When planning a visit to Greece, these remarkable ancient Greek monuments should definitely be on your checklist.
Did you know that you can combine very easily your sailing vacation with multiple destinations of ancient Greek monuments spread all around the islands and coastal areas in a
great vicinity of Athens ?
What a great idea !
Few hours sailing and every day you can have a new ancient Greece sightseeing , while you are relaxing onboard your yacht and sunbathing.
This is the start of the voyage. Since in most of the cases , Athens' marinas will be the departure point of your voyage , it is an absolute must to visit Acropolis.
The Acropolis of Athens is the main and most famous archaeological site in Greece. It is also called the Sacred Rock, stands on the highest point of Athens. It is
considered the most important heritage of the Classical period and also as Europe's most important ancient monument. The Parthenon Temple is the main building on the
Acropolis and constitutes an architectural splendor of ancient times. The Acropolis stands proudly over the modern and busy city of Athens and it keeps reminding us that
Athens was the cradle of a great civilization. Although temples were constructed there since the Archaic times, the Acropolis as we know it today was an idea of Pericles, the
famous statesman of the Classical Era. Made of fine Pentelian marble, the Acropolis and its buildings were constructed in the 5th century BC and it cost a huge amount of
money for those times. The most famous buildings of the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Propylaea.
Cape Sounio - Temple of Poseidon
Distance from Olympic Marina - Lavrion: 3 N.M
Distance from Alimos Marina -Athens : 23 N.M
After a nice sailing along the Athens Riviera, the Temple of Poseidon appears - solitary at the top of a hill with the sea surrounding it. The ancient Greek temple of
Poseidon at Cape Sounion built during 444–440 BC, is one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Athens. A Doric temple, it overlooks the sea at the end of Cape
Sounion, at a height of almost 60 metres (200 ft). This was during the ascendancy of the Athenian statesman Pericles, who also rebuilt the Parthenon in Athens. It was built
on the ruins of a temple dating from the Archaic period.
The Ancient temple of Aphaia -Aegina
Distance from Olympic Marina - Lavrion: 27 N.M
Distance from Alimos Marina -Athens : 13 N.M
The Temple of Aphaia is located within a sanctuary complex dedicated to the goddess Aphea on the Greek island of Aegina, which lies in the Saronic Golf view hours
sailing from Athens, It stands on a c. 160 m peak on the eastern side of the island approximately 13 km east by road from the main port. Aphaia was a Greek godess who
was worshipped exclusively at this sanctuary. The extant temple of c. 500 BC was built over the remains of an earlier temple of c. 570 BC, which was destroyed by fire c.
510 BC. Elements of this older destroyed temple were buried in the infill for the larger, flat terrace of the later temple, and are thus well preserved. Abundant traces of paint
remain on many of these buried fragments.
Epidaurus
Distance from Olympic Marina - Lavrion: 45 N.M
Distance from Alimos Marina -Athens : 29 N.M
Located on the eastern side of Peloponnese, Epidaurus developed as a religious center and more particularly as a sanctuary of Asclepius, the healing god. In fact, according
to the myth, Epidaurus was the birthplace of god Asclepius and this is why an important healing center was established there, famous all over the Mediterranean Sea. It was
believed that the treatment was coming directly from the god. The patients would sleep in a large room and at night the god would come to their dream and indicate
the necessary therapy.In order to honor god Asclepius, large festivities would take place in the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus as well as athletic competitions in the Ancient
Stadium. The ancient theatre that survives today was constructed in the 4th century BC. It is large, made of marble and stone and famous for its amazing acoustics. In
summer, performances of ancient Greek drama are presented there as part of the Greek Festival.
Distance from Olympic Marina - Lavrion: 65 N.M
Distance from Alimos Marina -Athens : 87 N.M
Delos, included in the World Heritage Monuments protected by the UNESCO, is a small islet situated a few miles from the famous island of
Mykonos n the center of the Cyclades. Delos is considered as one of the most important ancient sites and Pan-Hellenic
sanctuaries of Greece. According to the Greek mythology, Delos was the birthplace of Apollo, the god of light and may be of Artemis, the twin
sister of Apollo, goddess of hunting.
Delos was a sacred place in ancient times. It worked both as a religious and trade center. The excavations on Delos started in 1873 by the
French School of Archaeology.
The most important monuments of the site are the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Terrace of the Lions and the ancient theatre, which is being
renovated currently to host theatre performances. On Delos, there is a small museum with findings from the island.
