Must-visit ancient sites in Greece for history lovers
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Greece is the birthplace of Western civilisation – and a dream come true for history buffs. With its landscape etched with thousands of years of history, the country is packed with remarkably well- preserved ancient sites.
Are you planning a trip? Then here’s the guide for your Greece holiday that’ll allow you to really soak up the country’s rich heritage with the five most impressive ancient sites.
The Acropolis
We’re starting with what is practically the symbol of Greece itself: the Acropolis, perched high above Athens. The UNESCO World Heritage site dominates the city skyline and showcases the Athenian’s incredible artistic and architectural skills. It functioned as the city-state’s religious and political life during its Golden Age. Today, as you make your way up the rocky hill, you’ll be welcomed by the stunning Parthenon, a masterpiece of Doric architecture dedicated to the goddess Athena. Not far are the Erechteion with its famous Caryatid porch and the Temple of Athena Nike with some stunning views across the city.
To get the most out of your visit, we also recommend the Acropolis Museum.
The Ancient Agora
Just a stone’s throw away is the Ancient Agora – the bustling centre of ancient Athens. It served as a marketplace, political forum and religious hub and was once the capital’s beating heart. Key spots to explore here include the Stoa of Attalos, the Temple of Hephaestus, and the beautifully reconstructed Agora buildings in between the ruins.
Olympia
Being able to watch today’s Olympic Games in Paris is all thanks to the Greeks, too. Olympia is a true pilgrimage site – the place where for many centuries the ancient Games were celebrated and the first modern ones were hosted in 1896, too.
Originally, it was created as a sacred site dedicated to the god Zeus and a testament to the importance of athleticism and competition. And if that isn’t impressive enough, the statue of the deity is also one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Knossos Palace
If you’re heading over to the island of Crete, you can find the magnificent Knossos Palace: the largest Minoan site ever discovered. It’s renowned for its labyrinth design, intricate frescoes, and at its time very advanced Bronze Age civilisation and culture.
Features like the Bull Leaping arena are especially wonderful to look at.
Epidaurus
Home to one of the best-preserved ancient theatres in Greece – and no tour of this country’s ancient wonders would be complete without experiencing one. Epidaurus is home to one of the best-preserved and most acoustically perfect theatres in the world. It was built as a place of worship for the god Asclepius, the god of healing.
Set against a tranquil hillside, it’s a true highlight showcasing the Greek’s passion for drama and performance. And it’s still actively used! So, to fully appreciate its incredible acoustics, try to catch a performance during the Epidaurus Festival.
Of course, this is only a small selection of the wonders the country in the Mediterranean has to offer.
