Sights of Greece. Monuments of ancient culture

This amazing country has a huge number of historical, cultural, architectural and natural attractions. Tourists from all over the world come to Greece not just to relax on the beaches. Here you can replenish your knowledge of how modern Europe was born and formed, a huge part of which belongs to the classical era of Hellenism and pre-Hellenic history and culture.

TOP 20 attractions in Greece

The sights of Greece will tell you about the birth of the European democratic tradition, the golden era in mythology, literature, sculpture, architecture, theater, sports, etc. Hospitable people who love Russia live in this beautiful country, they are always friendly to Russian tourists. Do not forget the well-known phrase from Russian cinema: "Everything is in Greece!".

1. The ancient Greek city of Delphi

This city in ancient times was the religious center of worship of the god Apollo. According to legend, it is named after his son Delphi. In addition, the city is known for hosting the famous Pythian Games for many centuries. Delphi is on the UNESCO list. This is a world-class historical and cultural landmark.

Delphi arose approximately 1.6 thousand years BC. and at first Mother Earth was worshiped there. And later, the myths of classical Ancient Greece arose, associated with Zeus and the pantheon of gods. During excavations in the second half of the 20th century, here, on the slope of Mount Parnassus, a temple of Apollo, an ancient theater, a stadium, treasuries, etc. were discovered.

2. Medieval city of Rhodes

And this famous Greek landmark belongs to the era of Antiquity and the Middle Ages with its crusader knights. It is also a famous beach resort. The most interesting thing to see here is the Rhodes fortress, which was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 13th century on the site of the ancient acropolis.

Behind the powerful walls of this fortress is the Palace of the Grand Masters, built on the site of the ancient temple of Helios. In the old town of Rhodes, you can wander along the Street of the Knights, plunge into the Middle Ages. There are ancient forts and ports that played a significant role in the history of the island of Rhodes, and much more.

3. Palace of the Grand Masters

Separately, it is worth talking about such a historical and cultural attraction of the Rhodes fortress as this Palace. It is also on the UNESCO list, as part of the Rhodes fortress. This is a very impressive building, built according to all the rules of medieval fortification.

For many centuries, the Palace of the Grand Masters served as the residence of the head of the Order of the Hospitallers, who once controlled the entire Mediterranean. Today, the Palace of the Grand Masters has turned into a huge museum, the exhibits of which tell visitors about the history of the island and the city of Rhodes from Antiquity to the present day.

4. Paleokastritsa beach

This is a world-famous beach and a Greek landmark. It is located on the island of Corfu in the north of the Ionian Sea in the resort of the same name. Tourists can fully enjoy the purest turquoise water, the bright but not burning sun, as well as the beautiful olive, lemon and orange groves around.

You can have a great rest on Paleokastritsa beach, it is one of the ten best European beaches, and at the same time get acquainted with the cultural and historical sights of Corfu, of which there are extremely many here since ancient times.

The Acropolis is the visiting card of the modern Greek capital. The first thing to see in this city is the Acropolis of Athens. From here begins acquaintance with classical Ancient Greece, with its myths and legends, gods and heroes, scientists and philosophers.

It should be noted that on the hill where today you can see the Acropolis of Athens, there was a royal palace in the Mycenaean era. In the 7th century BC e. in the acropolis they began to build the most famous temple of the Parthenon, and a century later the temple of Athena was erected, from which only the foundation remains today.

At the time when Greece was under the Ottoman yoke, the Acropolis of Athens was a mosque. It later became an arsenal. In one of his temples, the pasha's harem was located at one time. The Acropolis of Athens was repeatedly attacked by barbarians and vandals. Today it great museum under open sky.

Many tourists tend to visit Cape Sounion to see this ancient temple with their own eyes. Once the ancient Greek Poseidon, the god of the sea, patronized the fishermen and sea travelers who lived in Attica and all of Hellas. They brought gifts and sacrifices to their god, and he gave them good luck.

The Temple of Poseidon was built in 400 BC. Among scientists there is a version that it was erected by the Atlanteans - the inhabitants of the legendary Atlantis. Only the ruins of the temple and 12 columns have survived today. Archaeologists near the temple found a huge statue of a man, possibly Poseidon, and several smaller statues.

Olympus is the most high mountain in the country, located on the coast of the Aegean Sea. But she didn't become famous for that. As you know, it was this mountain that the gods of Ancient Greece chose as their place of residence, which is why Olympus acquired a sacred status. The area around the mountain range today is a national reserve.

What mere mortal does not dream of visiting the home of the gods? That is why this mythological sight of Greece is a success among travelers from all over the world. Fortunately, there is also an excellent tourist infrastructure, incl. ski resort.

8. Santorini Island

This island is considered by many to be the best tourist destination on earth. It is ideal for family holidays. There are beautiful clean sandy beaches from white to black, houses, as if from a fairy-tale picture. Wedding ceremonies are often held in Santorini between couples who dream of family life, like in a fairy tale.

On such a tiny island, a huge number of attractions. First of all, these are Catholic and Orthodox churches, there are about three hundred of them. There are also many ancient ruins of the Minoan era of Greek civilization. Stay in local hotels, sunbathe on the beaches - you will have unforgettable memories.

9. Samaria Gorge

This is a famous natural attraction of the island of Crete. The Samaria Gorge is the largest in Europe, it is named after an old village located nearby. This is an incredibly beautiful place, visiting which you can take many unique beautiful photos.

This gorge is worth a trip. tourist excursion to once again appreciate the great Greek past, to see the ancient Cretan civilization, to be amazed by the beauty of the nature of Crete, its flora and fauna, to get acquainted with the ancient way of life, life, customs and traditions of the islanders.

