It seems likely Greece will be one of the first places we’ll be allowed to go when (if) lock down ends. Its worth it for the food. I could go there and just eat for a week! But when you’ve eaten all the mousaka and spanakopita you can manage there is plenty to see.

Athens

The capital is the obvious place to start so straight to the Acropolis, the rocky hill above the city

The Odeon of Pericles. Originally built in 435 BC to shelter theatre audiences from bad weather. It was rebuilt in the first century BC but now very little of it remains.

The Erechtheion is famous for the Porch of the Maidens. Six draped female figures are used as architectural supports instead of columns.

The star of the show is of course the Parthenon. Dedicated to Athena is was first built in. In modern times it seems to be endlessly repaired. The guides will, of course, always mention the story of Elgin marbles. The seventh Earl of Elgin, a British ambassador to the Ottoman empire, shipped two hundred boxes of marble removed from the acropolis to England. This marble is still on display in the British Museum despite Greek efforts to get them returned.

 

Around the City

Just south west of the Acropolis is the Monument of Philopappos on Muse Hill. An ancient Greek mausoleum to a benefactor of the city.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus is right in the centre of the city. It took seven hundred years to finish but now only fifteen of its one hundred and four columns are standing.

The Acropolis Museum

This amazing modern building was built to hold all the artefacts of the Acropolis. When it opened in 2009 it renewed the dispute about the Elgin Marbles but they are still in London.