Ancient History's Living Witness: The Enchanting City of Athens

Prepared by: Nükhet Sezer

Athens, hidden between mountains, possessing an incredible historical fabric, a fairytale city. Every corner witnesses history from a different era. As you walk its streets, you are almost travelling through time. The most striking structures in Athens are temples belonging to different historical periods. A culture familiar to us from every direction. Along with Greek, Albanian and Pomak are spoken. Another familiar element is the warmth of Mediterranean people. Our discovery of Athens begins at the Acropolis; continuing with Monastiraki Square, Anafiotika, Plaka, Kolonaki, the Ancient Agora and the Roman Agora. We enter the Acropolis through the Beulé Gate. This gate, built by the Romans, takes its name from the archaeologist who discovered it. This entrance is called the Propylaea. To the right of the Propylaea are the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion. The space between them is called the "sacred way". Another important structure here is the Acropolis Temple and the Parthenon Temple.

Acropolis Temple:

After a rather exhausting walk, we reach the Acropolis Temple. The temple is built on top of a high rocky hill. As a result of Persian attacks in the 6th century BC, it was burned and destroyed. Greek statesman Pericles began to build another temple in the same area. The reconstruction of the temple took 100 years. Acropolis means "city on high" in Greek. These structures were built in Ancient Greece as places where the gods would dwell. The Acropolis was also built for Athena, the protective goddess of the city. For this reason, it is positioned on the highest hill in the region. The Acropolis was also used as a religious centre during different periods of history.

Acropolis Museum:

The museum that displays the fascinating history of the Acropolis was built by Swiss Architect Bernard Tschumi. Its construction took 11 years and opened to visitors in 2009. The museum displays valuable pieces belonging to the Parthenon Temple. The Parthenon Temple is one of the most important symbols of Greek history.

Monastiraki Square:

This is one of the most crowded tourist spots in Athens. Monastiraki Square is famous for its tavernas; if you find yourself here, I recommend visiting a taverna; you can enjoy your drink to the accompaniment of familiar Mediterranean melodies. In its colourful and lively bazaars, you can encounter familiar flavours again. This square gives you the feeling of being in Istanbul. One of the most important structures here is the Tzstarakis Mosque. This mosque from the Ottoman period was built in 1759. The mosque's minaret was destroyed during the Greek War of Independence. It was later restored and converted into a museum.

Plaka:

The most striking feature of Plaka is that it has a modest atmosphere. Its small and narrow streets, with mansard houses whose windows are lined with colourful flower pots, are like a snippet from the small neighbourhood life of your childhood. Here too you can see souvenirs, antiques and food that show similarities with Turkish culture. Furthermore, the Kanellopoulos Archaeological Museum and the Byzantine Museum, which display many works from the Roman, Greek and Byzantine periods, are located here.

Kolonaki:

Kolonaki is Athens' most upscale neighbourhood. Especially if you are a fashion enthusiast, it will not leave you missing Milan. Kolonaki, which has many boutiques, is known as "Athens' Nişantaşı". As you walk here, you may come across famous Greek artists or politicians.

Anafiotika:

It is located in an area quite close to Plaka and the Acropolis. A charming island neighbourhood with one-storey houses where nature has not been spoilt, far from metropolitan culture. This unique neighbourhood has a rather interesting story. The King of Greece wishes to build a new capital for his country. He settles the people from Anafi Island, which belongs to the Cyclades Islands, in Athens. The people of Anafi rebuild Athens with their unique architectural understanding. Terraced stone island houses designed for summer heat give Athens a new identity. And thus, by establishing the small Anafi, or Anafiotika neighbourhood, they revive their own culture in Athens.

Ermou Street:

If you want to shop in Athens and then taste delicious coffees, you should definitely visit this street. There are many stores where you can find clothing and cosmetic products in particular. In addition, small shops selling snack delicacies add a special colour to Ermou Street. When it comes to nightlife in Athens, this street again comes to mind.

Ancient Greek Agora:

The word "Agora" means "gathering" in Greek. In Ancient Greece, they were social spaces created for the people; we can think of them like today's national parks. Another feature that makes the Ancient Greek Agora important is that the stoa where Socrates was tried is located here. Stoas are covered, protected structures built for the people. The construction of stoas dates back to the 6th century BC. Today it has been restored and converted into a museum. The Temple of Hephaestus is also located within the Agora. This temple was built to represent Hephaestus, the Greek God of Fire. It is a rather high structure consisting of 13 columns. The Church of the Holy Apostles is also one of the most important structures of the Agora. This church was built over a water source in order to bless water nymphs. Images of Jesus Christ, winged angels and the Archangel Michael are the most valuable works in the church. They continue to maintain their authenticity to this day.

Roman Agora:

Smaller than the Ancient Greek Agora, the most striking feature of the Roman Agora is that the Fethiye Mosque, commissioned by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, is located here. Built in 1456, the mosque is also important in terms of Turkish architectural art. It shares similar features with many important structures in Istanbul. With its domed structure, it greatly reflects the Turkish architectural style. It bears the characteristics of Turkish architectural art of the 18th century. Athena Archegetis, or Leader Athena, is also an important monument remaining from the time of Julius Caesar. It contains writings related to its era. The Propylon, which also houses statues of important state officials and emperors of the period, is located within this Agora. One of the most important works of the Roman Agora is the Tower of the Winds. Built in 50 BC by Syrian astronomer Andronikos Kyrrhestas, the structure was used for wind observation, sundial and water clock purposes. The octagonal-shaped structure was built so that each side represents a wind god. The structure was also used as a Mevlevi lodge during the Ottoman period in the 18th century.