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 expand 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 also 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. Don’t forget the well-known phrase from Russian cinema: “Greece has everything!”

1. The ancient Greek city of Delphi

This city in ancient times was a religious center for the 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 included in the UNESCO list. This is a world-class historical and cultural attraction.

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 dates back to the era of Antiquity and the Middle Ages with its crusading knights. It is also a famous beach resort. The most interesting thing you can see here is the Rhodes Fortress, which was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 13th century on the site of an 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 Knights and plunge into the Middle Ages. There are ancient forts and ports that played a significant role in the history of Rhodes, and much more.

3. Palace of the Grand Masters

It is worth mentioning separately about such a historical and cultural landmark 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 structure, built according to all the rules of medieval fortification.

For many centuries, the Palace of the Grand Masters served as the residence of the leader of the Hospitaller Order, which 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 at the resort of the same name. Tourists can fully enjoy the clearest turquoise water, bright but not burning sun, as well as beautiful olive, lemon and orange groves around.

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

The Acropolis is the calling card of the modern Greek capital. The first thing you should see in this city is the Acropolis of Athens. From here begins an 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 back in the Mycenaean era. In the 7th century BC. e. The construction of the most famous temple, the Parthenon, began in the acropolis, and a century later the temple of Athena was erected, of which only the foundation remains today.

During the time when Greece was under the Ottoman yoke, the Acropolis of Athens was a mosque. Later it became an arsenal. At one time, the pasha’s harem was located in one of its temples. The Acropolis of Athens was repeatedly attacked by barbarians and vandals. Today it is magnificent museum under open air.

Many tourists strive to visit Cape Sounion to see this ancient temple with their own eyes. Once upon a time, the ancient Greek Poseidon, the god of the sea, patronized 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. Today, only the ruins of the temple and 12 columns remain. Archaeologists near the temple discovered 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 this is not what made her famous. 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 is today a national reserve.

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

8. Santorini Island

This island is considered by many to be the best tourist destination on earth. It is ideal for a family holiday. There are beautiful clean sandy beaches from white to black, houses that look like something out of a fairy tale. Santorini often hosts wedding ceremonies between couples who dream of a family life like in a fairy tale.

There are a huge number of attractions on such a tiny island. 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 the ancient village located nearby. This is an incredibly beautiful place, visiting which you can take many unique, beautiful photographs.

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

How different are children's impressions 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 was huge and endless, that you could walk around it forever, and that you would never 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 travel so often that it’s getting harder and harder for me to be impressed, or the Acropolis really isn’t that big, and I should be surprised that such a huge thing happened in such a small place. the number of important historical events that influenced the course of world history.

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 of each other, very convenient for tourists. On the other hand, if you think that the ancient Greeks once walked on these very stones, that Socrates, Plato, Plutarch were here... - you feel a little uneasy.
From the modern, lively area of ​​Monastiraki, the road to the Acropolis takes only 15-20 minutes, and even then at a leisurely pace. True, you have to walk uphill all the time, because the Acropolis is located on a hill. The higher you go, the better you can see the ancient buildings preserved 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. It offers some of the most beautiful views of Athens. 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 life here was once concentrated in a much smaller space. In the very distance you can see Lycabettus Hill - this is another quite popular place for tourists with cameras. Below are paths among numerous ancient stones: it’s even a shame that so many buildings from those times have not survived:


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


And this is the view from the Acropolis to the Areopagus. That very small and uneven stone hill is the Areopagus, the place where important political and court decisions. By the way, it is about the same size as the famous stones lying in Central Park in New York. But the historical significance cannot be compared.


The Parthenon is undergoing chronic restoration. They are trying to piece together the ancient stones scattered throughout the Acropolis and restore the building from them as much as possible. It’s difficult to say what will come of this idea, especially considering how much of everything was taken from the Acropolis from Greece back in the Middle Ages. Elements of the Parthenon are now stored in Paris, the Vatican, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen... And, of course, no one is going to return them to the Greeks.


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


The famous portico of the caryatids:





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


Meanwhile, even now a construction of such a scale seems grandiose:




The rise and fall of civilizations is generally an interesting thing: what was once one of the greatest nations in Europe suddenly disappears. In rare paintings by Greek artists of the Middle Ages, you can see images of shepherds herding goats on the top of the Acropolis: several centuries have passed since the collapse of Athens - and it seems as if not a trace remains of the ancient Greeks. The medieval inhabitants of Greece probably did not even know what kind of buildings they were there 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 a time. The Greeks recently renovated 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 to build amphitheaters.


