Poseidon's Temple, Cape Sounion © GNTO
Cape Sounion
Cape Sounion, about 43 miles (69km) east of Athens, is a popular
seaside resort used by locals and visitors alike. On the cliffs
above the town is the 5th-century BC Temple of Poseidon, where,
according to legend, King Aegeus waited for his son, Theseus, to
return from Crete after slaying the Minotaur. Sounion is easily
accessible by bus from the city.
Monastery of Daphni
This great Byzantine architectural masterpiece dates from the
4th century AD, and is situated about five and a half miles (9km)
west of Athens on the road to Corinth. The church is built on a
site where shrines have existed since ancient times, often
destroyed by invaders and earthquakes. During the Crusades
Cistercian monks turned Daphni into a Catholic monastery, but today
it has been reclaimed by the Greek Orthodox Church and its
beautiful mosaic work depicting Biblical scenes has been restored.
A wine festival is held at Daphni each year in
August/September.
Address: Athinon Avenue, Daphni;
Telephone: (210) 581 1558;
Opening time: Daily 8.30am to 2.45pm;
Admission: €3. From November to March, Sundays is free
Marathon
About 26 miles (42km) northeast of Athens, between the villages
of Nea Makri and Marathona, is the site of the great battle between
the small force of Athenians and the mighty Persian army in 490 BC.
On the plain of Marathon today the burial mound of the 192
Athenians who fell in the fight can be seen, along with a small
museum displaying archaeological relics from the battlefield. The
battle is famed not only for the Athenian victory against huge
odds, but also for the fleetness of the Athenian runner,
Pheidippides, who was dispatched to Athens with news of the victory
and fell dead from exhaustion after delivering the message to the
city; thus the name 'Marathon' was given to long-distance running
races. The Marathon race in the 2004 Olympics started here, and
followed the same route as that run by Pheidippedes in the legend,
ending at the Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens which was built for
the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Address: 114 Plataion Street;
Telephone: (294) 055 155;
Transport: The site is on the National highway towards Thessaloniki and can be reached by regular buses from Athens;
Opening time: Museum open Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am to 3pm;
Admission: €3. Sundays are free from November to March
Delphi
In ancient times pilgrims came from all over the Greek world to
seek advice from the god Apollo, via his oracle at the scenically
beautifully situated site on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, known
as Delphi. Today tourists flock constantly in the wake of the
pilgrims of old up the Sacred Way to marvel at the remains of the
marble Sanctuary of Apollo, the Castalian Spring and the Sanctuary
of Athena. There is an excellent museum, too, at the site, which is
northwest of Athens in the prefecture of Fokida.
Telephone: (226) 508 2312;
Opening time: Daily 7.30am to 7pm;
Admission: Museum and site: €9 (concessions €5); museum only: €6 (concessions €3)
Saronic Islands
The Saronic group of islands are all within an hour or two of
Piraeus by boat, making them ideal destinations for day trips from
the city for those who want to experience a taste of Greek island
life. Alternatively, use the islands as tranquil bases on which to
stay while commuting to Athens to see the sights. Aegina is the
closest island, sporting a sandy beach called Agia Marina, and a
quaint fishing village called Perdika. Hydra has no sandy beaches,
but the town is picturesque and offers good seafood restaurants.
Poros can be reached from Piraeus in little more than an hour and
sports beautiful forests that descend to the beach. It offers water
sports opportunities and a lively café scene, as well as
being a ferry hub offering connections to all the popular Aegean
islands. Spetsi has an attractive old harbour and one of the oldest
wooden boat-building yards in Greece. It is also renowned for its
beaches and pine forests.
