Athens, The Acropolis and Cape Sounion Full-Day Tour with Lunch

The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world. In the second half of the fifth century bc, Athens, following the victory against the Persians and the establishment of democracy, took a leading position amongst the other city-states of the ancient world. In the age that followed, as thought and art flourished, an exceptional group of artists put into effect the ambitious plans of Athenian statesman Pericles and, under the inspired guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, transformed the rocky hill into a unique monument of thought and the arts. The most important monuments were built during that time: the Parthenon, built by Ictinus, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles and the small temple Athena Nike.

The Acropolis Museum  is an [ ] focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the [ ]. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the [ ] to [ ] and [ ]. The Acropolis Museum also lies over the ruins of part of Roman and early Byzantine [ ].

The museum was founded in 2003, while the Organization of the Museum was established in 2008. It opened to the public on 20 June 2009. More than 4,250 objects are exhibited over an area of 14,000 square metres.

The Temple of Poseidon is an ancient [ ] on [ ], [ ], dedicated to the god [ ]. There is evidence of the establishment of sanctuaries on the cape from as early as the 11th century BC. Sounion's most prominent temples, the Temple of [ ] and the Temple of Poseidon, are however not believed to have been built until about 700 BC, and their [ ] (freestanding Greek statues of young men) date from about one hundred years later.The material and size of the offerings at the Temple of Poseidon indicate that it was likely frequented by members of the elite and the aristocratic class.The Greeks considered Poseidon to be the "master of the sea".Given the importance to [ ] of trade by sea and the significance of its navy in its creation and survival during the 5th century, Poseidon was of a particular relevance and value to the Athenians.

Geography

Enjoy your lunch in Plaka district.