Behind the Theater of Dionysus you can see an ultra-modern building - this modern museum Acropolis, 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 I was there, it was not yet fully open. But even the part that was publicly available was impressive:


According to the plan, sculptures from the temples of the Acropolis, everything found on the hill, preserved fragments of the Parthenon, as well as copies of ancient works of art associated with the Acropolis taken 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, delayed 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 transportation 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 easily compete even with the National Archaeological Museum, which was still considered the main museum of the city.




And 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 was completed only in the 2nd century. BC. Now all that remains of the temple is one single corner and a pair of columns at the other end of 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 you can quite imagine the scale of the building:

Planning trip 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 is art objects.

A large number of treatises by famous 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, you 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 dates back to the Hellenistic period of Greek art. At this time, through the forces of Alexander the Great, the culture of Hellas began to spread far beyond the Balkan Peninsula, which was noticeably reflected in the fine arts - sculptures, paintings and frescoes became more realistic, the faces of the gods on them have human traits– relaxed postures, distracted gaze, soft smile.

Aphrodite statue, or as the Romans called it, Venus, is made of snow-white marble. Its height is slightly larger 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 of the author of the masterpiece indicated on it was preserved: Agesander, the son of Menidas, a resident of Antioch.

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

Nike of Samothrace

The creation of the statue of the goddess of victory Nike dates back to the 2nd century BC. Research has shown that Nika was installed above the sea coast on a steep cliff - her marble clothes flutter as if from the wind, and the tilt of the body represents constant forward movement. 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 arms of the statue were not preserved, although individual fragments were discovered during excavations in 1950. In particular, Karl Lehmann and a group of archaeologists found right hand goddesses. The 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 is made of plaster, was restored.

Laocoon and his sons

A sculptural composition depicting the mortal struggle of Laocoon, the priest of the god Apollo and his sons, with two snakes sent by Apollo in revenge for the fact that Laocoon did not listen to his will and tried to prevent the Trojan horse from entering 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 Nero’s “golden house” 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 transported 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 Laocoon's desperate dying struggle with divine punishment, inspired many sculptors of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and gave rise to a fashion for depicting the complex, whirlwind 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 about 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 to throw lightning in righteous anger. The lightning itself has not survived, but from numerous smaller figures it can be judged that it had the appearance of a flat, highly elongated bronze disk.

From almost two thousand years of being under water, the statue was almost undamaged. Only the eyes, which were presumably made of ivory and encrusted with precious stones, were missing. You can see this work of art at the National Archaeological Museum, which is located in Athens.

Statue of Diadumen

A marble copy of a bronze statue of a young man who crowns himself with a diadem - a symbol of sports victory, probably adorned the site of the competition 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 slight movement, his face reflects complete calm and concentration. The athlete behaves like a deserved winner - he does not show fatigue, although his body requires rest after the fight. In the 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. Full proportionality of the body is the pinnacle of development of this period - classicism of the 5th century.

Although the bronze original has not survived to this day, 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

The marble statue of Aphrodite depicts the goddess of love baring herself before taking her legendary, often mythical bath that restores her virginity. Aphrodite holds in her left hand the removed clothes, which gently fall onto a jug standing nearby. From an engineering point of view, this solution 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 depict her naked, which at one time was considered unheard of audacity.

There are legends according to which the sculptor Praxiteles created Aphrodite in the image of his beloved, the hetaera Phryne. When her former admirer, the orator Euthyas, found out about this, he raised a scandal, as a result of which Praxiteles was accused of unforgivable blasphemy. At the trial, the defense attorney, seeing that his arguments did not satisfy the impression on the judge, tore off Phryne’s clothes to show those present that such a perfect body of the model simply could not conceal a dark soul. The judges, being adherents of the concept of kalokagathia, were forced to completely acquit the defendants.

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

Marathon youth

Statue young man made of bronze, and supposedly depicts greek god Hermes, although no prerequisites or attributes of it are observed in the hands or clothes of the young man. The sculpture was raised from the bottom of the Marathon Bay in 1925, and since then has been added to the exhibition of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Due to the fact that the statue was under water for a long time, all its features were very well preserved.

The style in which the sculpture was made reveals the style of the famous sculptor Praxiteles. The young man stands in a relaxed position, his hand rests on the wall against which the figure was installed.

