Second part of the roundup on archaeological sites in central Athens. In this post we wiil see the theater of Dionysus and the Areopagus, directly opposite the Acropolis, with no entrance fee and a stunning view.
[sam id=”7″]
Theater of Dionysus
(entrance 2€ / included in the special ticket package)
The theater of Dionysus is probably the oldest theater in the classical world, the one where they were both theater and the Greek tragedy were born. Aeschylus, Sophocles, Aristophanes, have all passed through here.
The site of the theater is also an excellent starting point for a visit to the Acropolis, in fact, following the path that leads to the theater of Herodes Atticus and then rises to the north, you will find a small door which communicates directly with the path that leads to top of the rock, preventing the cue at the box office for tickets and at the official entrance of the Acropolis. The following photos were all taken in the early morning, my choice not only for the best light, but also to avoid the heat and overcrowding.
In the photos below: on the left, some exhbits on the path that leads to the theater of Herodes Atticus. Middle: the last part of the path that leads to the Acropolis. Right: apaoramic view of the archaeological site of the Theatre of Dionysus from the Acropolis..
In the map below, the yellow placeholder indicates the entrance to the site of the theater of Dionysus, the green one, the door that communicates with the site of the Acropolis and the blue one the ‘traditional’ entrance of the latter.
Areopagus(Ario Pàgo)
(free entrance)
The Areopagus is a rocky hill just in front of the exit of the Acropolis site. Apart from its function as the supreme court, it is also the place where St. Paul tried, with little success, to Christianize the Greeks. There is nothing special to see, but the location offers an impressive view over the Agorà of Athens, a good part of the city till the port of Piraeus and the Propylaea of the Acropolis. In the evening, when the weather permits, it is a classic meeting place for young people: a little chat, a guitar, a couple of beers and a view, to say the least, magic 🙂
Top left: the rock of the Areopagus viewed from the Acropolis, in the other two picture you can see the ancient staircase that leads to the top of the rock. It is slippery and it’s best to avoid it. Take the very ugly, but safer metallic stairs on the left side of the rock.
The view to both the Acropolis and the Agorà of Athens is remarkable. In the above pictures you will recognize the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoà (gallery) of Attalus. The photos were taken in the late afternoon.
[sam id=”7″]