How do children's impressions differ from the impressions of an adult. When I was in Athens for the first time at school age, it seemed to me that the Acropolis is huge and endless, that you can walk around it forever, and that you will not see such a number of ruins of ancient buildings concentrated in one place anywhere else. But when I arrived there as an adult, I realized that either I already travel so often that it’s harder and harder for me to be impressed, or the Acropolis is really not that big, and one should be surprised that such a huge place happened in such a small area. the number of important historical events that influenced the course of the history of the world.

In general, even cities as huge by ancient standards as Athens or Rome now seem almost tiny. I mean the historical part of modern cities, of course. Almost all the most important things are within easy walking distance from each other, very convenient for tourists. On the other hand, if you think about the fact that the ancient Greeks once walked on these very stones, that Socrates, Plato, Plutarch were here ... - it becomes somehow a little uncomfortable.
From the modern bustling area of ​​Monastiraki, the road to the Acropolis takes only 15-20 minutes, and even then at a leisurely pace. True, you have to go uphill all the time, because the Acropolis is located on a hill. The higher you climb, the better you can see the ancient buildings that have survived in the area:


The first stop on the way is the hill of Ares, or Areopagus. Among the ancient Greeks, this place was known as the meeting place of the council of elders who ruled the city in ancient times. From here one of the most beautiful views of Athens opens. View from the Areopagus towards the Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus:




Towards Pnyx Hill:


Modern Athens is a fairly large city. Sometimes it's hard to believe that once life here was concentrated in a much smaller space. In the distance, you can see Lycabettus Hill - this is another fairly popular place for tourists with cameras. Below are paths among numerous ancient stones: it’s even a shame that so many buildings have not survived from those times:


traditional look from the Areopagus to the Acropolis, more precisely, to the Propylaea - the main gate of the Acropolis:


And this is the view from the Acropolis to the Areopagus. This very small and uneven stone hill is the Areopagus, the place where important political and political events were once taken. judgments. In size, by the way, it is somewhere the same as the famous stones lying in Central Park in New York. But the historical significance cannot be compared.


The Parthenon is under chronic restoration. The ancient stones scattered across the territory of the Acropolis are trying to gather together and restore the building from them to the maximum. It is still difficult to say what will come of this venture, especially considering how much was taken from the Acropolis from Greece back in the Middle Ages. Elements of the Parthenon are now kept in Paris, the Vatican, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen... And, of course, no one is going to return them to the Greeks.


But the Erechtheion for some reason is not being restored. Although, maybe they will reach it in time:


The famous portico of the Caryatids:





The Acropolis is always quite crowded. It is understandable, because this is the most famous place in Athens. In scale modern world The Acropolis seems rather small. From this angle, almost the entire hill is visible:


Meanwhile, even now a building of this magnitude seems grandiose:




The rise and fall of civilizations is generally an interesting thing: once one of the greatest nations in Europe, it suddenly disappears. In rare paintings by Greek artists of the Middle Ages, you can see images of shepherds grazing goats on the top of the Acropolis: several centuries have passed since the collapse of Athens - and there seems to be no trace of the ancient Greeks. The medieval inhabitants of Greece, probably, did not even know what kind of buildings they were standing on the hill.


Traditional view of the city from the Acropolis:




Below you can see the temple of Zeus:


Herod's Odeon is a huge beautiful amphitheater built in the 2nd century AD, already under the Romans. An absolutely colossal project by those standards: this musical theater can accommodate up to six thousand people at the same time. The Greeks have recently refurbished the Herodeon, and now concerts are held there from time to time:




Nearby is the theater of Dionysus, it is 5-6 centuries older than Herod's odeon, and was built in a typical Greek style: the Greeks always chose a natural hill for the construction of amphitheaters.


Behind the Theater of Dionysus, an ultra-modern building can be seen - this modern museum Acropolis, which opened a couple of years ago:


Let's go down to the theater of Dionysus:


View from the theater to the Acropolis:

Already somewhere at the exit from the territory of the Acropolis:




The new modern Acropolis Museum is really good. True, at the time when I was there, it was not yet fully open. But even the part that was in the public domain was impressive:


According to the plan, sculptures from the temples of the Acropolis, everything found on the hill, surviving fragments of the Parthenon, as well as copies of ancient works of art related to the Acropolis exported from Greece should be stored here.

The opening of the museum was planned to coincide with the 2004 Olympic Games, but the Greeks, in their traditional manner, stretched out all the deadlines, did not deliver the project on time, and the construction of the museum building was completed only by the end of 2007, and the final transfer of all exhibits was completed only in the summer 2009, i.e. 5 years later than planned.


The museum, however, turned out to be very good, and now, perhaps, it can compete even with the National Archaeological Museum, which until now was considered the main museum of the city.




Well, to top it off - a short run towards the Temple of Zeus, which was visible from the Acropolis in the photographs above.
View from it towards the Acropolis:


The temple of Zeus itself was once the largest temple in all of Greece. It was built over four centuries and completed construction only in the 2nd century. BC. Now only a single corner and a couple of columns at the other end of the temple remain from the temple.


The most beautiful elements of the temple were taken from Athens to Rome by the ancient Romans.



But even from these few columns, one can quite imagine the scale of the building:

planning travel to Greece, many people are interested not only in comfortable hotels, but also in the fascinating history of this ancient country, an integral part of which are art objects.

A large number of treatises by well-known art historians are devoted specifically to ancient Greek sculpture, as the fundamental branch of world culture. Unfortunately, many monuments of that time did not survive in their original form, and are known from later copies. By studying them, one can trace the history of the development of Greek fine art from the Homeric period to the Hellenistic era, and highlight the most striking and famous creations of each period.

