do. There are numerous direct flights from the UK and it is an ideal year round destination boasting mild winters and hot summers.
All visitors to Athens will wish to visit The Acropolis. It is the very symbol of the capital and home to one of the world’s most famous buildings, the Parthenon. An architectural masterpiece of white marble dedicated to goddess Athena, the Parthenon is a formidable sight, especially by night when illuminated. Additional monuments atop The Acropolis include the grand entrance of Propylaea with its imposing columns, the small temple of Athena Nike, built to commemorate the victory over the Persians, and the Erechtheion on the site where Athena planted an olive tree, her sacred symbol.

Ancient Greece: Gods, grandeur & lasting legends
During our drive into town, Thomas has also eulogised the Greek alphabet (“like a prayer to Apollo”) and shared his theory on how the country survived the economic crisis (“It was the light — the sun never abandoned us.”). As airport transfers go, it’s more thought-provoking than most. But then Greece is a one-off destination. I’m here to visit two of its key classical sites, beginning in the city that gave the world democracy. Modern-day Athens remains a singular sight, with the temple-topped crag of the Acropolis rising high above the souvlaki (grilled fast food) shops and market stalls of the streets below.
It’s almost 2,500 years since the celebrated statesman Pericles rebuilt the city after a series of wars with Persia and ushered in its so-called Golden Age. At a time when much of Europe was still scratching around in hovels, he commissioned the lofty temples and neatly proportioned buildings that still capture the imagination today.
The Parthenon is, of course, the best known of these, and when I climb the Acropolis to see it up close it’s a reminder of just how familiar its much-imitated columns have become. Its evolution from Greek temple into scaffold-clad tourist magnet has been eventful — it’s also seen service as a Byzantine church, Frankish cathedral, Turkish mosque and gunpowder store — but its earliest incarnation is the most evocative.
No less stirring is the view it grants of the city, radiating out to accommodate more than three million people. I look down on the ruins of the ancient Agora, the former heart of Athens, where Socrates, Plato and Aristotle held forth. The crumbled walls once formed libraries, shrines and fountain houses.
I head next into the foothills of Mount Parnassus, three hours north of Athens, to visit the archaeological site of Delphi. For a long time it was considered the centre of the world. “In legend, Zeus released two eagles from different ends of the earth to meet at its midpoint,” says my guide, Georgia. “They came together in the skies right here.”
The setting is a rousing one — huge limestone bluffs loom overhead, spring wildflowers nod, and the vast valley floor is blanketed in olive groves. It’s suitably momentous, given the site’s past.

The city is represented as three parts in the World Heritage List; Çukur, Kıranköy and Bağlar.
The city has a known history that dates back to 3000 BC and is located in a region which was ruled by the Hittites, the Phrygians, the Lydians, Persians, Hellenistic Kingdoms (Ponds), Romans, Seljuks, principalities of Çobanoğlu and Candaroğlu, and the Ottomans respectively.
The Ancient City of Troy, famous for being the site of Trojan War that Homer described in his epic poem The Iliad, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998.
With its history dating back to 3000 BC, it is one of the most famous archaeological sites of the world. It is located within the boundaries of Çanakkale province. According to the foundation legend of Troy, the sea goddess Tethys and the titan of Atlantic Sea, Oceanus, had a daughter called Electra. Electra would become Zeus’s wife and would give birth to Dardanus. Dardanus’ son Tros would found the city called Truad, and his son Ilus would found the city of Troy.
The Selimiye Mosque and Complex are located in Edirne, the capital of Ottoman Empire before the conquest of İstanbul, and were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011.
The mosque is visible from all parts of the city with its entire splendour. With its monumental dome and four slender minarets, the mosque was designed and built by Mimar Sinan, the world renowned royal architect. The construction of the mosque started in 1568, lasted seven years and was completed in 1575. Thousands were employed during the construction.Considered as the most important masterpiece of Ottoman art, the royal architect Mimar Sinan regarded the mosque as his "masterwork".
Çatalhöyük has been renowned as one of the earliest settlements of the Neolithic Era, and sheds light on the dawn of human settlement with unique examples of the earliest domestic architecture and landscape painting as well as the sacred objects of mother-goddess cult. Çatalhöyük is in the Çumra county of Konya province, and it was discovered in 1958. Comprehensive scientific studies and excavations have been carried out on various dates since then.

#8 Taj Mahal, India
Knowing the story of the Taj Mahal, we could call it the “mausoleum of love.” This historical site in India attracts thousands of visitors yearly to admire the architecture and witness the great love that the emperor Shah Jahan had for its beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
#9 Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The biggest coral reef in the world! And how could it not be on the Unesco list? It contains over 2,900 coral reefs, 1,500 species of fish, and 900 islands, making it one of the largest and most colorful places on Earth.
#10 Petra, Jordan
It is considered the place of spirituality and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The temples, theatres, and tombs built inside the rocks make the area one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. It is located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, and thousands of people visit the site annually.
#11 Machu Picchu, Peru
Between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin, 2,430m above sea-level stands the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, which is among the most significant achievements of Inca.
#12 Old Havana, Cuba
The Baroque and neoclassical monuments create a remarkable character and an outstanding architecture around the historic center of the city. It is a must-visit city!
#13 Great Wall, China
The Great Wall is considered a masterpiece and also has a symbolic significance as it was created to protect China. The wall is unique because of the methods used, in different times and places, to build walls, fortresses, passes, and beacon towers.
#14 Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, Japan
This shrine illustrates the beauty and lifts the nature and human creativity. What is the best way to experience it? Take a boat cruise around the complex so that you can see all 20 buildings.
#15 Acropolis, Athens, Greece
All the ancient history of Athens illustrated in this monumental complex. Acropolis is one of the most important ancient sites in the world and accepts thousands of visitors every year.
#16 Cinque Terre, Italy
Cinque Terre is the name that represents the five villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

Waking up early in Athens, our goal was to explore the ancient sites. First stop, the Acropolis! The center of ancient Athens, the Acropolis has always been a scared place. While most know the iconic Parthenon, there are many other monuments and structures throughout the park. On the walk to the top, you pass two different theaters: the Theater of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (left and right above). How can you tell the Odeon is Roman? The arches!
Even in early May before the tourist season really kicks off, crowds can get heavy at the Acropolis. I would recommend going early before it gets really hot and packed with tour groups, as you can see happening on the walk through the Propylaea (the gateway to Acropolis).
Remember the caryatids from the Acropolis Museum?Here are the reproductions standing proudly at the Erechtheion, a temple dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.
Of course, the most iconic monument on the Acropolis is the Parthenon, the ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena. Here I am in front of the scaffolding side (reminds me of being in New York!).
Here is the view from the less scaffold covered side. Even though many of the decorative elements have been pilfered over the ages, it isn’t hard to imagine how magnificent it must have looked when first constructed.
Around the base of the Acropolis are a plethora of historic ruins and sites. One that you can’t miss is the Ancient Agora. The Agora, translating to marketplace, was much more than a place where goods were bought and sold. This was a center of the city, a place for everything from religious festivals to philosophical debate. Here you can see the replica of the Stoa of Attalos, basically a covered marketplace. There are also statues of noted figures from centuries of use.
One of the most fascinating ruins on this site is the Temple of Hephaestus, the ancient god of the forge. What makes this temple so unique is how incredibly well preserved it is.
As you can see from these details, the marble friezes are remarkably intact. How did this happen? The temple was used throughout the ages as a religious site, becoming an Orthodox church around 700 AD. The last church service was held in 1833.

