Highlights of Athens with Acropolis Walking Tour

The neoclassical Parliament building on Syntagma Square the centre of Athens has been the seat of Government since 1935 and was previously the Old Royal Palace built for King Otto. Today the Hellenic Parliament is still in use as the centre of government as well. In front of it you will find the Monument of the Unknown Soldier and the change of the Guards.

In the heart of Athens, lie the beautiful National Garden which is tranquil and peaceful in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city. The garden was commissioned in 838 by the first Queen of modern Greece, Amalia.Many of the trees come from all over the world and include Australian Pines, Chinese ‘Trees of the Heart’ and date palms from the Canary Islands. There are six small lakes in the garden and each has a variety of colourful ducks to admire, as well as freshwater turtles. There are numerous wooden benches for resting while and the ducks are happy to be fed!

Situated within the National Garden ,in the heart of this vibrant city, the Zappeion is a large elegant building that today is an exhibition center and a much-loved landmark in Athens. Over the years, the Zappeion has been used as the Olympic Games Village, a hospital, barrack block, and storehouse! Its construction was funded by a benefactor, who also had an interesting story.

Plaka is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Athens, located right below the Acropolis hill. It is extremely beautiful and picturesque, distinguished for its authentic character and traditional layout. The largest part of Plaka consists of neoclassical houses that date back to the 19th century, although archeological findings suggest that the region has been continuously inhabited since the prehistoric times.

The Acropolis, and the Parthenon in particular, is the most iconic 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 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.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens, also known as the Olympieion, was built over several centuries starting in 174 BCE and only finally completed by Roman emperor Hadrian in 131 CE. Its unusually tall columns and ambitious layout made the temple one of the largest ever built in the ancient world