The cradle to the Western Civilization, the ancient country of Greece lies in Eastern Europe with its capital based in the mythological city of Athens. Located at the tip of the eastern European peninsula the country is bordered by the Aegean Sea bordered by Albania, Bulgaria and Turkey. Greece has been known as the birthplace of the western civilization and is known for its culture that dates back to the early stone age and contains several remnants of the old world. Greece has provided the world with several important inventions, technological developments and discoveries that have been essential for the development of civilization. Greece is a country endowed with a rich culture and glorious history which is still preserved in the innumerable monuments located in the country. Listed below are the top visited monuments in Greece.
Located in the capital city of Athens, the Acropolis is one of largest collection of monuments from the ancient world. The site contains a total of 21 monuments all built during the ancient period starting from the 4th millennium BC. Most of the buildings were damaged in the course of time due to invasions, wars and natural calamities like earthquakes etc. and are undergoing restoration work. Apart from that, here are a few of the best places to visit outside Athens.
2. Sanctuary of Asclepius
Located near Peloponnese, the Sanctuary of Asclepius is a monolithic amphitheatre located in the heart of the city of Epidaurus. The monument has also been listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO and is said to have been built back in the 4th century BC. The theater is known for its amazing acoustics that allow the performers to be audible to the audience without the use of modern amplification.
3. Monastery of Saint John the Theologian
Another UNESCO world heritage site, the Monastery was founded in 1088 AD. The monastery was famous as the dwelling place of the biblical figure, St John and the place where the apocalyptic book of Revelation was written by the apostle. The monastery was founded in the later 10th century under the Byzantine Empire as a Greek Orthodox learning center.
4. Simonopetra Monastery
Image Credits @ kostas sidiropoulos
The Eastern Orthodox monastery is located in Mount Athos, sitting atop a cliff 330 meters above sea level. The monastery was established in the 13th century AD by Simon the Athonite. The monastery was destroyed by a fire in the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries. Today the monastery stands as one of the most visited monuments in Greece due to its architectural brilliance and location amidst the hillocks on the shores of the Aegean Sea.
5. Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
The medieval castle is located in the ancient city of Rhodes and is the finest specimens of Gothic Architecture in Greece. The castle was built in the 14th century Greece by the Knights of Rhodes and was later captured by the Ottoman Turks. The Palace remains a highly visited tourist spot with its marvelous gothic style architecture and houses a museum.
With its name literally meaning ‘Suspended in the Air’, the city of Meteora is one of the top visited tourist locations in Greece. The city houses few of the largest monastic complexes belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Monastery and is also listed among UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. The city is located at an elevation of 313 meters and is famous for a total of 6 ancient monasteries located on the top of 6 cliffs.
The country of Greece is famous for its key role in the development of culture and civilization in the ancient era and has brought forth several important literary, scientific and technological inventions and discoveries. The abovementioned monuments in Greece are not simply tourist locations but are also witnesses to the rise and fall of several civilizations in the past.
Article by Rohit Agarwal
Author Bio: Rohit is a travel enthusiast and her interest in exploring the various places around the world has made her an observant travel writer and blogger. He is also a contributor to Flipptravel.com which is a travel related blog covering topics across the world.