Swagger around Europe and explore its iconic monuments from the rubble and ruins of Athens, royal stances of London to the archaeological ruins of Greece. Plan a Europe trip and get amazed by the magnificence of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Palace of Westminster, UK
The Palace of Westminster is a time-hallowed piece of Gothic art that retraces fathoms of history. The palace has retained most of its original form, albeit ignitions of two fires. The Palace of Westminster is so roomy that it is almost four times larger than a cricket pitch! Well, if you get lost, then just look at the colour of the carpet. The House of Commons has a green carpet, while the House of Lords has a red one.
Leaning tower of Pisa, Italy
Spanning construction over 199 years, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is famed for its unintended tilt formed due to its faulty foundation. Did you know that this monumental bell tower was never meant to lean, and Galileo conducted some ground-breaking experiments at its top? Posing as if you were pushing, kicking, punching or doing something completely insane is rated #1 on our must-do activities when here.
From chronicles of gladiators to suffering of slaves, experience history like never before. Originally called as the Flavian Amphitheatre, it staged major battles between man and the beast. Boasting the status of largest built amphitheatre in Roman Empire, Colosseum has served as a model for modern stadiums and amphitheatres. The only distinguishing factor between the two stadiums is that the players involved in modern times survive the games. However, the fighters of ancient world either performed or perished. This UNESCO World Heritage Site had the capacity to house over 70,000 spectators managed to enter the monument through more than 80 gateways.
Shrouded in mystery for years, Stonehenge has bewildered archaeologists, scientists, astrologists and historians equally. No one knows as to how and why a ring of massive stones was constructed ages ago. Several school of thoughts have spawned stories around its existence. Recently, archaeologists discovered a detailed map underneath the massive stones using hi-tech scanning methods. The research also states that Stonehenge was surrounded by burial mounds, shrines and massive pits. UNESCO gave it a status of World Heritage Site in 1986.

The Unesco compiled its first list in 1978: in year 2013, the listed sites are 964. They are divided into cultural, natural and mixed properties. Actually, the main part of the sites is in Italy, which boasts 48 sites, followed by Spain and China, both with 44.
Sicily, with its treasures of historical, cultural and natural importance, boasts 6 sites listed in the World Heritage List.
1) Archaeological Area of Agrigento, listed in 1997
Founded in the 6th Century B.C., the ancient city of Agrigento was one of the greatest Mediterranean centres. The remains of the Doric Temples which dominates the city are well preserved and are one of the most terrific monuments of Greek art and culture. They testify the magnificence and supremacy of the ancient city.
2) Villa Romana del Casale, listed in 1997
Late Roman Villa located in “Contrada Casale” (Casale district), at the foot of Mont Mangone. Villa Romana has been built around III – IV century B.C. and represents a great example of luxury Roman villa. The exceptional beauty and quality of the mosaics which decorate the villa illustrate the greatness and underline the importance of the Villa.
3) Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands), listed in 2000
The Aeolian Islands are located north of the coast of Sicily. The 7 islands which compose the archipelago (Panarea, Stromboli, Vulcano, Alicudi, Filicudi, Lipari and Salina, more 5 small islets) are all of volcanic origins and are separated from the land of Sicily by 200 m deep waters. Over the centuries, the Aeolian Islands have provided two different kinds of eruption (Vulcanian and Strombolian) and have given to the science of vulcanology the chance to enrich their education and improve their knowledge.
4) Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily), listed in 2002
The Baroque towns listed by Unesco were rebuilt in 1693 after a terrible earthquake.

It was destroyed in 267 BC, and underwent restoration in the early 1950s. Since then, the theatre hosts concerts and other performances, mostly during the Athens Festival.
6. The Temple of Athena Nike
This small temple is in the Acropolis, on the right of the gate leading to the Parthenon (Propylaea). It is a good example of classical architecture that has been restored several times. Nike means victory in Greek, and it is here that Athena was worshipped as the goddess of victory in wisdom and war.
7. The Propylaea
The Propylaea was a monumental gateway to the Acropolis. Its building began around 437 BC, and the columns have the same proportion as the ones on the Parthenon. This gate used to function as a checkpoint to control the entrance to the Acropolis, playing an important role in terms of security.
8. The Erechtheion
One of the most beautiful buildings in the Acropolis is the Erechtheion; a temple honouring Athena and Poseidon. It is better known for its balcony; the Porch of the Caryatids. The Caryatids are six beautiful female figures that function as supporting columns. Some of the original statues can be seen in the nearby Acropolis Museum.
9. The Parthenon
Through the centuries, the most famous view of Greece; the Parthenon, has endured war, fire, revolutions, misguided restoration, and pollution. It has even functioned as a church and a mosque, and many parts today are either missing, or were taken by other countries.
10.The Ancient Agora
Not far from the Acropolis, down the slopes going through the neighbourhood of Plaka, one can easily reach the Ancient Agora. Here, the restored portico; known as the Stoa of Attalos, hosts the Museum of the Ancient Agora.
Not far from the building, it is possible to visit the Temple of Hephaestus; one of the best preserved temples in Greece, which allows one to imagine how temples used to look like in ancient times.
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Apollo Epicurius - the architecture of the divine
In the central Peloponnese, at Vasses in ancient Figaleia, at an elevation of 1.130 metres, stands the eternally proud temple of Apollo Epicurius. The inspiration behind its construction and the architect is considered to be the great Ictinus. This universal architectural gem was the first of the great monuments of Greece to be recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986. The temple can be approached from Ilia, after an enchanting journey along the banks of the river Neda, or from Tripoli and Megalopolis.
Vasses (ancient Bassae) was always a sacred place, host to numerous temples. The region’s name means "little valleys". And indeed, the mountainous Peloponnesian land creates a magical landscape and within it rises the imposing site of the temple. The mountains of Kotylio, Lykaio, Tetrazio and Elaio stand guard around the valley of Vasses. All the gods of antiquity - Pan, Aphrodite, Artemis, and of course, Apollo, as both ‘Vassitas’ and ‘Epicurius’, that is, “the helper” - were worshipped in this natural sanctuary, and it was here that one of the greatest religious centres of the entire of Hellenic world was to be erected.
Power, Beauty and Harmony
The temple in its current form was built between 420 and 400 BC. Archaeologists are convinced that under its foundations lies an even more ancient temple, probably from the seventh century BC. This “new” temple, a unique monument to the skills of its architect, Ictinus, embodies in its structure the entire wealth of architectural knowledge of Greek civilization. With both archaic and innovatory elements, it has been greatly admired by all visiting travellers through the centuries. Pausanias, the great traveller and geographer, who arrived in Vasses in the 2nd century AD, was stunned by its majesty and strength. It is speculated that the central column of the temple was designed to reflect the first rays of the summer solstice, symbolizing the eternal light of the sun god, Apollo. If this is true, then this is the first large scale sculptural work of art in the history of mankind to represent an abstract concept.