Discus thrower

Statue ancient Greek sculptor Myron has not survived in its original form, but is widely known throughout the world thanks to bronze and marble copies. The sculpture is unique in that it was the first to depict a person in complex, dynamic movement. Such a bold decision by the author served as a striking example for his followers, who, with no less success, created works 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 point of view of the observer, pose.

Delphic Charioteer

A bronze sculpture of a charioteer was discovered during excavations in 1896 at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, and is a classic example ancient art. The figure depicts an ancient Greek youth driving a cart 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 young man's eyelashes and lips are decorated with copper, and the headband is made of silver, and presumably also had inlay.

The time of creation of sculpture, theoretically, is at the junction of archaic and early classics– her pose is characterized by stiffness and the absence of any hint of movement, but her head and face are made with quite great realism. As in later sculptures.

Athena Parthenos

Majestic goddess Athena statue has not survived to this day, but there are many copies of it, restored in accordance with ancient descriptions. The sculpture was made entirely of ivory and gold, without the use of stone or bronze, and stood in the main temple of Athens - the Parthenon. Distinctive feature goddess - 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 depicting 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 assessed Phidias's act, which cost him his life - the sculptor was imprisoned, where he took his own life with poison.

Greek culture became the founder for the development of fine arts throughout 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 nurtured human beauty in its physical, moral and intellectual manifestation. Residents of Greece of that time they not only worshiped many Olympian gods, but also tried to resemble them as much as possible. All this is reflected 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 many of the statues did not survive to modern times, they exact copies can be seen in many museums around the world.

Walking with a volcano

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

Greece: Chalkidiki. Psakudya

The resort town of Psakoudia is located on the Kassandra Peninsula, which is often called the first prong of Halkidiki. The city has an advantageous geographical position, thanks to which a holiday in Greece in Psakoudia is not limited to local attractions and entertainment, from here it is easy to get to anywhere in Halkidiki.

Meteora, St. Stephen's Convent

When you approach Kalambaka, having left the town of Trikala, and look at the Meteora rocks, from a distance of 16 km, you see on the first rock on your right, the monastery of St. Stephen, which has been majestically rising for centuries in this place. You can get to the monastery by two roads, the first leads from the village of Kastraki, and the second from the south-eastern side of Kalambaki.

Miraculous icons of Athos monasteries

On Holy 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 extends 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 began in the form in which we know it today. And although many elements came from earlier eras, it was in Greece that many classical elements of science, art and medicine originated. And the Greek language served as the “donor” of many modern dialects, not only at the level of individual words, but even writing and liturgical elements. The colossal historical heritage of the country in most cases today is relatively poorly visible - the turbulent history of this land destroyed many ancient cities and temples. For example, there are much more monuments of ancient civilization outside the country itself, in Asia Minor. However, the land of Greece itself carries the spirit of its former greatness, and there are more monuments later eras there's a lot here. Friendly people, unique traditions, picturesque settlements, warm climate, countless islands and a long sea coast attract millions of tourists here every year.

When asked what Greece is primarily associated with, many will answer: the famous Acropolis of Athens. 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 melt-in-the-mouth moussaka and lamb souvlaki, washed down with retsina, a white wine with the aroma of pine resin. Those who love solitude will find hard-to-reach corners under the Greek sky, while dreamy people will be more likely to be attracted by Delphi, the Meteora monastery complex or the amphitheater in Epidaurus.

It is impossible to recognize this country and all the iconic sights of Greece if you have been 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 Aigaleo, Parnitha, Pendeli and Hymetos (Imitos). The city itself is built somewhat chaotically and, due to its location in the intermountain basin, has a rather difficult ecological situation, but its beautiful ancient monuments and excellent museums attract millions of tourists here. The center of Athens is considered to be the Acropolis and Lycabettos (Lykabettos) hills, 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 the 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 structures that have survived to this day were built mainly in the 5th century. BC e. The entrance to the Acropolis was the monumental portal Propyleion (447-432 BC).

The pearl of the Acropolis is considered to be the Parthenon (5th century BC) - the temple of Athena Parthenos, which is a unique architectural structure - it was designed in such a way that its different-sized columns and the curvature of the seemingly flat structures give 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. Throughout its history, the Parthenon was both a Christian temple and a gunpowder warehouse, and only in the 19th century. partial restoration of this unique monument began, which is still ongoing. The Pegille Theater (2nd century BC) has also been restored, where 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)

Next to the Parthenon is the oldest place of worship for the Athenians - the small classical temple of the Erechtheion (421-407 BC), built on the site of a 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 “Porticus of the Daughters” - six sculptures of the Caryatids, one of which was taken by the English ambassador to London (now kept in the British Museum), which gave rise to the legend of the cry of the remaining Caryatids heard in the night for their kidnapped sister.

