Your heart will jump a beat the first time you see the Parthenon perched atop the Acropolis. The word is Greek for the highest point of the city. The Scared Rock is the epicenter of ancient Athens. Archeological evidence suggests people lived here over 5,000 years ago. However, many of the ruins date back to the 5th century BC. This Golden Age of Athens witnessed the construction of several monumental temples honoring the goddess Athena, the city’s patron. The 7.5 acre citadel thrived for about 1,000 years until pagan worship was banned during the Byzantine period. The Acropolis was subsequently seized by the Ottomans (mid-15th century), significantly damaged by the Venetians during the Morean War (1687) and attacked three times in the 19th century. Extensive restoration began in the mid-1970s. Since then, the Acropolis has partially reflected the pinnacle of Athens’ antiquity. Roaming the Acropolis will be the highlight of your trip.