As international tourism increased, Ellinikón Airport, south of the city, was expanded and modernized.The city water supply from an artificial lake at Marathon was insufficient to supply the new building construction, and the Mórnos River 110 miles to the northwest was dammed and tapped. Installation of a modern sewer system was undertaken, together with controls to check the floods that roar into Athens when heavy rains pour off the denuded mountains.Traditional featuresThe older Athens has not entirely disappeared in all this hubbub. Older men may have given up smoking hookahs in shadowy cafes but not their 33-bead kombouloi (“worry beads”), which were acquired from the Turks. Old Athens occupies the six streets sidling off Monastiráki Square, by the excavated Agora. Tiny open-fronted shops are hung with tinselled folk costumes and all of the monuments of Athens reproduced in copper, plaster, plastic, and paint. There is an alley of antique dealers, a street of smithies, one of hardware merchants, and another of wildly assorted miscellany.Close to this lively quarter is the Pláka, on the north slope of the Acropolis. Small, one-story houses, dating from about the time of independence, are clustered together up the hillside in peasant simplicity. There are appropriately tiny squares with tavernas, once celebrated for their folk music, dancing, and simple fare. There are vine-covered pergolas and some unpaved streets too narrow for cars. The baths built by the Turks still function morning and afternoon, but the bouzouki, a local relative of the lute, is giving way to the electric guitar. The taverna signs are multilingual, and the ubiquitous kitchen chair is being replaced by the plastic-ribbed restaurant seat. Progress laps at the Pláka like a vengeful sea, but the Acropolis is just up above, just under the stars.The AcropolisMany of Athens' bequests (all, if the theatre of Herodes Atticus may be regarded as an embodiment of the city's literature) to the world are expressed in and around the natural centre of Athens, the Acropolis (designated a World Heritage site in 1987). Rising some 500 feet above sea level, with springs near the base and a single approach, the Acropolis was an obvious choice of citadel and sanctuary from earliest times.

Athens (Greek: Αθήνα, Athína), is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.7 million inhabitants. It is in many ways the birthplace of Classical Greece, and therefore of Western civilization. The design of the city is marked by Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman civilizations.
The sprawling city is bounded on three sides by Mt Ymettos, Mt Parnitha and Mt Pendeli; whilst inside Athens are twelve hills [the seven historical ones are: Acropolis, Areopagus, Hill of Philopappus, Observatory Hill (Muses Hill), Pnyx, Lykavittos (Lycabettus), Tourkovounia (Anchesmus)], the Acropolis and Lykavittos being the most prominent. These hills provide a refuge from the noise and commotion of the crowded city streets, offering amazing views down to Saronic Gulf, Athens' boundary with the Aegean Sea on its southern side. The streets of Athens (clearly signposted in Greek and English) now meld imperceptibly into Piraeus, the city's ancient (and still bustling) port.
Places of interest to travelers can be found within a relatively small area surrounding the city centre at Syntagma Square (Plateia Syntagmatos). This epicentre is surrounded by the districts of the Plaka to the south, Monastiraki and Thissio to the west, Kolonaki to the northeast and Omonia to the northwest.
The first pre-historic settlements were constructed in 3000 BC around the hill of Acropolis. The legend says that the King of Athens, Theseus unified the ten tribes of early Athens into one kingdom (c. 1230 BC). This process of synoikismos – bringing together in one home – created the largest and wealthiest state on the Greek mainland, but it also created a larger class of people excluded from political life by the nobility. By the 7th century BC, social unrest had become widespread, and the Areopagus appointed Draco to draft a strict new code of law (hence "draconian"). When this failed, they appointed Solon with a mandate to create a new constitution (594 BC). This was the great beginning of a new social revolution, which was the result of the democracy under Clisthenes (508 BC).

The 41st UNESCO annual conference is being held from 2-12 July in Krakow, Poland. There, a committee will decide on which sites are of "outstanding universal value" and thus merit a protected status under international law. There are currently 1,052 World Heritage sites, including the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu and Stonehenge to name but a few. There are 35 nominations for this year's convention, here is a look at just a few...
Asmara ? Eritrea Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, is situated in the Horn of Africa and has a population of approximately 1 million. Italian colonial rule from the late 19th to mid 20th century has left the city with a variety of unusual and modernist architecture. The buildings feature neo-Romanesque, neo-classical, futuristand art-decostyles. Distinctive Italian style architecture is also present, notably in the wide streets and piazzas. But, these historic building are falling into ruin and are threatened by town planning, a place on the UNESCO list would ensure the monuments would be preserved and restored.
Taputapuatea - Raiatea
The small commune of
Taputapuateais located on Raiatea Island in the Pacific ocean. The French colony was once a significant religious centre in Polynesia and priests from neighboring islands would meet to worship the ancient deities and share their knowledge of the cosmos. Evidence of this ancient culture dating from 1000AD is to be found in surviving stone structuresand marae (communal sacred spaces of worship). Many artifacts like these on the Pacific Islands were destroyed by Christian settlers in the 19th century, so few are still standing. A UNESCO status means these archeological sites would preserve the memory of a civilization which has long since disappeared.
Ahmedabad ? India Ahmedabadis the 6th largest city in Indiawith a fast growing population of more than 6.3 million. The stunning location was chosen by The Times of India as the best city to livein 2016. Sites to look out for include the Jama Mosquebuilt by the sultan in 1424 and Sabarmati Ashram, where Mahatma Ghandi lived for many years. The city features rare architectural styles, specifically the Indo-Saracenic stylewhich is a fusion of Hindu and Persian designs.

