Greece was a center for many ancient civilizations. With its rich history, it is no wonder the country has archeological sites and ancient relics.
If you’re down for a historical throwback and cultural appreciation trip, here are five beautiful historical sites in Greece you can visit.
1 Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis of Athens is probably the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of historical sites in Greece since it is widely recognized as a symbol of Ancient Greek civilization. Listed as an official cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site, the rocky, elevated ground above the modern city of Athens contains the remains of the ancient citadel of Athens.
As the most striking and complete monumental complex from Ancient Greek still exists, the site’s Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike still holds and will continue to hold great historical, architectural, and artistic significance.
2 Delphi
What is now an extensive archaeological site in Mount Parnassus was once the center of the ancient world. This can be seen from the monuments built there by most of the major city-states. Delphi was a sacred precinct with great influence on Ancient Greece as it served as a seat of the major oracle, Pythia, who was consulted regarding many significant decisions.
3 Meteora
Meteora is a natural rock formation that hosts the most steeply built and one of the largest Eastern Orthodox monastery complexes. Second only to Mount Athos, there are six monasteries on the natural pillars and rounded boulders of the formation dating back as early as the 11th century.
Some of the religious sites in Meteora include the Holy Monastery of Varlaam, the Holy Monastery of Rousanou, the Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron, and the Monastery of Holy Trinity.
4 The Theater of Epidaurus
The perfect Ancient Greek theater in terms of acoustics and aesthetics, the Theater of Epidaurus is an architectural masterpiece that is still being used today to host major musical events. With a capacity of 13,000 to 14,000, performances on this ancient theater actually only stopped when the World War II started. It began again in 1954 with an organized festival.
5 Vergina
Once the ancient Aigai, the first capital and elite center of royalty of the Macedonian empire, Vergina is also a famous historical site. Just a bit of trivia: this is where Alexander the Great was proclaimed king at the age of 20 when his father, King Phillip II was assassinated.
Here, you can find one of the most important archaeological museums in Greece, an archaeological site with an extensive royal palace, and the tomb of King Phillip II, which, unlike most tombs, had not been looted.
It’s not easy to list just five historical sites for a country with so much history and heritage such as Greece. Still, given the listed sites, you can still take a trip through time and know the way of life, politics, and culture of the ancient civilizations that once lorded over these lands.
