The Acropolis

The Acropolis is the site of the Parthenon, perhaps one of the most widely recognised monuments of the ancient world. Built on by the Greeks and first used as an area for shelter during sieges of Athens, the rock of the Acropolis has been studied by archaeologists since the 1700s. This rocky outcrop is the second highest point in the city. Although the trek up looks daunting, it is in fact a pleasant walk, with large walkways and spectacular views of Athens, past the theater of Herod Atticus and the Theatre of Dionysus. While the stage of the Theatre of Dionysus is roped off from tourists, visitors can sit on the crumbling seats and imagine the performances of 2000 years ago.

At the entrance to the Acropolis is the Temple of Athena Nike, symbolizing the Athenians' victory over the Persians. Although hard to picture what it originally looked like through all the years of deterioration, it is still a stunning reminder of what the Greeks were capable of building in the 5th century BC. Other than the Parthenon, the major building in Acropolis is The Erecthion, a temple to Athena and Poseidon. Instead of regular columns, this site has carvings of women holding up a section of the temple, named the porch of the maidens. But its the overwhelming size of the Parthenon, beyond, which takes your breath away - though with all the construction going on it is hard to appreciate beneath the scaffolding.