The central part of the city is limited by the triangle of Omonia (Concord), Syntagma (Constitution) and Monastyraki squares - this is the most crowded area of ​​the city and always filled with tourists and businessmen. 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 Kapnikareya Church along the quiet pedestrian Ermou Street to pay tribute to the memory of Greek patriots at the Tomb of the Unknown A soldier who is protected by an honor guard of "Evzones" (national guard) in traditional Greek costumes. Next to the memorial stands the majestic Parliament building (formerly the Royal Palace), behind which lies the luxurious royal park of Zappio, as well as, somewhat further away, the ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus (530 BC - 129 AD). ) and the famous Arch of Hadrian. Under no circumstances should you miss the 60,000-seat Panathenaic Stadium, 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 the ensemble of buildings of the National Academy, the University of Athens and National Library on Panepistimiou Street, Necropolis of Keramikos, Clepsydro Andronikos of Kyrrha and the Roman Agora. Among the monuments of later eras, the Church of Ayia Apostoli (St. Apostles) in the area of ​​the Ancient Agora, the Church of Ayia Theodori (St. Theodore) on Klaftmonos Square or the Church of Ayia Georgios (St. George) on the top of Lykabettos Hill, where you can Take the funicular 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 throughout the country (and from the islands of the Cyclades, Crete and Santorini), beautiful jewelry, including those found by Schliemann during the excavations of Mycenae. There is a whole room dedicated to vases and amphorae alone! The Byzantine Museum on Vasilissis Sophias 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 its exhibitions of Chinese porcelain, oriental jewelry and weapons. Also interesting are the Archaeological Museum of the Athens Agora, the Museum of Natural History 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, Museum of Holy Icons in the Archdiocese building, Museum of Ceramics and many other collections.

Other attractions in Greece

Peloponnese Peninsula

In the northern part of the Peloponnese, in the foothills of Aggios Ilias, lies the center of one of the ancient civilizations world - the city and fortress of Mycenae, founded by the legendary Perseus. In 1870, 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 stone blocks, which gave 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 Gate”, “Tomb of Agamemnon”, the royal palace, the royal cemetery and the ruins of numerous domestic 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 goes back to ancient times - the first settlements here date back to the 3rd millennium BC. e., and the oldest architectural monuments date back to the 2nd millennium BC. e. Currently, almost all the monuments of the Altis complex (Olympic temple-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). BC), belonging to the “seven wonders of the world”, the sanctuary and oracle of Zeus (468-456 BC), the portico of Echo (VI century BC), the palaestra (III century BC .) and gymnasium (II century BC), a number of temple treasuries, bouleuterion (meeting place of the Olympic Council, VI-V centuries BC), stadium, more than 130 statues, the triumphal arch of Nero, baths and nymphaeums from the Roman period, and much more. Since the revival of the Games in 1896, the Olympic flame has been rekindled in the ancient sanctuary of Olympia, from where it makes its journey to the venue. next Olympics. In 1887, the Olympia Museum was founded - one of the best collections of ancient art in the world.

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

The Monemvasia fortress (legendary Malvasia, 6th 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 fashionable hotels, have survived to this day.

The first capital of independent Greece - Nafplion (165 km from Athens), is famous for its Turkish fortress Palamidi, a small Venetian castle on an island at the entrance to the bay and picturesque alleys covered with poplars and olive trees. Now it is the starting point for numerous excursions around the Peloponnese and to the islands of Hydra, Spetses and Poros, as well as to Monemvasia. In the vicinity of Nafplio 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 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 Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great. Over 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 Galerius (Camara, 300 AD), a theater with stands and mosaic floors of Roman villas, the Roman Rotunda built on the site of the ancient Caviro temple, which itself was later rebuilt in christian temple St. George (IV century A.D.), Basilica of the city's patron saint - St. Demetrius (V century A.D., rebuilt in 1949), Temple of Achiropiitos (Miracle, V-VI centuries), the domed basilica of St. Sophia (V-VIII centuries), the temples of Elijah Profitis (Prophet, 1360), St. Catherine (XIII century), the Holy Apostles (XIV century), the temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary built on the site of the ancient temple of Hephaestus Chalkeon (5th century AD), the Vlatadov monastery (1351-1371), etc. 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 major industrial and financial center of Greece, the site of major international fairs, but in the vicinity of the city, on the coast of the Gulf of Thermaikos and Paralia, as well as on the peninsulas of Kassandria (Kasantha), Sithonia and Athos, there are many beautiful resort places - Sani, Afitos , Nikiti, Sithonia, Kallithea, Litochoro, Sarti, Neos Marmaras, Porto Koufo and many others.