Aphrodite de Milo

The world-famous Aphrodite from the island of Milos belongs to the Hellenistic period of Greek art. At this time, by the forces of Alexander the Great, the culture of Hellas began to spread far beyond the Balkan Peninsula, which was noticeably reflected in the visual arts - sculptures, paintings and frescoes became more realistic, the faces of the gods on them have human features– relaxed postures, distracted gaze, soft smile.

Statue of Aphrodite, or as the Romans called it, Venus, is made of snow-white marble. Its height is slightly more than human height, and is 2.03 meters. The statue was discovered by chance by an ordinary French sailor, who in 1820, together with a local peasant, dug up Aphrodite near the remains of an ancient amphitheater on the island of Milos. During its transportation and customs disputes, the statue lost its arms and pedestal, but a record has been preserved of the author of the masterpiece indicated on it: Agesander, the son of a resident of Antioch Menida.

Today, after a thorough restoration, Aphrodite is exhibited in the Louvre in Paris, attracting her natural beauty millions of tourists every year.

Nike of Samothrace

The time of creation of the statue of the goddess of victory Nike dates back to the 2nd century BC. Studies have shown that Nika was installed above the sea coast on a sheer cliff - her marble clothes flutter as if from the wind, and the slope of the body represents a constant movement forward. The thinnest folds of clothing cover the strong body of the goddess, and powerful wings are spread in joy and triumph of victory.

The head and hands of the statue have not been preserved, although individual fragments were discovered during excavations in 1950. In particular, Karl Lehmann with a group of archaeologists found right hand goddesses. Nike of Samothrace is now one of the outstanding exhibits of the Louvre. Her hand was never added to the general exhibition, only the right wing, which was made of plaster, underwent restoration.

Laocoon and his sons

A sculptural composition depicting the mortal struggle of Laocoön, the priest of the god Apollo, and his sons with two snakes sent by Apollo in retaliation for the fact that Laocoön did not listen to his will and tried to prevent the entry of the Trojan horse into the city.

The statue was made of bronze, but its original has not survived to this day. In the 15th century, a marble copy of the sculpture was found on the territory of the "golden house" of Nero, and by order of Pope Julius II, it was installed in a separate niche of the Vatican Belvedere. In 1798, the statue of Laocoon was moved to Paris, but after the fall of Napoleon's rule, the British returned it to its original place, where it is kept to this day.

The composition, depicting Laocoön's desperate death struggle with divine punishment, inspired many sculptors of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and gave rise to a fashion for depicting complex, vortex-like movements of the human body in fine art.

Zeus from Cape Artemision

The statue, found by divers near Cape Artemision, is made of bronze, and is one of the few pieces of art of this type that has survived to this day in its original form. Researchers disagree on whether the sculpture belongs specifically to Zeus, believing that it can also depict the god of the seas, Poseidon.

The statue has a height of 2.09 m, and depicts the supreme Greek god, who raised his right hand in order to throw lightning in righteous anger. The lightning itself has not been preserved, but numerous smaller figurines show that it looked like a flat, strongly elongated bronze disk.

From almost two thousand years of being under water, the statue almost did not suffer. Only the eyes, which were supposedly made of ivory and encrusted with precious stones, disappeared. You can see this work of art in the National Archaeological Museum, which is located in Athens.

Statue of Diadumen

A marble copy of a bronze statue of a young man who himself crowns himself with a diadem - a symbol of sports victory, probably adorned the venue for competitions in Olympia or Delphi. The diadem at that time was a red woolen bandage, which, along with laurel wreaths, was awarded to the winners of the Olympic Games. The author of the work, Polykleitos, performed it in his favorite style - the young man is in a slight movement, his face reflects complete calm and focus. The athlete behaves like a well-deserved winner - he does not show fatigue, although his body needs rest after the fight. In sculpture, the author managed to very naturally convey not only small elements, but also the general position of the body, correctly distributing the mass of the figure. The full proportionality of the body is the pinnacle of the development of this period - classicism of the 5th century.

Although the bronze original has not survived to our time, copies of it can be seen in many museums around the world - the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Louvre, the Metropolitan, british museum.

Aphrodite Braschi

A marble statue of Aphrodite depicts the goddess of love, who was naked before taking her legendary, often described in myths, bath, returning her virginity. Aphrodite in her left hand holds her removed clothes, which gently fall on a nearby jug. From an engineering point of view, this decision made the fragile statue more stable, and gave the sculptor the opportunity to give it a more relaxed pose. The uniqueness of Aphrodite Brasca is that this is the first known statue of the goddess, the author of which decided to portray her naked, which at one time was considered unheard of insolence.

There are legends according to which the sculptor Praxiteles created Aphrodite in the image of his beloved, hetaera Phryne. When her former admirer, orator Euthias, found out about this, he raised a scandal, as a result of which Praxiteles was accused of unforgivable blasphemy. At the trial, the defender, seeing that his arguments did not impress the judge, pulled off Phryne's clothes to show those present that such a perfect body of the model simply cannot harbor a dark soul. The judges, being adherents of the concept of kalokagatiya, were forced to fully acquit the defendants.

The original statue was taken to Constantinople, where it died in a fire. Many copies of Aphrodite have survived to our time, but they all have their own differences, as they were restored according to verbal and written descriptions and images on coins.

marathon youth

Statue young man made of bronze, and presumably depicts Greek god Hermes, although there are no prerequisites or his attributes in the hands or clothes of the young man. The sculpture was raised from the bottom of the Gulf of Marathon in 1925, and since then has replenished the exposition of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Due to the fact that the statue was under water for a long time, all its features are very well preserved.

The style in which the statue is made betrays the style of the famous sculptor Praxiteles. The young man stands in a relaxed pose, his hand rests on the wall, near which the figure was installed.