This is no accident, as the whole idea was to impress both citizens and visitors to the city with its greatness, expressed in the crowning glory of Athens - the Parthenon, the temple to Athena Parthenos.
Parthenon, History, Art, and Architecture - Ancient Greece
(Euripides: , translated by Gilbert Murray.)
In the great Greek dramas, the Chorus is a constant reminder that, though they cannot understand or explain them, there are other powers in the world than the wild passions of men.
The great dramatic festival of Athens was held in the spring in the theatre of Dionysus, to the south-east of the Acropolis.
Athenian Treasury in Delphi | Giacobbe Giusti
When you see the acropolis from anywhere in Athens it looks quite imposing. Fortunately you can only get close to and enter it the same way the ancients did - on foot. This way you gradually come to appreciate the size and achievements of the site and its buildings.

The Great Temple is the principal cult building of the city. Due to its two cult rooms, this temple is believed to have been devoted to the Storm God Teşup and the Sun Goddess of Arinna City, which are the greatest gods of the Empire.
Situated in the Kahta county of Adıyaman province and described as the sacred place of Commagene Kingdom with its enchanting statues standing ten metres high and inscriptions that are several metres long, Nemrut Mountain was inscribed on the World Heritage List as a cultural asset in 1987.
Nemrut Mountain houses the most majestic places of worship belonging to the Hellenistic Era in ancient Anatolia. According to the inscriptions, Antiochus I had a monumental tomb, a tumulus of cut stones over the tomb, and terraces along the three edges of the tumulus built in order to show his gratitude to the gods and his ancestors.
Xanthos, which was the capital of Lycian dating back to 3000s BC, is known to be the largest administrative centre of Lycia during antiquity. Letoon, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List together with Xanthos in 1988, was one of the most prominent religious centres in antiquity.
The archaeological value of Xanthos and Letoon make them very important parts of world heritage. The sites are about 4 km apart and they include the stone inscriptions on which the longest and the most important scripts in Lycian language are written.
The sacred Hierapolis of Phrygia, one of the antique cities of the Aegean, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. The ancient city of Hierapolis is believed to have been founded by Eumenies II, the King of Pergamum, in the 2nd century BC, and to have been named after Hiera, the beautiful wife of Telephos, the legendary founder of Pergamon.
The city was attached to the Asia province of Roman Empire in 129 BC and administrated by proconsuls. The city saw its most brilliant years between 96 and 162 AD and it was attached to Pisidia Pacatiana in the 3rd century AD.
Safranbolu, a unique Anatolian city that brings history to life through its mosques, market, neighbourhoods, streets and historic houses, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.

The site numbers 17 places of worship, which are still in use, and many that are not. Dispersed around the mountain peaks they are connected by footpaths. The cult sites are believed to provide cures for barrenness, headaches, and back pain and give the blessing of longevity. Veneration for the mountain blends pre-Islamic and Islamic beliefs. The site is believed to represent the most complete example of a sacred mountain anywhere in Central Asia, worshipped over several millennia.
Founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., Agrigento became one of the leading cities in the Mediterranean world. Its supremacy and pride are demonstrated by the remains of the magnificent Doric temples that dominate the ancient town, much of which still lies intact under today's fields and orchards. Selected excavated areas throw light on the later Hellenistic and Roman town and the burial practices of its early Christian inhabitants.
The churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies – particularly the Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St Francis-Xavier – illustrate the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia where missions were established.
This site has the remains of monuments such as the Roman city of Aquincum and the Gothic castle of Buda, which have had a considerable influence on the architecture of various periods. It is one of the world's outstanding urban landscapes and illustrates the great periods in the history of the Hungarian capital.
Descending a long hill dominated by a giant statue of Hercules, the monumental water displays of Wilhelmshöhe were begun by Landgrave Carl of Hesse-Kassel in 1689 around an east-west axis and were developed further into the 19th century. Reservoirs and channels behind the Hercules Monument supply water to a complex system of hydro-pneumatic devices that supply the site’s large Baroque water theatre, grotto, fountains and 350-metre long Grand Cascade.

The World Heritage Committee suspended its 40th session, commenced in Istanbul in July 2016, following disruptions and concerns arising from an attempted military coup. The Session will now resume in Paris in October 2016.
Prior to the suspension the Committee had completed assessment of new nominations to the World Heritage List and consideration of ‘state of conservation’ reports for more than 50 properties, including every property that is currently included on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
21 new properties were inscribed on the World Heritage List, including the Archaeological Site of Philippi (Greece), Antequera Dolmens (Spain) and Ari (Turkey). A serial listing for the Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, spread across seven countries and Nan Madol – a ceremonial centre within the Federated States of Micronesia – were among the other inscriptions.
Richard Mackay provided advice to the Committee during the state of conservation considerations, including briefings and response to questions on the Historic Centre of Vienna, the Historic City of Quito, St Sophia’s Cathedral in Kiev, and threats to the Mercantile City of Liverpool. World Heritage sites in Syria and Yemen continue to face major challenges, but until hostilities subside the focus must be on urgent first aid and repair of shattered residences and preparation for reconstruction. The Committee endorsed important advice from a Joint Reactive Monitoring Mission on the reconstruction and conservation of Kathmandu, but decided not to include Kathmandu on the List of World Heritage in Danger at this time. Commenting on the Committee Session, Richard observed that there is a strong commitment from State Parties to the Convention to ensure that there are appropriate measures for conserving and managing World Heritage places in a way which retains their Outstanding Universal Value:
“the Committee sessions are like an iceberg – what occurs on the podium and in the public forum is only the small tip of months of advisory work and liaison, plus behind-the-scenes bilateral meetings. At this Committee session, it was inspirational to be part of a process that is so important in caring for the jewels of humanity’s common heritage” he said.

This cultic complex is an interesting oddity. It drew together many aspects that Athenians could use to define themselves; their foundation myths involved gods and local heroes, and all were represented within the Erechtheion.It was created in the period which followed ahistoric clash of cultures between the Persians and Greeks,and throughout the period of its creation the growing city-state of Athens developed into the imperial power it would belauded as for the next two thousand years.
Walking upwards along the processional way, passing the Temple to Athena Nike and under the Propylaea, the real feast for the eyes stands before you – the Parthenon. It is a building so thoroughly embedded in our collective imaginations through all forms of media, that seeing it evokes something in everyone.
My impression of the Parthenon has changed with each encounter. When I was 18 years old I could appreciate the elegance, but lacked any real understanding. At 24, when I returned back in 2008, much more was visible and my understanding of it was enriched by four years of studying Art History, Classics and Archaeology. I would have to try very hard not to be impressed. I sat and awkwardly sketched what my poor draftsman’s hand could barely grasp, but I was drawn to draw. Most recently, as a travel-wise woman in my 30s, I could appreciate the nuances at play within the monumental building of power, politics and art.
The painstaking nature of this current methodology of restoration work deserves comment. Previous restoration work in done in the 19th and 20th century led to problems which specialists are now trying to repair (wrong pieces were fit together and corrosive materials which were unknowingly unsuitable were also used).
The current mandate for repair work is to map out each stone to the smallest detail, and any structure that is assembled has to be done with an eye for future restoration (meaning, nothing that is done now cannot be undone). The slow pace of work might annoy some members of the public who wish to view the building in all of it’s glory, but preservation with a long-term view is obviously a worthwhile endeavour. The creation of this temple dedicated to Athena began in 447 B.C.E. and lasted right up to 432 B.C.E, built atop the previous “Pre-Parthenon” also destroyed by the Persians in 480 B.C.E.

