The Acropolis hill is considered a gem for Athens and all of Greece. With the Parthenon temple still standing, to remind us of the grandeur of ancient Greece, the Acropolis is truly a wonder of the world, containing four ancient buildings.

The Parthenon was built between 447 and 432 B.C. and most of the artifacts from the temple are housed today in the Acropolis museum near the Parthenon.

One of the oldest Greek theaters, built in the 4th century B.C., is the Theater of Dionysus, which hosted plays of Euripides, Aristophanes, Sophocles and Aeschylus.

The reconstructed Herod Atticus amphitheater is used during the summer to host the Athens Festival. Truly one of the most impressive ancient monuments in Athens it was built by the Roman ruler Herod Atticus in the 2nd century A.D., (the theater can seat 5,000 spectators and has 32 rows of seats).

The ancient Supreme Court, the Areopagus, is located just below the entrance to the Acropolis. It was here where the first court of homicide was held and where St. Paul addressed the Athenians in 54 A.D.

At the foot of the Acropolis is the Ancient Agora, known as the commercial and public centre of ancient Athens. During the Classical Age, Sophocles and Aristotle taught there. Although much of the marketplace is in ruins, one can still distinguish the layout of the area. The museum nearby houses many of the artifacts found in the area.

The Thesseion is located at one end of the Ancient Agora, and it was first built in 450 B.C.

The Pnyx hill, located on the west side of the Acropolis, now serves as the theater for the Sound & Light show every evening. However, in ancient times, Pnyx, which offers a splendid view of the Acropolis and is a must for photographers, was the meeting place for Athenians to decide issues.

Also facing the Acropolis is the Philopappou hill, with a funeral monument of Philopappus (he was a Roman consul of the 2nd century A.D) located on the top of it. A cave sighted on the Philopappou hill is believed to have been the prison of Socrates and where he drank his fatal dose of hemlock.

Plaka: Once the verve of Athens, it is located on the north slope of the Acropolis. Old-timers will tell you stories about Plaka being the centre of nightlife activity, in the 19th century. It is a pleasant, cobblestone walkway, and cars are banned from most of the area. Narrow streets, winding stairways and some old mansions are left, reminding us of old Athens, which contained a cluster of 500 houses.

There are taverns, numerous tourist shops and some ancient sites worth visiting in the Plaka area. The Tower of the Winds, with its water clock, sundial and weather vane, built in the 1st century B.C., is a remarkable octagonal monument. Each side has a relief, depicting the wind that blows from that direction.

At the west side of Plaka is the Roman Agora, which includes Hadrian's Library, built by the Roman ruler in the 2nd century A.D. The Monument of Lysikratous , a well preserved 4th century B.C. monument, rising 21 feet from its base, is also worth visiting in the Plaka area.

Monastiraki: If it's a bargain you are after and if you still have not decided what souvenir to take back home, don't forget to visit the Monastiraki Flea Market! Here you will find shops selling a wide selection of souvenirs for all tastes and budgets.

The best time to visit Monastiraki is on Sunday mornings, when the Flea Market is running full and before the rush hour, later in the afternoon. The Flea Market is next to the Monastiraki metro station and just off the square with the same name.

Just two blocks up from Monastiraki Sq., heading towards Syntagma Sq., is the Greek Orthodox Cathedral known as Mitropolis. It is a massive structure composed of stones from 72 demolished cathedrals around the city, destroyed by the Turks. With an impressive interior, the cathedral was built in the previous century.

Near the end of the Flea Market is the Keramikos Cemetery, located on Ermou St. going towards Pireos Ave. It was the famous burial ground for the most important ancient citizens of Athens, (most of the finds of the cemetery are in the museum within the foundation).

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