Discus thrower

Statue ancient Greek sculptor Myron has not been preserved in its original form, but is widely known throughout the world thanks to bronze and marble copies. The sculpture is unique in that for the first time it depicted a person in a complex, dynamic movement. Such a bold decision of the author served as a vivid example for his followers, who, with no less success, created objects of art in the style of "Figura serpentinata" - a special technique depicting a person or animal in an often unnatural, tense, but very expressive, from the observer's point of view, pose.

Delphic charioteer

A bronze sculpture of a charioteer was discovered during the 1896 excavations at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, and is a classic example. ancient art. The figure depicts an ancient Greek youth driving a wagon during Pythian games.

The uniqueness of the sculpture lies in the fact that the inlay of the eyes with precious stones has been preserved. The eyelashes and lips of the young man are decorated with copper, and the headband is made of silver, and presumably also had inlay.

The time of creation of the sculpture, theoretically, is at the junction of the archaic and early classic- her posture is characterized by stiffness and the absence of any hint of movement, but the head and face are made with quite a lot of realism. As in later sculptures.

Athena Parthenos

Majestic goddess athena statue has not survived to our time, but there are many copies of it, restored according to ancient descriptions. The sculpture was completely made of ivory and gold, without the use of stone or bronze, and stood in the main temple of Athens - the Parthenon. Distinctive feature goddesses - a high helmet, decorated with three crests.

The history of the creation of the statue was not without fatal moments: on the shield of the goddess, the sculptor Phidias, in addition to the image of the battle with the Amazons, placed his portrait in the form of a weak old man who lifts a heavy stone with both hands. The public of that time ambiguously regarded the act of Phidias, which cost him his life - the sculptor was imprisoned, where he committed suicide with the help of poison.

Greek culture has become the founder for the development of fine arts around the world. Even today, considering some modern paintings and the statues can detect the influence of this ancient culture.

Ancient Hellas became the cradle in which the cult was actively brought up human beauty in its physical, moral and intellectual manifestation. Inhabitants of Greece of that time, they not only worshiped many Olympic gods, but also tried to resemble them as much as possible. All this is displayed in bronze and marble statues - they not only convey the image of a person or a deity, but also make them close to each other.

Although very many of the statues did not reach the present, they exact copies can be seen in many museums around the world.

Volcano walk

There are many reasons why any traveler could visit the island of Nisyros in the south of the Aegean Sea: plunge into a healing spring and bring home a brilliant souvenir born in red-hot lava, bow to the miraculous icon of the Virgin, marvel at the power of the fiery forces of the earth. In appearance, Nisyros is a beautiful, but absolutely uninhabitable island.

Greece: Halkidiki. Psakudya

The resort town of Psakoudia is located on the peninsula of Kassandra, which is often called the first prong of Halkidiki. The city has a favorable geographical position, thanks to which the rest in Greece in Psakoudia is not limited to local attractions and entertainment, it is easy to get to any point of Halkidiki from here.

Meteora, St. Stephen Convent

When you approach Kalambaka, leaving the city of Trikala, and looking at the rocks of Meteora, from a distance of 16 km, you see on the first rock to your right, the monastery of St. Stephen, which has majestically risen for centuries in this place. The monastery can be reached by two roads, the first one leads from the village of Kastraki, and the second from the southeast side of Kalambaki.

Miraculous icons of Athos monasteries

On Mount Athos there is a wonderful monastery of Pantokrator. It is there that this miraculous image in a silver robe is now located. The Mother of God is depicted in prayer. She stretches her arms to the sky. There are many stories related to the miraculous power of the Image Holy Mother of God Gerontissa.

Greece is a small country with a colossal historical and cultural heritage. It was here that the formation of European civilization in the form in which we know it today began. And although many elements came from earlier eras, it was in Greece that many of the classical elements of science, art and medicine originated. And the Greek language served as a "donor" of many modern dialects, and not only at the level of individual words, but even writing and liturgical elements. The colossal historical heritage of the country in most cases is viewed relatively weakly today - the turbulent history of this land destroyed many ancient cities and temples. Monuments of ancient civilization, for example, are much more outside the country itself, in the same Asia Minor. However, the land of Greece itself carries the spirit of its former greatness, and more monuments later eras a lot here. And friendly people, unique traditions, picturesque settlements, warm climate, countless islands and long coastline attract millions of tourists every year.

When asked what Greece is primarily associated with, many will answer: the famous Athenian Acropolis. Others will remember rows of white houses rising in tiers against a turquoise sky. Fans of Mediterranean cuisine will answer differently: for them, Hellas is, first of all, the birthplace of moussaka melting in the mouth and lamb souvlaks washed down with retsina - white wine with the aroma of pine resin. Those who love solitude will find hard-to-reach corners under the Greek sky, and dreamy people are more likely to be attracted by Delphi, the Meteora monastery complex or the amphitheater in Epidaurus.

This country and all the iconic sights of Greece cannot be recognized by visiting here only once. Each city has its own characteristics - to get to know them, you need to come to Hellas again and again.

Athens. Sights of Athens

The main center of tourism in Greece is its capital - Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world, located in a bowl-shaped valley on the western coast of Attica, surrounded by the mountains of Egaleo, Parnita, Pendeli and Gimet (Imitos). The city itself was built somewhat chaotically and, due to its location in an intermountain basin, has a rather difficult ecological situation, but its beautiful ancient monuments and excellent museums attract millions of tourists here. The Acropolis and Lycabettus (Lycabettus) hills are considered the center of Athens, from which the city began more than 6 thousand years ago. The Acropolis of Athens is a symbol of ancient Greece. Already during the Mycenaean era (1600-1000 BC), a royal palace was built on top of this 155-meter rocky hill, surrounded by a Cyclopean wall (4.5 m thick), which, however, did not save the city from numerous destructions. The buildings that have survived to this day were built mainly in the 5th century BC. BC e. The monumental portal Propylaion (447-432 BC) served as the entrance to the Acropolis.

