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The Acropolis is one antidote to the suffocating heap
that is Athens. Situated upon a small plateau above the city,
the place has a kind of timelessness and a sanctuary-like
feel to it, a mesmerising beauty, and it also has a truly
fascinating history, well documented in the Archaeological
Museum of the same site. It is far better to visit the
Acropolis at less crowded times, like early in the morning.
6 miles west of Athens lies the Dafni Monastery, in
which lies a fine collection of Greek mosaics. The Dafni Monastery
is Attica's most important Byzantine monument.
Peloponnese (Southern Mainland)
Corinth
Modern Corinth suffered a devastating earthquake in 1928,
which some say it has never really recovered from. It's a
thoroughly modern city with smart hotels, shopping boutique
and the usual amenities. A short journey by bus, ancient
Corinth, meanwhile, 5 miles southwest of the city, was
once one of Greece's most wealthy and wanton cities.
There is only one ancient Greek monument here and that is
the imposing Temple of Apollo; the others are Roman.
The Acrocorinth is a citadel which towers over the
site, built upon a huge outcrop of limestone.
Mycenae
The entrance to Mycenae is the Lion Gate; Europe's
oldest monumental sculpture. This is a fascinating, golden
place to visit, described by Homer as 'rich in gold'. Here
are the fabulous beehive tombs, and the site of the excavated
'Mask of Agamemnon'. Mycenae is well worth a full day
of exploration.
Olympia
Ancient Olympia, like ancient Corinth, is separate from the
modern town, and is surrounded by the green foothills of Mt
Kronion. The quadrennial Olympic Games here were dedicated
to Zeus and it is the Temple of Zeus, which dominates
the site. The place was also a sacred area of public buildings,
priest's dwellings and temples.
Nafplio
Nafplio, on the Argolic gulf, is one of the prettiest towns
in Greece. The Palamidi fortress towers over old, narrow
streets lined with elegant Venetian houses and neoclassical
mansions.
Nafplio has been a major Greek port since the Bronze Age,
and it became the first capital of Greece after independence.
These days it fulfills a more peaceful as a seaside resort
highly popular with weekend visitors from Italy, and is a
good location as a travellers' base from which to explore
other areas. It's a great place to shop, eat seafood and hang
out for the day, but be sure to book a room in advance during
season as it's an extremely popular town.
Central Greece
Delphi
Stunning Delphi became a sanctuary of Apollo by the 6th century
BC, at which time thousands of pilgrims came to consult the
oracle, who was always an old, local peasant woman. Wars were
fought, voyages begun and business transactions embarked upon
on the strength of the oracle's prophecies.
Meteora
The gigantic columns of rock that dot the landscape of Meteora
were created by millions of year's worth of wave action. The
amazing thing is, perched atop these bizarre creations are
a number of fourteenth century monasteries. There was once
one on every one of the 24 pinnacles, but now only five remain
occupied.
By Villy Ioannou
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