Man-Made Landmarks in Greece
History lovers, especially, enjoy vacations in Greece, the center of ancient civilization. The country has thousands of man-made landmarks, and 17 are UNESCO-designated World Heritage sites. Many important Greek landmarks date from the period between 1200 B.C. and 323 B.C., when Greek civilization was at its height. As a U.S. citizen, you don’t need a visa to visit Greece, but you should ensure your passport is valid for at least three months after your date of departure.
Perched on a hill overlooking Athens, the Acropolis is probably the best-known landmark in Greece. Much of the site dates from the 5th century B.C., when Athens was one of the world’s most important city-states. The city’s inhabitants regarded the hill as sacred and erected numerous statues and temples, including the Parthenon and, although much has been destroyed in the intervening years, it remains a beautiful place. Frommer’s warns that the Acropolis can get very crowded in the summer and recommends visiting after 5 p.m. if you can.
Many of Greece’s man-made landmarks are archeological sites dating back to ancient Greek civilization. The site at Delphi, an influential sanctuary for the cult of Apollo, was conquered and plundered by the Romans in 191 B.C. Look for the remains of the Treasury, where Athenians made offers to Apollo, and for the stone benches of the Theater, built by the Romans on the remains of an earlier Greek-era structure. Elsewhere, a visit to the archeological site at Olympia takes you to the earliest origins of the Olympic Games. You can still see the remains of the palaestra, the gymnasium and part of the old stadium.
Greece has its own branch of Christianity -- the Greek Orthodox Church. Explore this heritage with a visit to the Monastery of Daphni, outside Athens. Built in the Byzantine style in the 12th century, the monastery is famous for its mosaics. You’ll see beautifully colored images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, angels, saints and prophets here. Go even further into Christian history with a visit to some of the paleochristian monuments of Thessalonika. The Byzantine church of San Demetrios dates from the 4th century but was enlarged between 629 and 634. Built on the place where Saint Demetrios was imprisoned before his martyrdom, it was damaged by fire in 1917 but remains, according to UNESCO, “one of the most notable monuments of the early Christian era.”
Landmarks on the Greek Islands
Greece’s territory includes about 2,000 islands, some of them home to important landmarks. Corfu has long held a strategic importance in this part of the Mediterranean, a fact reflected in the status of its Old Town as a fortified port. Many buildings date from the period of Venetian control between the 15th and 19th centuries, although others were destroyed in World War II air raids. The Medieval city of Rhodes shows the influence of European crusaders, who occupied the city in 1309 and transformed it into a military stronghold. Learn more through a visit to the Archeological Museum, housed in a building erected by the crusaders as a hospital.
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Greece
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Ancient Greek Civilization
- Department of State: International Travel Information, Greece
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Acropolis, Athens
- Frommer’s: Athens, The Acropolis
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Archeological Site of Delphi
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Archeological Site of Olympia
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios
- Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism: Monuments, Monastery of Daphni
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika
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