In the south-eastern part of Halkidiki there is a holy place for everyone Orthodox man- Agion Oros (Holy Mount Athos, 2033 m.). The first large monastery, the Great Lavra (Lavra of St. Athanasius), was founded here in 963, in 1016 the first Russian monastery appeared - Xylurgu (later - St. Panteleimon), and now in this “monastic state” there are 20 monasteries with thick impregnable walls, many hermitages and secluded cells. According to the "golden bull" of Constantine the Monk (1060), access to Athos is still limited (permission required, overnight stays prohibited, women not allowed), but visiting these places is worth the effort - Athos represents a real museum, unique treasures of enormous historical and artistic value are stored here.

Thessaly

The modern capital of Thessaly - Larissa, 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), an ancient Greek theater (II century . BC), the picturesque Alcazar Park, the Theater of Thessaly and many excellent museums. In the area there are such interesting places, like the Kefalovriso cave, an international reserve in the Kilada valley, the “place of residence” of the ancient Greek gods - the city of Olympus (2917 m), the churches of Aiou Georgiou (St. George), Agios Paraskevis (St. Paraskevi-Pyatnitsa), Ayia- Athanasiou (St. Athanasius) and the famous monastery of Our Lady of Panagia Olymbiotis (XIV century), built on the site of the 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 Metropolis of Ayia Constantine, the original Museum of Christianity and Pavsilipos Park. 18 km. southwest of Karditsa, at an altitude of 1150 altitude, there is an important religious and cultural center of the country - the Moni Koronas monastery. In the surrounding area there are the healing springs of Smokovos and Ketsa, the town of Rendina, famous for its unique architectural ensemble, a 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 Lambereau and the beautiful artificial lake Tavropu.

The capital of ancient Thessaly and the modern district of Magnisia - 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 interesting are the churches of Aiou Constantinou, Aiou Nikolaou, Metamorphosis (Transfiguration) and Agios Triadas (Holy Trinity) in the Anavros area, the Archaeological Museum and the ancient miniature train, which regularly makes flights to the picturesque slopes of Mount Pelion, where, according to legend, the legendary centaurs lived. There are many beautiful resorts on the Magnisia 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 of the country, is famous for its thermal springs (3rd place in the world), cozy small beaches with clean sand and many karst caves.

The city of Trikala (Homeric Trikki) is interesting for its Byzantine fortress and the old district of Varusi located under its walls, an 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 Mary with icons and wall paintings of rare beauty, as well as the picturesque Teopetra rock, in the depths of which lies a cave with an archaeological site from the Stone Age period. Kalambaka serves as the 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 cliffs (up to 400 m), the inaccessible monastic country of Meteora (from the Greek “meteoros” - floating in the air) became a shelter for hermits back in the 11th century.

Greek Islands

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

In the south of the Aegean Sea there 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 influence on the culture of ancient Greece. On this island, covered in the legendary glory of ancient myths, Zeus was born, here stood the palace of Minos and the famous Labyrinth of the Minotaur. On its northern coast there are the best beaches in Greece, and in the mountainous central regions there are 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 island of the same name is the city of Heraklion (Herakleion), named after the legendary Hercules. Heraklion was once 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 large port is the Archaeological Museum, which houses 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 strict chronological order, starting from the 6th millennium BC. e. and until “late Rome” (III century AD), which allows us to clearly trace all six thousand years 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. The remains of this colossal multi-story structure, richly decorated with frescoes, reliefs and sculpture, discovered by archaeologists, have now been partially reconstructed and are a wonderful open-air museum. No less interesting is the palace complex in Festus that belonged to the brother of Minos (XVIII-XV centuries BC), the “royal villa” in Ayia Triada (not far from Festus), where a rich tomb with a painted sarcophagus was discovered (1550-1400). . BC), the palace at Kato Zakros (eastern tip of the island) and the ruins of the Niru palace at Hani Kokkini.