It is only through this identification that the sites will gain the ‘competitive advantage elements’ (see Liwieratos, 2009) that are essential for their economic and social sustainability.
1 According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (
2 Some examples include the site of Emporios on the island of Chios (Archontidou-Argyri and Kokkinoforou, 2003), the site of Palamari on Skyros (Parlama, 2006), the Paliomonastiro in Achaia
3 In Northern Greece, the archaeological park of Dion (
106 ARIS TSARAVOPOULOS and GELY FRAGOU
4 Spain (
Article 3, entitled ‘Content of protection’, stipulates, among other things, that the protection of the country’s cultural heritage ‘consists in […] its preservation and prevention of destruction […] its enhancement and integration into contemporary social life’ (Archaeological Law, 2002).
Archaeological Law 2002. Law No. 3028/2002, On the Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in General (English translation) [online] [accessed 10 June 2012]. Available at:
Archontidou-Argyri, A. and Kokkinoforou, M. eds. 2003. Emporio. A Settlement of the Early Historical Times. Works of Rehabilitation. Chios: Ministry of Culture, 20th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. Bevan, A., Conolly, J., and Tsaravopoulos, A. 2008. The Fragile Communities of Antikythera. Archaeology
International, 10: 32–36.
Caltsas, N., Vlachogianni, E., and Bougia, P. eds. 2012. The Antikythera Shipwreck. The Ship, the Treasures, the
Mechanism, Catalogue of the Exhibition in the National Archaeological Museum from April 2012 to April
2013. Athens: National Archaeological Museum.
Cernea, M. M. 2001. Cultural Heritage and Development: A Framework for Action in the Middle East and
Africa. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Coldstream, N. and Huxley, G. eds. 1972.

It is only about three hundred yards the longest way, and about one hundred and twenty-five the shortest. Yet what spot in Greece contains more shrines of art or religion or more history to the square inch carved into or built upon its surface?
There is first the hard, crystalline limestone of which the hill itself is built, hoary with age and out-dating and outlasting everything that has been built upon it. Its summit must have been rough and jagged when the work was begun of planing it off to furnish the foundations for the dwelling-place of men and gods. Athens did not begin on the plain, and extend to the hill: it began on the hill, and spread to the plain. This lofty rock was far enough from the sea to furnish a safe retreat from the depredations of pirates, and it was easy to fortify it against attack. Those early dwellers, Pelasgic or other, did not put up a hedge or a board fence. They erected walls whose rough, solid masonry still winds its rugged courses around and over the Acropolis, as it did centuries before the Parthenon was built. Some of these walls were buried for ages until the spade of the excavator revealed them. Others rise stubbornly in the daylight, as if to dispute with the marble Propylea the trophy of permanence. Whatever myths may float around the heads of these early dwellers, the walls they built are solid facts, and will outlast the trivial masonry of our day.
Then there are the traces of the devout spirit of early Greek occupation. He would be rash who would let misty conjectures of how long Athene or Artemis had been worshipped on this hill harden into any rigid chronology. It is known that Pisistratus lived on the Acropolis five centuries and a half before the Christian era; but other kings and tyrants had dwelt there before him, and this hill was the centre of civil and judicial life. That there was an early temple here to Athene is known, and in 1885 Dorpfeld pointed out its foundations near the Erechtheum. The temple was destroyed in the Persian wars, and perhaps rebuilt. Then the conception of a magnificent temple farther to the right, and covering vastly more space than the original one, took shape; and the foundations were broadly and strongly laid.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was named Athena. The proof of its ancient flowering is everywhere, in the remains of monuments, statues, and sacred places, which still hold respect for one of the most important periods in history.
The Poseidon Adventure in Art
In Greek mythology, Poseidon is the god of the sea, so it only fits when the surprisingly forged bronze statue comes from the bottom of the Aegean Sea, where it lay for centuries after a shipwreck from Artemision Point. The two-meter-high figure stands with wide arms and moves forward at the left foot. The right hand held a trotter, and the unknown sculptor was clearly a master in exactly doubling the complicated balancing act, which was a gesture of seemingly simple spear throwing.
This work of art is a number of fascinating bronzes of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. The museum's collection, which includes pieces from the prehistoric era, offers the world's finest Greek art collection. The renovation closes the museum for one and a half years, but was reopened before the 2004 Olympic Games.
260 meters above the city, the Acropolis (the "high city") is not only the highest point of Athens, but it is also the main point for many people to visit Greece. It is the oldest known settlement in Greece and was a holy place for ancient Athens.
In the period from 448 to 420, Pericles's outstanding Athens statesman commissioned four new monuments on the Acropolis at the site of former ruins. The Athens sculptor Phidias is the leader of construction and interior design. The Ionic Erechtheum includes the Caryatids veranda with columns in the form of monumental female figures that identify the mystery. The Athena Nike Ionian temples, dedicated to Athena as the goddess of victory, were built during the Peloponnese War, freshen the Greek victory over the Persians in the Battle of Plataea. The Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis, replaced both the Doric and the ion columns with the earlier version destroyed by the Persians. Of course, the Acropolis will stay at the left side of Parthenon.
Parthenon, designed by Iktinos and Kallikrates, lasted 15 years.

The archaeological site of Chichen Itza was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1988. On July 7, 2007, was recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the modern world, by a private initiative without the support of Unesco, but with the recognition of millions of voters around the world.