To go to Delos, you take the tour boat from Mykonos. The island is not inhabited but it is an open archaeological place.
The Ancient Theater on Milos:
Distance from Olympic Marina - Lavrion: 64 N.M
Distance from Alimos Marina -Athens : 82 N.M
On a rocky slope, near the famous catacombs stands the ancient theater of Milos that Romans built during the Hellenistic period. It exists to this day though most of it is is
actually ruined and is not in the initial shape as it was hundreds of years ago. The ancient theater of Milos used to organize theater festivals. Nowadays, the inhabitants
continue to organize many cultural events. The theatre is located close to the village of Tripiti, 5 kilometers from Adamas and 2 kilometers from Plaka. It is above the harbor
of Klima.
The Sanctuary of Delphi
Distance from Olympic Marina - Lavrion: 102 N.M ( via Corinth Canal)
Distance from Alimos Marina -Athens : 77 N.M ( via Corinth Canal)
The site of Delphi is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. It was discovered in 1893 by the French School of Archaeology.
This was the most important oracle of ancient Greece.
During the Mycenaean Period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary
and Oracle started at the beginning of the 8th century B.C with the establishment of the cult of Apollo.
Gradually, the sanctuary continued to work autonomously and enlarge its influence on religious and political orders. The sanctuary was
enlarged and decorated with beautiful buildings, statues and other kind of offerings. People from all over the Mediterranean would come to the
oracle of Delphi to ask for advice from the priestess Pythia. Although many other oracles developed in Greece, this was considered the most
accurate of all.
The most important monuments excavated in Delphi are the Temple of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Altar, the Stoa of the
Athenians, the Theatre, the Stadium, the Tholos, and the Gymnasium. Next, to the sanctuary, there is an interesting museum.
Ancient Olympia is an archaeological site situated in an area of great natural beauty in Peloponnese. It is considered one of the most important sanctuaries of the antiquity
and it was dedicated to the father of all gods, Zeus. In fact, two great temples of Zeus and Hera were constructed there in ancient times.
Olympia was also the place where the ancient Olympic Games were first held n the 7th century B.C. The Games were organized to honor Zeus and, according to the myth,
they were founded either by Pelops, king of Peloponnese or by Hercules. These were the most important sports competitions in ancient times and even wars stopped at their
duration. The winners were awarded a branch of olive oil tree and they were welcomed as heroes in their homelands.
The site was excavated by French archaeologists in 1829 and some of the findings were transferred to the Louvre Museum in Paris. The most important monuments of the
site are the temples of Zeus and Hera, the Stadium, the workshop of sculptor Pheidias, the Palaestra and the Gymnasium. Next, to the site, there is an impressive museum
with findings from the area.
The Minoan Palace of Knossos
near modern Heraklion in Crete island, was the seat of the legendary King Minos and it is also a place connected to many legends such as the Labyrinth with the Minotaur
and the story of Daedalus and Icarus.
At about 2,000 BC, the Minoans were characterized by a flourishing commercial, political, social and cultural system, as well as by the construction of impressive palaces,
such as Knossos, Lato, Zakros, Phaestos, and many others.
The Minoans also developed for the first time a trade network with the rest of the Aegean and even established colonies, like Akrotiri in Santorini. From the lack of defensive
walls, we can assume that the Minoans had peaceful relations with their neighbors. Also, their facilities and urban planning were surprisingly developed for that era.
The Minoan Palace of Knossos was discovered in 1878 by archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos and its restoration started in 1900. The most important monuments of the site are
the palace of Knossos, the little palace, the Royal Villa and the house of the frescoes.
The site of Mycenae is considered as one of the oldest ancient sites in Greece and witnesses the development of the Mycenaean civilization. Mycenae was the legendary
home of Agamemnon, ruler of the Greeks during the Trojan War. The Mycenaean civilization took its name after the discovery of the site of Mycenae. The Mycenaean
civilization followed the Minoans. Their society, as proved by the excavations, was formed by an elite group. Their citadels were fortified with what we call the Massive
Cyclopean walls. They were named like this because people thought that only Cyclopes could have lifted such huge stones to compose them. The society of the Mycenaeans
was based on military force. Generally, this era doesn't have much to show in cultural issues, but it stressed mostly on urban planning and military invasions. The most
characteristic spot of the site is the Lion Gate. Particularly interesting is also the museum.