The pearl of the Acropolis is the Parthenon (5th century BC) - the temple of Athena Parthenos, which is a unique architectural structure - it is designed in such a way that its different-sized columns and the curvature of seemingly flat structures gives this huge building amazing lightness and proportionality. The colonnade ("peristyle") of 46 columns and the famous Parthenon frieze (now kept in the British Museum) set off the beautiful sculptural groups by the great Phidias, most of which have not survived to this day and are known only from copies. The Parthenon in its history was both a Christian temple and a powder warehouse, and only in the 19th century. a partial restoration of this unique monument began, which is still ongoing. The Pegille Theater (II century BC) has also been restored, in which festivals are now held and performances by ancient authors are staged, next to which lie the ruins of the more ancient theater of Dionysus.

Statistical indicators of Greece
(as of 2012)

Near the Parthenon is the oldest place of worship of the Athenians - a small classical temple Erechtheion (421-407 BC), built on the site of the Mycenaean royal palace. According to legend, it was at this place that the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the right to patronize the city was resolved. In honor of this event, two temples were built under one roof. Of greatest interest is the "Portico of the Daughters" - six sculptures of Caryatids, one of which was taken by the English ambassador to London (now stored in the British Museum), which gave rise to the legend of the crying of the remaining Caryatids heard in the night for their kidnapped sister.

The central part of the city is bounded by a triangle of Omonia (Consent), Syntagma (Constitution) and Monastyraki squares - this is the most crowded and always filled with tourists and businessmen district of the city. From Monastyraki with its first cathedral in the capital - Agios Eleftherios (XII century), to Syntagma Square, which is considered the business center of the capital, you can walk past the church of Kapnikarei along the quiet pedestrian Ermou Street to pay tribute to the memory of Greek patriots at the Tomb of the Unknown A soldier guarded by an honorary guard of "Evzones" (National Guard) in traditional Greek costumes. Next to the memorial rises the majestic building of the Parliament (in the past - the Royal Palace), behind which lies the luxurious royal park of Zappio, as well as, somewhat at a distance, the ruins of the temple of Olympian Zeus (530 BC - 129 AD). ) and the famous Arch of Hadrian. In no case should you miss the Panathenaic Stadium with 60 thousand seats built on the site of the old ancient stadium (330 BC), where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896, the temple of Hephaestus (sometimes incorrectly called Thissio) - the most beautiful of the surviving ancient temples of Athens, as well as an ensemble of buildings of the National Academy, the University of Athens and National Library on Panepistimiou Street, Keramikos Necropolis, Klepsydra Andronicus of Kirra and the Roman Agora. Of the monuments of later eras, the church of Agios Apostoli (St. Apostles) in the area of ​​​​Ancient Agora, the church of Agios Theodori (St. Theodore) on Klaftmonos Square or the church of Agios Georgios (St. George) on the top of Lycabettus Hill, on which you can take the funicular up to admire the magnificent panorama of the city.

Athens has 250 museums, galleries and more modern temple complexes. The National Archaeological Museum is one of the richest museums in the world, storing unique finds from all over the country (and from the islands of the Cyclades, Crete and Santorini), beautiful jewelry, including those found by Schliemann during the excavations of Mycenae. Only vases and amphoras are allotted a whole room here! The Byzantine Museum on Vasilissis Sofias Street is famous for the best collection of icons and mosaics in Europe, as well as other works by famous Byzantine sculptors and artists. The Benaki Museum was founded in 1930 by the collector A. Benakis and is famous for its rich collection of ancient Greek and Byzantine art, as well as for its expositions of Chinese porcelain, oriental jewelry and weapons. Also of interest are the Archaeological Museum of the Athenian Agora, the Natural History Museum of Goulandris, the National Art Gallery, Museum of Greek Folk Art and Museum of Greek Folk musical instruments, as well as the Cultural Center of the Athens Municipality (Theater Museum), the Museum of the Cyclades and ancient Greek art, the Museum of Holy Icons in the building of the Archdiocese, the Museum of Ceramics and many other collections.

Other sights of Greece

Peloponnese Peninsula

In the northern part of the Peloponnese, in the foothills of Agios Ilias, lies the center of one of ancient civilizations world - the city and fortress of Mycenae, founded by the legendary Perseus. In 1870, the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, relying on the texts of Homer's Iliad, began excavations in these places, and rediscovered the treasures of the "golden Mycenae" to the world. The fortress that surrounded the city was built from giant blocks of stone, giving rise to the legend of the Cyclops who built it. Now, on the site of the legendary city, there is a museum famous for its "Lion's Gate", "Agamemnon's tomb", the royal palace, the royal cemetery and the ruins of numerous household buildings, and many gold items found during excavations are now stored in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Olympia, an ancient Greek city in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese, is the place ancient cult Zeus and the birthplace of the Olympic Games in honor of Olympian Zeus. The existence of Olympia is rooted in antiquity - the first settlements here date back to the 3rd millennium BC. e., and the oldest architectural monuments - to the II millennium BC. e. At present, almost all the monuments of the Altis complex (Olympic temple and cult complex) have been uncovered, and these are such famous buildings as the remains of the sanctuary of Pelops over his grave (end of the 2nd millennium BC), the temple of Hera (7th century BC). e.), belonging to the "seven wonders of the world" sanctuary and oracle of Zeus (468-456 BC), portico Echo (VI century BC), palestra (III century BC .) and a gymnasium (II century BC), a number of temple treasuries, a bouleuterion (the meeting place of the Olympic Council, VI-V centuries BC), a stadium, more than 130 statues, the triumphal arch of Nero, baths and nymphs of the Roman period, and much more. Since the revival of the Games in 1896, the Olympic flame has been lit again in the ancient sanctuary of Olympia, from here it makes its journey to the venue next Olympics. In 1887, the Museum of Olympia was formed - one of the best collections of ancient art in the world.