HISTORY OF ATHENS:
THE ACROPOLIS: For thousands of years the Acropolis has been the symbol of Athens, a sacred rock and link connecting the magnificent ancient civilization with today's. The Acropolis, its monuments, its history and the myths connected with it are, rightly, the pride and glory of this City, the envy of all other Cities of the world. There is no Greek or foreign visitor who does not want to make the pilgrimage to the sacred rock and absorb its magnificence and beauty. If you have never been to the Acropolis we can assure you that it is a unique, unforgettable experience.
PLAKA: As soon as you start walking around Plaka's stone-paved, narrow streets, you will have the feeling that you are travelling back in time. This is Athens' oldest and, thanks to the restoration efforts, which went into its buildings in recent years, most picturesque neighbourhood. You will be delighted by the beauty of the neo-classical colours of its houses, their architecture, their lovingly tended little Gardens, the elegance and the total atmosphere of the area. In Plaka, even the air is different, lighter, clearer, scented, like a gift from the gods. When you decide to take a walk around it be sure to take a map, because Plaka is a labyrinth and you may get the feeling that you are lost in its maze of narrow streets and alleyways. No need for alarm though. It is easy to orientate yourself: uphill is the Acropolis and downhill are Syntagma and Monastiraki.
SOUNION: The temple of Poseidon, standing some 60 metres/200 feet above the sea at the edge of a Cliff on Cape Sounion, is one of the most breathtaking and deeply moving sights in Greece; and Greece has many of them. The temple is an hour's drive from central Athens and both the site itself and the route leading to it are worth every minute of the drive. The road runs along the Saronic coast and from the window of your car or bus you can enjoy the endless and brilliant blue sea. If you are travelling by car make sure you stop for a breath of sea-scented air and a walk on the beach. You will also find many coffee shops, fresh fish Tavernas and ouzeri along the way.

Decision : 32 COM 8B.56
Examination of nominations and minor modifications to the boundaries of naturel, mixed and cultural properties to the World Heritage List - Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokakastra (Albania)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Documents WHC-08/32.COM/8B.Add and WHC-08/32.COM/INF.8B1.Add,
2. Inscribes the Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra, Albania, on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (iii) and (iv);
3. Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:
These two fortified historic centres are remarkably well preserved, and this is particularly true of their vernacular buildings. They have been continuously inhabited from ancient times down to the present day. Situated in the Balkans, in Southern Albania, and close to each other, they bear witness to the wealth and diversity of the urban and architectural heritage of this region.
Berat and Gjirokastra bear witness to a way of life which has been influenced over a long period by the traditions of Islam during the Ottoman period, while at the same time incorporating more ancient influences. This way of life has respected Orthodox Christian traditions which have thus been able to continue their spiritual and cultural development, particularly at Berat.
Gjirokastra was built by major landowners. Around the ancient 13th century citadel, the town has houses with turrets (the Turkish kule) which are characteristic of the Balkans region. Gjirokastra contains several remarkable examples of houses of this type, which date from the 17th century, but also more elaborate examples dating from the early 19th century.
Berat bears witness to a town which was fortified but open, and was over a long period inhabited by craftsmen and merchants. Its urban centre reflects a vernacular housing tradition of the Balkans, examples of which date mainly from the late 18th and the 19th centuries. This tradition has been adapted to suit the town's life styles, with tiered houses on the slopes, which are predominantly horizontal in layout, and make abundant use of the entering daylight.
Criterion (iii): Berat and Gjirokastra bear outstanding testimony to the diversity of urban societies in the Balkans, and to longstanding ways of life which have today almost vanished.

This is one of the most unique monasteries in the country when it comes to architecture, along with the incredible frescoes that wait within its walls. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and rightly so.

It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Specialists from around the world are still working on digs to uncover the buildings, skeletons, and artifacts of this ancient town. Over two million tourists visit the site every year.

The world is made up of numerous amounts of values, ethics, and morals including natural and cultural sites that represents heritage. ‘Universal value’, is the complete meaning of world heritage. The World Heritage List, contains all the natural and cultural sites that exists in this world. The main point of having organizations such as, UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organizations), is to preserve as much as possible from a world heritage site.
Values represent world heritage through our diverse way of thinking and our cultural biases. We incorporate our everyday values into who we are and what we do. Our heritage and where we come from are based on these values that create new ways of thinking while relying on past judgments. All together our values create culture and traditions that can stretch on for a life time. Thus making it a huge part of world heritage and the diversity of its people.
Along with values we have ethics that drive us in the direction we see fit to accompany our lifestyle. This too represents world heritage because it governs our actions which vary across the globe. Where we come from determines how we act and behave with and around others. It defines our morals and what we believe in which adds to heritage and faith. Overall ethics help form relations, constitute our behavior, and develops culture through conservation of nature along with tradition.
Beauty is everywhere, in people, in landscapes, and of course in our heritage. Natural and cultural sites are everywhere and represent world heritage in a whole with diversity. Historical sites and world wonders make up some of this beauty that defines many of our backgrounds. For instance the Taj Mahal in India represents the culture and their heritage as people. Not only does it show their heritage, it shows the beauty of it through architecture and art. Therefore Heritage can be shown through many things that are all in a general sense beautiful and show the ways of other people including art.
Lastly, world heritage is important because it preserves the beauty of our earth. The organization that deals with this is UNESCO, as stated previously. They make sure important site s are preserved around the world to keep our heritage alive. As people it is important to see the things we created and how we formed the many cultures and sites that fascinate the world. World Heritage is an important part of our history and is important to the generations to come.

Not for any love for the regime ... but out of serious concerns for Iraqi national interests.”
In Paris, UNESCO said its World Heritage Committee had decided to place the six historic sites in Syria on its list of World Heritage in Danger to draw attention to the risks they are facing because of the conflict in the country.
“The danger listing is intended to mobilise all possible support for the safeguarding of these properties which are recognised by the international community as being of outstanding universal value for humanity as a whole,” UNESCO said in a statement.
The sites concerned are the old city of Damascus; the Greco-Roman ruins at Palmyra; the old city of Bosra; the old city of Aleppo; the Crac des Chevaliers castle and Qal‘at Salah El-Din; and the ancient villages of Northern Syria. (Additional reporting by Erika Solomon in Beirut, Patrick Markey in Baghdad and John Irish in Paris; Writing by Paul Taylor)

Unesco World Heritages in Iran
There are many historical monuments in Iran and many Unesco World Heritages in Iran, of which 700 cultural monuments registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List over the past years. Iran has already made great efforts to record its historical monuments at the UNESCO World Heritage List. And for this, it has already recorded 19 sites.
This action was taken by Iran because UNESCO decided to formulate a convention to identify, protect and introduce the cultural and natural heritage of human beings around the world in 1972. This organization acts as the United Nations Scientific, Cultural and Educational Arm.
The role of UNESCO in the field of tourism has gradually turned into supporting cultural development. So far, 180 countries have signed the World Heritage Convention and have registered more than 700 cultural and natural sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. And Iran, with its rich history and rich cultural background, has recorded 17 sites in the UNESCO World list so far. In recent months, this number reached 19 with the global registration of two other monuments.
But which Iranian cultural and historical sites have been introduced to the world as an Unesco World Heritages in Iran?
The historic site of Chogha Zanbil in Shush was the first historical monument that was registered as an Unesco World Heritages in Iran on May 19, 1979 on the World Heritage List with the efforts of the late Shahriar Adel. From the factors contributing to the establishment of this complex on the world heritage list are the significance of this historic site as the most important work since the era of the Elamite regime, its 3000-year history, and also its natural attractions.
The natural erosion and destruction caused by the Iran-Iraq war inflicted great damage on this ancient city. In order to prevent further destruction of this region, an agreement was reached between the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization, UNESCO, Japan Credit Institute and the Kerrake Institute of France (the International Organization for the Protection of Builders) for the implementation of a study on conservation and restoration of the site in 1998. In line with the implementation of this project, a permanent research base including a lab, a department for conservation and restoration, a library, a computer department and a department of pottery studies were created and equipped in the administrative part of the Haft Tepe Museum.