Near Festus 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 are 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 a decoration in the form of two golden bees - symbols of Crete - was found. The Vrontisia Monastery (1400 AD) is famous for its frescoes and fountain depicting Adam and Eve in Paradise, while the Varsamonera Monastery (14th century) is considered one of the oldest monasteries in Crete. 20 km. from Heraklion are 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 located 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 near the coast of Asia Minor. Here once stood the Colossus of Rhodes - one of the seven wonders of the world, the ships of the Crusaders were loaded in its ports, its land saw great battles and mighty empires. Now it is a world famous resort with an excellently developed tourism infrastructure. The island's capital, the city and port of Rhodes, is located at 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 (Hospitaliers) - powerful (up to 12 m thick) fortress walls (XIV century), the Palace of the Grand Masters (Castello, XIV century) were built. with the museum now located in it, the Palace of the Admirals (XV century), the buildings of the order’s residences on Hippoton (Knights) Street, shopping mall Castellania, Small Palace and Gothic chapel with a statue of Our Lady. All that remains from Turkish rule are the Suleiman Mosque with an excellent library, the Sultan Mustafa Mosque and Turkish baths that are still in operation. It is definitely worth visiting the ancient port (port of Mandraki) with its fortress of St. Nicholas, windmills and statues of deer - symbols of Rhodes, as well as the archaeological area on Mount Monte Smith, the churches of St. George and St. Paraskeva Friday, the largest Catholic church in Rhodes - the Church of Our Lady of Chora and the Byzantine Trinity Church.

Located in the building of a former knight's hospital (XV century), the Archaeological Museum is famous for its antique collection, Ethnographical museum has a rich exhibition of furniture, ceramics and traditional folk crafts, and the Pinakothek (City Art Gallery) displays works contemporary artists. Be sure to visit the famous “Valley of 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 bathed in generous sunshine, with the shores of bays indented like lace, the island is repeatedly sung in myths as the “country of the Phaeacians”, in which the Argonauts found refuge after returning from the 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. Best beaches The islands are in the area of ​​Gouvia, Kastoria, Messonghi, Paralia Katerini, Sidari and Roda. In the capital of the island - Kerkyra, you should definitely visit the Old (Maritime, XII-XVI centuries) and New (Coastal, 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 "Cadunia" ("Old Town" is the largest medieval complex in Greece, protected by the state), examine the Municipality (XVII century), the "old palace" Regenda ( 1819) from triumphal arches and the amazing Liston building. " Business card"The city is considered to be the monastery of Blachernae in Kanoni (4 km south of the capital), also visit the Baroque Palace of San Giacomo, the Achillo Palace (1890) in Gasturi with a magnificent park and museum, the well-preserved monastery of Our Lady of Platytera, the Byzantine Museum and Museum of Asian Art, the picturesque Bella Vista Hill and medieval fortresses in Gardiki, Kassiopi, Paleokastritsa and Angelokastro (Fortress of Angels, 13th century).Of ancient monuments, the stone “Gorgon pediment” (585 BC) that previously adorned the Doric Temple of Artemis is interesting. 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 nations, Greece has on its territory a huge architectural potential of the past centuries. The architectural monuments of Greece delight the many tourists who visit this truly divine country every year. The architecture of Greece itself reflects the various periods of the country's development, embodied in stone and marble. For visiting tourists, excursions to the sights of Greece begin with 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 is a unique creation of ancient architects, created in the heyday of Athens in 4000-3000 millennium BC. The Acropolis was the most beautiful temple Greece and was erected in honor of the goddess Athena.

The gods of Hellas were the inspiration for the construction of most of the monuments in the western Peloponnese, where tourists can look at another unique masterpiece architectural art, a temple dedicated to Zeus, the main deity of the Greek pantheon. This is an amazing sight, the temple is surrounded by emerald greenery all the way to Mount Kronos. The remains of the temple testify to its 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 explore the place where rulers and kings from many countries flocked in ancient times ancient world. This is a Panhellenic temple, where the most famous oracle of ancient Greece arrived; at one time, Athena, Hermes, Dionysus, Poseidon and Apollo were worshiped and sacrificed here.

On the Peloponnesian Peninsula, tourists will be able to admire the Temple of Apollo Epicurius, 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 monuments of antiquity, they are also cultural monuments early Christianity and the Byzantine Empire, which include the Church of Hagia Sophia, which amazes with its beauty and unique Byzantine frescoes and mosaics. Much attention Tourists are also attracted to the Church of St. George, which is known as the Rotunda. Tourists for hours cannot tear themselves away from the elegant beauty of these unique religious buildings, which are rightfully included in the UNESCO lists as masterpieces of Greek architectural art.
On the islands of the Aegean and Marmara Seas, there are also many architectural monuments of Greece, which tourists visit with great interest.