Outside the city centre
Attica
is surrounded by sea to the north, east and south. The southern suburbs
of the city, located on the coast of the Saronic Gulf, offer many opportunities
for a walk along the seaside. There you will also find many beautiful both
organized and free beaches, and shopping centres and nightclubs (especially
during the summer). On the opposite direction, in Maroussi (a suburb north of
the centre) you can find the Olympic Stadium where the 2004 Athens Olympic
Games took place. Kifissia (another suburb north of Maroussi) is also worth a
visit, with its beautiful villas, impressive mansions, amazing shops and
restaurants.
The
neighboring town of Piraeus is Greece s and Athens main port from where most
connections to the Aegean islands depart.
Another
important site is the Dafne Monastery (11 km west), one of the most significant
Byzantine monuments of the country (12th c.) with unique mosaics Other
important monuments are the Kessariani Monastery (5km east) which was founded
in the 2nd century and was declared a wold Heritage Site in 1990 by UNESCO and
Cape Sounio (58 km south) with its astonishing view and the Temple of Poseidon
(5th c. BCE). Following a wonderful route along the northeast, you can
visit the area of the battle of Marathon (490 BCE) with the Tomb of Marathon,
the archaeological sites of Eleusina (23 km west), of Amphiareion (48 km
northeast), of Vavron (38 km east) and Ramfus (close to Marathon). Athens
is a basin surrounded by the wonderful mountain massifs of Parnitha with its
renovated casino, Penteli and Hymettos.
If you wish to leave Attica region behind you,
take a day trip to:
The city
of Nafplio: The first capital city of
the modern Greek State - with its charming old town full of post-Byzantine,
medieval and neoclassical monuments.
The
archaeological site of Mycenae, which was the centre of the Mycenaean world and
gave its name to to a civilization that involved between the 12th c. BCE and
the Mycenaean Tiryns.
The
Asklepeion and the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, the most famous ancient and
best preserved of all ancient theaters in Greece, where during the summer
months takes place a famous ancient drama Festival hosting productions from all
over the world.
The
Ancient Olympia, the birth of the Olympic Games, where every four years the
Olympic Flame is lit.
The
archaeological site of Delphi, the most famous oracle in the ancient Greece
which lies in an imposing landscape at the foot of Mount Parnassos.