The four areas of the property are the Archaeological Park, at the tip of the Historic peninsula; the Suleymaniye quarter with Suleymaniye Mosque complex, bazaars and vernacular settlement around it; the Zeyrek area of settlement around the Zeyrek Mosque (the former church of the Pantocrator), and the area along both sides of the Theodosian land walls including remains of the former Blachernae Palace. These areas display architectural achievements of successive imperial periods also including the 17th century Blue Mosque, the Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque, the 16th century Şehzade Mosque complex, the 15th century Topkapi Palace, the hippodrome of Constantine, the aqueduct of Valens, the Justinian churches of Hagia Sophia, St. Irene, Küçük Ayasofya Mosque (the former church of the Sts Sergius and Bacchus), the Pantocrator Monastery founded under John II Comnene by Empress Irene; the former Church of the Holy Saviour of Chora with its mosaics and paintings dating from the 14th and 15th centuries; and many other exceptional examples of various building types including baths, cisterns, and tombs.
Criterion (i): The Historic Areas of Istanbul include monuments recognised as unique architectural masterpieces of Byzantine and Ottoman periods such as Hagia Sophia, which was designed by Anthemios of Tralles and Isidoros of Miletus in 532-537 and the Suleymaniye Mosque complex designed by architect Sinan in 1550-1557.
Criterion (ii): Throughout history the monuments in Istanbul have exerted considerable influence on the development of architecture, monumental arts and the organization of space, both in Europe and the Near East. Thus, the 6,650 meter terrestrial wall of Theodosius II with its second line of defence, created in 447, was one of the leading references for military architecture; Hagia Sophia became a model for an entire family of churches and later mosques, and the mosaics of the palaces and churches of Constantinople influenced both Eastern and Western art.
Criterion (iii): Istanbul bears unique testimony to the Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations through its large number of high quality examples of a great range of building types, some with associated artworks.

When I asked journalist and author Bruce Clark whether there is one thing about Athens that has remained unchanged through time, he immediately answered, “The Acropolis.”
“There were times when Athens hardly existed as a town, but the Acropolis was always important as a strategic stronghold and also as a holy place. Western public opinion slightly overstates the secular democratic function of the Acropolis. In fact, it was always a place of holiness, whether of the ancient Greek religion, the Greek Christian religion or the Roman Catholic religion or Islam. It was always a place where people prayed and sensed a certain spiritual power, not only in the surface of the Acropolis but also in the caves. The entire geological structure has been invested with a holiness, and that is, maybe, the most continuous feature of Athens down the ages.”
The Economist’s international security editor tackles the history of the Greek capital with the same reverence in his new book “Athens: City of Wisdom” (published by Pegasus), which starts long before the construction of the Acropolis in the Classical years, and specifically in the 8th century BC, before ending in the present – with many stops in between.
Our interview, however, started with the obvious question: What makes Athens wise? “The title reflects the fact that wisdom and cleverness was always one of the net exports of Athens. Athens has to import many things – and always has to import food, for example, for its population – but after the decline of Periclean Athens, when Athens lost its geopolitical importance, it didn’t cease to be a very powerful exporter of ideas and rhetorical skill,” explains Clark.
As the conversation turned to the “commodities” exported by Athens, I ask about another major issue, which he also refers to in his book. Clark dedicates several pages to Britain’s Lord Elgin and his “creative interpretation” of the Ottoman firmans issued during a period of close ties with Britain.
“Even by the standards of the time, what Elgin did was shocking, and it was shocking to British and some Ottoman officials as well. It was an egregious and unusual act, even for a time when rich people in western Europe were taking many things from Greece and the east Mediterranean,” says Clark.
Stressing the British Museum’s role in educating the global public in world history, Clark says he believes the time has come for a decision on the matter of the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures.

Of course, it would be a mistake to suggest that the Acropolis and the Parthenon are the only Athens landmarks. A city with such a long and legendary history has preserved a lot of individual monuments, buildings, and entire neighborhoods. Historic areas of Agora and Plaka, Syntagma and Omonia Square, the Cathedral of Athens, the National Garden of Athens, and much more! We would like to show you these spectacular panoramas of ancient Athens from a bird's eye view!
27 May 2013

UNESCO’s World-Heritage regime began life 40 years ago, when dozens of countries signed up to the idea that the world’s cultural and natural patrimony was under threat not only from “traditional causes of decay” but also because of “changing social and economic conditions”. Among those who endorsed the principle was the Republican administration of Richard Nixon, which gave remarkably high priority to conservation and the environment. (Since then, America has had a stormy relationship with UNESCO; it cut off payments to the agency last year, under a law which denies funding to any body that admits Palestine.)
In many poorer countries which host heritage sites, the biggest changes since 1972 have been exploding populations and a huge rise in global tourism, combined with a lack of the governance needed to cope with both phenomena. Angkor Wat, a temple complex in Cambodia, and the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu in Peru (pictured above) are often cited as places of world-historical importance where a vast influx of tourists may be causing serious damage. By recognising and thus publicising individual sites, UNESCO and other cultural watchdogs risk harming the cause of conservation, which would be better served if visitors to the country were spread around a broader range of places.
But there are no easy ways to maintain heritage sites in relatively poor countries; it requires delicate balancing acts, much local diplomacy and long-term engagement, according to organisations that work in that field. Even a well-functioning state, be it democratic or authoritarian, will fail to conserve monuments unless local people see an interest in maintaining their heritage and using it rationally, says Vincent Michael, new chairman of the Global Heritage Fund (GHF), based in California. The effort will collapse if cultural heritage is seen either as a pesky impediment to making money, or as something to be exploited for short-term gain. Nor should local economies ever be too reliant on tourism, which can fall as rapidly as it rises….
But in many places where sites are at risk, government either does not operate at all, or functions only in the interest of a kleptocratic elite.