Epidaurus, located 30 km. east of Nafplio, was famous for the sanctuary of Asclepius (Aesculapius, the god of healing) and its theater (4th century BC), which accommodated more than 14 thousand spectators and in which real ancient Greek dramas are still played every Friday. Also interesting are the local Historical Museum and "katogogoion" - a hotel for pilgrims and patients of the temple of Asclepius.

The fortress of Monemvasia (the legendary Malvasia, VI century) is located on a huge rock in the sea opposite the town of Gefira, with which it is connected by a unique structure - an ancient tunnel. The fortress itself and many Byzantine houses, which now house luxurious hotels, have survived to this day.

The first capital of independent Greece - Nafplio (165 km from Athens), is famous for its Turkish fortress of Palamidi, a small Venetian castle on an island at the entrance to the bay and picturesque alleys overgrown with poplars and olive trees. Now it is the starting point for numerous excursions in the Peloponnese and to the islands of Hydra, Spetses and Poros, as well as to Monemvasia. In the vicinity of Nafplion, there are many good and clean beaches, the best of which stretch along the coast of the Saronic Gulf near the resort of Tolon. You can also relax on the wonderful sandy coasts Kyllini, Kalogria, Ermionida, Porto Heli and Galatas, or in the picturesque mountain resorts of Kalavryta and Vytina.

Macedonia

Thessaloniki - the capital of Macedonia and the second largest city in the country, was founded in 315 BC. e. and named after Thessaloniki, the sister of Alexander the Great. During its centuries-old history, Thessaloniki was the capital of many states, saw the glory of the Macedonians and the power of Rome, the invasions of the Celts and Mongols, survived five centuries of Turkish rule and numerous uprisings of the local population. The Roman triumphal arch of Galeria (Camara, 300 AD), the theater with stands and the mosaic floors of Roman villas, the Roman Rotunda built on the site of the ancient temple of Caviro, itself subsequently rebuilt in christian temple St. George (IV century AD), the basilica of the patron saint of the city - St. Demetrius (V century AD, rebuilt in 1949), Achiropeitos temple (Not made by hands, V-VI centuries), the domed basilica of St. Sophia (V-VIII centuries), the churches of Elijah Profitis (Prophet, 1360), St. Catherine (XIII century), the Holy Apostles (XIV century), built on the site of the ancient temple of Hephaestus, the Church of the Blessed Mother of God Halkeon (5th century AD), Vlatad Monastery (1351-1371) and others. The symbol of the city is Lefkos-Pyrgos (White Tower) - a former terrible Turkish prison, which even deserved the name "Bloody Tower". Now Thessaloniki is a large industrial and financial center of Greece, a venue for major international fairs, but in the vicinity of the city, on the coast of Thermaikos and Paralia Gulf, as well as on the peninsulas of Kassandria (Kasanfa), Sithonia and Athos, there are many beautiful resort places - Sani, Afytos , Nikiti, Sithonia, Kallithea, Litohoro, Sarti, Neos Marmaras, Porto Koufo and many others.

In the southeastern part of Halkidiki there is a holy place for everyone Orthodox person- Agion-Oros (Holy Mount Athos, 2033 m.). The first major monastery, the Great Lavra (Lavra of St. Athanasius), was founded here in 963, in 1016 the first Russian monastery appeared - Xylourgou (later - St. Panteleimon), and now this "monastic state" has 20 monasteries with thick impregnable walls, many sketes and secluded cells. In accordance with the "golden bull" of Constantine the Monk (1060), access to Athos is still limited (permit is required, it is forbidden to stay overnight, women are not allowed to enter), but visiting these places is worth the effort spent on it - Athos is a real museum, unique treasures of great historical and artistic value are stored here.

Thessaly

The modern capital of Thessaly - Larisa, attracts tourists with the acropolis on the hill of Agios Achillios, the ancient Christian basilica and the bishop's chambers (VI century), as well as the ruins of a three-nave basilica with beautiful mosaics and wall paintings (IV-V centuries), the ancient Greek theater (II century BC), picturesque Alkazar Park, Thessaly Theater and many excellent museums. In the area are such interesting places, as the Kefalovriso cave, the international reserve in the Kilada valley, the "residence" of the ancient Greek gods - the city of Olympus (2917 m.), the churches of Aiu Georgiou (St. George), Agios Paraskevis (St. Paraskeva-Friday), Ayia- Athanasios (St. Athanasius) and the famous monastery of Our Lady Panagia Olymbiotis (XIV century), built on the site of an ancient Greek acropolis, numerous monuments of original local architecture in Tsaritsani and Ambelakia, as well as beautiful resort places in Agiokambos, Velika, Kokkino-Nero, Karitsa, Stomio and Nea Mesangala.

The sights of Karditsa are represented by the Church of Zoodokhu-Pigis (Life-Giving Spring), the Archdiocese of Agia Konstantinou, the original Museum of Christianity and Pavsilipos Park. 18 km. southwest of Karditsa, at an altitude of 1150 and., is an important religious and cultural center of the country - the monastery of Moni Koronas. In the vicinity are the healing springs of Smokovos and Kets, the town of Rendina famous for its unique architectural ensemble, the vaulted burial of the Mycenaean period (1500 BC) in the vicinity of Georgiko, the ancient Greek settlements of Gomfi and Kierion, the monastery of Moni Petras ("on the rock") near Lambero and the beautiful artificial lake Tavropou.

