by Maria Papadopoulou

Created on: April 02, 2010   Last Updated: April 03, 2010

With its name deriving from the Greek word  akro (which means highest point) and  the Greek word polis (which means town), the importance of the Acropolis to ancient Greeks was huge, as ancient Athens was centered around the Acropolis. This  sacred rock looms 90 m above the town and the buildings on the summit capture beautifully the essence of  classical Greek architecture.

What you can see

The most famous monument on the Acropolis is Parthenon. Built  between 447 and 438 B.C by architects Kallikrates and Iktinos and supervised by sculptor Pheidias in honour of the Greek  Goddess of Wisdom, Athena Parthenos,  Parthenon is a temple which is considered to be a masterpiece.

Erectheion was built in 420 B.C, in the Ionic order and was decicated to the other God of Attica,  Poseidon-Erectheus. On the exterior of the building there is a relief frieze which is said to represent  the birth of Poseidon-Erectheus

Another famous monument on the Acropolis is the Temple of Athena Nike, built in 420 B.C by Kallikrates, in the ionic order. There is a marble  parapet which embodies the relief represantation of Nikae (stands for Victories).

Built in 437 B.C, Propylaia is a monumental getaway to the Acropolis, controlling the entrance to it. People who were not clean enough were denied access to the sanctuary. Propylaia actually served more as a temple than as a getaway for the ancient Greeks  though, as it was built in order to impress and inspire visitors and was considered to be a sign of things to come.

When to visit

From April to October you can visit from 8:30 a.m to 7 p.m, Tuesday to Sunday. In order to avoid  tour groups, it is best to visit either too early or too late during the day. On Mondays, you can visit from 10.30 am to 7 p.m. Tour groups do not usually operate on Mondays, so if you are looking for peace and quiet, this is an excellent choice.  From November to March,  you can visit from 8.30 am to 15:00 p.m. The full  cost of entrance is 12 € per person, while the reduced cost of entrance is 6 € per person.

Free admission is offered for

1. Journalists

2. Anyone who has a free admission card

3. Anyone under the age of 19

4. Soldiers who carry out their  military service

5.Members of ICOM-ICOMOS

6. Tour guides

7. University students from Greece or from other countries in the European Union.

How to get there

Getting to Acropolis is very easy via public transportation or by foot, therefore it is not recommended to use your car. The fastest way to get there is by using the  metro and exit at the Acropolis stop. If you are close to Monastiraki, you can  get to Acropolis  by walking through the Agora, or you can go from Dioskouros Street and go up the steps. It is 5 -10 minutes walk.

A wonderful symbol of Ancient Greek civilization, the Acropolis deserves to be seen and adored by everyone.

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