Mystras is a little labyrinthine, so our expert guides add not just narrative and explanation, but orientation as well...
Five World Heritage sites (Mycenae and Tiryns are listed as one) make our Exploring the Peloponnese our second-richest tour in this regard (after Exploring Sicily). This might change in the future, as the Venetian fortresses of Methoni and Nafplio, as well as ancient Messene, are considered possible contenders.
From the Slopes of Mount Olympus to Shores of the Aegean: the Archaeology, Food and Wine of Macedonia is our definitive tour of Northern Greece. It includes three World Heritage Sites at present.
The Early Christian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki
They are just one aspect of that truly fascinating city – but a highly important one. The city, founded about 315 BC, became the main centre and port of Macedonia under the Romans and has remained so until the present day. It was especially significant in Late Roman and Byzantine times, when it was a seat of power, an economic hub and a place of fine art and architecture.
Key monuments include the Rotonda, originally built as a mausoleum to the Roman Emperor Galerius around AD 300 and later dedicated as a church of St. George, the 5th and 7th century BC enormous Basilica of St. Demetrios, the 5th century Church of the Virgin Acheiropoietos and the splendid 8th century Agia Sophia. On our tour, we also see the city's excellent Archaeological and Byzantine Museums.
The Archaeological Site of Aigai
Ancient Aigai, better known by its modern name Vergina, is one of the most spectacular visits on any of our itineraries. The site was founded as the new capital to the Kingdom of Macedon by Philipp II, the father of Alexander the Great. When Philipp was murdered there in 336 BC, Alexander had him buried with lavish grace goods of jewellery, finery, furniture and weaponry. The mound covering Philipp's and a series of other royal tomb was discovered in the 1980s, yielding one of the world's most astonishing assemblages of archaeological treasure. It is now presented as an unbelievably well-presented underground museum.

3.1- 2 TRANSCRIPT FOR The Acropolis and Parthenon of Athens A visitor to Athens in the late fifth century bce would have been impressed by a grand complex of temples and other buildings. This was the Acropolis, or “highest city” in Greek. Originally a fortress, by this time the Athenian Acropolis was the site of some of the finest art and architecture in Greece. The Acropolis was an imposing mound of rock that rose steeply above the surrounding city. The largest building on the Acropolis was the Parthenon, built entirely of fine marble. Although more familiar to us as a temple, the Parthenon was also utilized as a treasury. It was used to store thousands of pounds of silver, paid annually to Athens by the Delian league: a group of memberstates set up in joint opposition to the Persians, but which Athens came to have command over. The treasure was kept in a chamber called the “Virgin Room,” or “Parthenon,” hence the temple’s name. To the north of the Parthenon was a smaller temple, dedicated to Athena Polias, the city’s patron goddess, who gave Athens its name. This building is known today as the Erectheum. To the east was a monumental entryway to the Acropolis, the Propylaia, or “Gateways,” named after its five doorways. The Propylaia was designed to be not merely a gatehouse, but also to impress visitors before they passed through to the temple precincts. Jutting out to one side of the Propylaia was a small temple dedicated to Athena Nike, the goddess of victory in war. Appropriately, in the fifth century bce the temple was adapted from a military building, and covered in fine marble during the construction of the Propylaia. To the south stood the open-air Theater of Dionysos, named after another Greek god. Sitting on semicircular banks of marble bleachers, the audience watched the actors perform in a circular space called the orchestra. Behind stood the skene, where the actors prepared for the performance. Athenians flocked to see the latest tragedy or comedy by such playwrights as Aeschylus, Aristophanes, and Euripides, all of whose works are still performed today.

A walk around the Acropolis
The Acropolis, the most famous attraction in Greece, is a landmark in the history of humanity, and a designated World Heritage landmark. This symbol of Ancient Athens and the civilisation that thrived here in the fifth century BC constitutes an architectural masterpiece of the era.
The lives of the ancient Athenians centred around the Acropolis, the focus of their sports, arts, politics, gastronomy, and commercial and religious life. The greatest philosophers and orators of the age lived, taught and created here.
Today, we’ll walk in the footsteps of these renowned figures, past inspiring archaeological discoveries, and along the stone paths and hills they once walked. Welcome to the Acropolis of Athens.
Route | Estimated time: 5-7 hours
Our visit to the Acropolis and environs will begin at the Thission electric subway station, past the antique bazaar and the crowded cafés and restaurants, immersed in colours, sounds and aromas. After five minutes we reach the entrance of the archaeological site of the ancient agora, the marketplace. Here we admire the Stoa of Attalos and the Temple of Hyphaestus.
We return to Thission and follow Agion Asomaton Street, turning left at Apostolou Pavlou Street. Walking past the tall trees and tables of the local cafés, we soon reach the Herakleidon Street plateau. This area, a magnet for the young and the hip, buzzes with life. If you’re into modern art, a visit to the Herakleidon Museum is a ‘must’.
We continue our stroll up Apostolou Pavlou Street, and above us to our left we can see the Sacred Rock, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon. A few steps further and we see the “Thission” Summer Cinema, a picturesque throw-back to the past and a summer entertainment spot for modern-day Athenians. Just above the cinema we see the Church of St. Marina and the dome of the Athens Observatory.
Continuing, we pass the cinema and at Eginitou Street, we find the entrance to the archaeological site of Pnyka, the birthplace of democracy. Admission is free, so be sure to stop by.
After Pnyka, we follow the path to the left, towards Philopappos hill, where the stunning Church of St.

The museum, which exhibits approximately 4.000 artefacts, allows the sculptures to be viewed in natural light, with special glass and climate-control measures, protecting them from sunlight. The most impressive part of the museum is its top floor, where visitors will be able to view the frieze and then look out of the windows to view the Parthenon itself.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
At the footsteps of Acropolis, the Odeon was built in 161 A.D. under Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes. To date concerts, plays and ballets have been performed. The natural setting of Herodeion, with its marvelous arcades, the Parthenon as a backdrop and the moon up in the sky will certainly fascinate you.
The Ancient Agora, which means “market” in modern Greek, is situated at the footsteps of the Acropolis and in ancient times it served as the commercial centre of the city but also as political, cultural and religious center.
Originally built in the 4th century B.C. for the athletic competitions of the Great Panathinaia (ancient Greek festivities), the “Kallimarmaron” Stadium (meaning“beautiful marble”) was the venue of the first modern Olympic Games, in 1896.
National Archaeological Museum of Athens
The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is the largest in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world devoted to ancient Greek art. It was founded at the end of the 19th century to house and protect antiquities from all over Greece, thus displaying their historical, cultural and artistic value.
Byzantine & Christian Museum
The Byzantine and Christian Museum, which is based in Athens, is one of Greece’s national museums. Its areas of competency are centered on - but not limited to - religious artefacts of the Early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval, post-Byzantine and later periods. The Museum has over 25.000 artifacts in tis possession, which date from between the 3rd and 20th Century A.D.
Museum of Cycladic Art
The Museum of Cycladic Art is dedicated to the study and promotion of ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus, with special emphasis on Cycladic Art of the 3rd millennium BC.