The capital of ancient Thessaly and the modern district of Magnesia - Volos, lies in the depths of the Pagasitikos Gulf. Most of the ancient Greek monuments of the city have not survived to this day, but nevertheless, the churches of Aiu Constantinou, Aiu Nikolaou, Metamorphosis (Transfiguration) and Agios Triadas (Holy Trinity) in the Anavros area, the Archaeological Museum and the old miniature train, which are regularly makes flights to the picturesque slopes of Mount Pelion, on which, according to legend, the legendary centaurs lived. There are many beautiful resorts on the Magnesia peninsula - Chorefto, Kissos, Tsangarad, Mylopotamos, etc. This district also includes the Sporades Islands, almost the entire northern part of which has been declared a National Marine Park. The famous Euboea (Evia), the second largest island in the country, is famous for its thermal springs (3rd place in the world), cozy small beaches with pure sand and many karst caves.

The city of Trikala (Homer's Trikki) is interesting for its Byzantine fortress and the old district of Varusi located under its walls, the archaeological reserve on the site of the ancient Greek Asklepion and the Municipal Art Gallery with a wonderful collection of icons of the 16th-19th centuries. In Kalambaka there is the majestic Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin with icons and wall paintings of rare beauty, as well as the picturesque Theopetra rock, in the depths of which lies a cave with an archaeological site from the Stone Age. Kalambaka serves as a starting point to the famous Holy Meteora - the second largest and most important monastery complex in the country after Athos. Built on the tops of grandiose rocks (up to 400 m), the impregnable monastic country of Meteora (from the Greek "meteoros" - floating in the air) became a haven for hermits as early as the 11th century.

Greek islands

The main attraction of the country is its islands. Usually the islands of Greece are divided into two groups - the Ionian Islands (the so-called Eptanis - "Seven Islands", including Corfu, Kefallinthia, Zakynthos and Lefkas) forming the western arc, the more numerous Aegean Islands, united in the Sporades, Cyclades and Dodecanese archipelagos . In the Saronic Gulf, there is another small island group - Argosaronica.

In the south of the Aegean Sea is the most big Island Greece - Crete (8.3 thousand sq. km.), One of the centers of the ancient Minoan culture (III-II thousand years BC), which had a huge impact on the culture of ancient Greece. On this island, covered with the legendary glory of ancient myths, Zeus was born, the palace of Minos and the famous Labyrinth of the Minotaur towered here. On its northern coast are the best beaches in Greece, and in the mountainous central regions - about 3 thousand caves, deep canyons and fertile valleys. The most picturesque are the Lasithi plateau irrigated by thousands of windmills, the longest gorge in Europe - Samaria, the only date forest in Europe in the Vai and Preveli regions, as well as highest peak islands - the city of Ida (2456 m.).

The capital of Crete and at the same time the center of the largest region of the same name on the island is the city of Heraklion (Heraclion), named after the legendary Hercules. Once Heraklion was the main port of the Venetians in Eastern Mediterranean. The powerful defensive walls of the Fortress (XVI century), built around the "old city", have been well preserved to this day. But the main attraction of this major port is the Archaeological Museum, which stores unique frescoes from the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos, the famous "Phaistos Disc" and many sculptural forms. This is a one-of-a-kind collection of exhibits from the Minoan era, placed in a strict chronological order starting from the 6th millennium BC. e. and to "late Rome" (3rd century AD), which makes it possible to visually trace all six millennia of the history of civilization. After the museum, visit the Church of St. Catherine of Sinai with a museum of icons, the Venetian Basilica of St. Mark (1239) converted into a mosque with a Gallery contemporary art, the church of St. Titus (961) with the relics of this saint, the magnificent Morosini fountain and the Venetian stock exchange, which now houses the city hall.

Near Heraklion lie the ruins of ancient Knossos - the most ancient city of Crete and one of the first cities in Europe. The famous Palace of Knossos, the exact date of construction of which is lost in the darkness of centuries (most of the discovered premises date back to the 2nd millennium BC), appears in many ancient legends and myths as an example of luxury and grandeur. Excavated by archaeologists, the remains of this colossal multi-storey structure, richly decorated with frescoes, reliefs and sculptures, are now partially reconstructed and are a wonderful open-air museum. No less interesting is the palace complex belonging to the brother of Minos in Phaistos (XVIII-XV centuries BC), the "royal villa" in Ayia Triada (not far from Phaistos), where a rich tomb with a painted sarcophagus (1550-1400) was discovered BC), the palace at Kato Zakros (the eastern tip of the island) and the ruins of the Niru palace at Hani Kokkini.

Next to Phaistos lie the ruins of Gortyn, the Roman capital of Crete, where the remains of many buildings, the Odeon and the famous Gortyn codex carved on stone columns, have been preserved.

Around Heraklion, there are many monuments from other eras - in Malia (Malia, 34 km east of Heraklion) there is another Minoan palace (1900 BC), in which an ornament in the form of two golden bees was found - the symbols of Crete. The Vrontis Monastery (1400 AD) is famous for its frescoes and the fountain depicting Adam and Eve in Paradise, while the Varsamonera Monastery (XIV century) is considered one of the oldest monasteries in Crete. 20 km. from Heraklion lie the resorts of Gouves and Stalida with excellent beaches, and 26 km. to the north is the best resort of northern Crete - Hersonissos, next to which is one of the largest water parks in Europe in the resort area of ​​Elounda. Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodecanese group ("twelve islands"), lying in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea off the coast of Asia Minor. Here once stood the Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven wonders of the world, ships of the crusaders were loaded in its ports, its land saw great battles and powerful empires. Now it is a world-famous resort with an excellently developed tourism infrastructure. The capital of the island - the city and port of Rhodes, is located on its northern tip. Founded in ancient times by the Greeks, in the Middle Ages it was almost completely rebuilt by the knights of the Order of St. John (Hospitallers) - powerful (up to 12 m thick) fortress walls were built (XIV century), the Palace of the Grand Masters (Castello, XIV century.) with the museum located in it now, the Palace of the Admirals (XV century), the buildings of the residences of the order on Hippoton Street (Knights), shopping mall Castellania, Small Palace and Gothic chapel with a statue of Our Lady. The Suleiman Mosque with an excellent library, the Sultan Mustafa Mosque and the Turkish baths that are still in operation remained from Turkish rule. You should definitely visit the ancient port (Port of Mandraki) with its fortress of St. Nicholas, windmills and statues of deer - the symbols of Rhodes, as well as the archaeological area on Mount Smith, the churches of St. George and St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, the largest Catholic church of Rhodes - Church of Our Lady Chora and Byzantine Trinity Church.

Located in the building of the former knight's hospital (XV century), the Archaeological Museum is famous for its antique collection, Ethnographical museum has a rich exposition of furniture, ceramics and traditional folk crafts, and the Pinakothek (City Art Gallery) presents works contemporary artists. Be sure to visit the famous "Valley of the Butterflies", where thousands of these exotic insects live in natural conditions, among beautiful groves, streams and waterfalls.

The Ionian Islands (Kefalonia, Kerkyra, Zakynthos and Lefkas) lie off the western coast of Greece. The island of Kerkyra (Corfu) is the northernmost and most beautiful of them. Immersed in greenery and flooded with a generous sun, with indented, like lace, the shores of the bays, the island is repeatedly sung in myths as the "country of feacs", in which the Argonauts found refuge after returning from a campaign for the Golden Fleece. Since ancient times, this land has inspired many poets and artists, and today it has become one of the most fashionable resorts in Greece. The best beaches the islands are in the area of ​​Gouvia, Kastoria, Messonghi, Paralia Katerinis, Sidari and Roda. In the capital of the island - Kerkyra, you should definitely visit the Old (Marine, XII-XVI centuries) and New (Coast, XVII centuries) fortresses built by the Venetians, visit the beautiful main square of the city - Spianada and Cathedral St. Spyridon (1590) with the relics of the patron saint of the city, walk through the quarters of "kadunia" ("Old Town" - the largest medieval complex in Greece, protected by the state), see the Municipality (XVII century), the "old palace" Regenda ( 1819) with triumphal arches and the amazing Liston Building. " calling card"of the city is the Blachernae Monastery in Kanoni (4 km south of the capital), also visit the Baroque Palace of San Giacomo, Achillio Palace (1890) in Gastouri with a magnificent park and museum, the well-preserved Monastery of Our Lady of Platytera, the Byzantine Museum and The Museum of Asian Art, the picturesque hill of Bella Vista and the medieval fortresses in Gardiki, Kassiopi, Paleokastritsa and Angelokastro (Fortress of the Angels, XIII century.) Among the ancient monuments, the stone “pediment of the Gorgon” (585 BC) that previously adorned the Doric temple of Artemis is of interest. BC), a fragment of the pediment of the temple with the image of Dionysus, copper sculptures of Aphrodite, etc. In total, there are more than 800 churches and monasteries on this island.

Being the cradle of civilizations of many peoples, Greece on its territory has a huge architectural potential of the past centuries. The architectural monuments of Greece delight many tourists who visit this truly divine country every year. The very architecture of Greece reflects the various periods of the country's development, embodied in stone and marble. For visiting tourists, excursions to the sights of Greece begin precisely from an inspection of the country's architectural monuments.

The most famous of the architectural masterpieces of Greece is the Acropolis of Athens, which is an example of ancient Greek architecture and fits perfectly into the landscape of the area. This unique creation of ancient architects was created in the heyday of Athens in 4000-3000 millennium BC. The Acropolis was the most beautiful temple Greece and was built in honor of the goddess Athena.

The gods of Hellas were the inspiration for the construction of most of the monuments in the west of the Peloponnese, where tourists can look at another unique masterpiece architectural art, a temple dedicated to Zeus - the main deity of the pantheon of Greece. This is an amazing sight, the temple is buried in emerald greenery up to Mount Kronos. The remains of the temple testify to his former glory and wealth, even now it impresses visiting tourists.

In the very center of the country near the Parnassus mountain range, which is located near the city of Delphi, tourists will be able to see the place where rulers and kings from many states flocked in ancient times ancient world. This is the Panhellenic temple, where the famous oracle of ancient Greece arrived, at one time they worshiped and made sacrifices to Athena, Hermes, Dionysus, Poseidon and Apollo.

On the Peloponnesian peninsula, tourists can admire the Temple of Epicurian Apollo, which was one of the most important temples in antiquity. The architects who built this unique building used many innovative designs and ideas.

The architectural monuments of Greece are not only ancient monuments, they are also cultural monuments early Christianity and the Byzantine Empire, which include the Hagia Sophia, which impresses with its beauty and unique Byzantine frescoes and mosaics. great attention the church of St. George, which is known as the Rotunda, also attracts tourists. Tourists can't tear themselves away for hours from the graceful beauty of these unique places of worship, which are rightfully included in the UNESCO lists as masterpieces of the architectural art of Greece.
On the islands of the Aegean and Marmara Seas, there are also many architectural monuments of Greece, which are visited by tourists with great interest.