Easy Athens City Drive & Old Olympic Stadium

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Your motorcoach tour of Athens departs from port, en route to a dramatic viewpoint location overlooking the Acropolis. As you gaze upon the spectacular ruins, your knowledgeable guide will describe the history of these great temples and significant buildings, including the famed Parthenon, one of the greatest monuments in ancient civilization. Dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena, the Pentelic marble temple was built 446 - 437 B.C., and its architectural sophistication and Doric style have captivated visitors for centuries. Although the remaining structure appears to be stark, white marble, experts now believe that at one time much of the detail work on the building was brightly colored.

A nearby shop sells souvenirs from this historic area, and your tour includes time to browse for gifts and mementos.

You will continue on to the Old Olympic Stadium. This marble stadium was built to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and was used again in the 2004 Olympics for the finish of the marathon and the archery competition. The stadium has also served as the finish line every year for the classic marathon race.

A leading venue in the area offers refreshments before you continue with your city tour. Your narrated drive passes a host of major sites, including the statue of Lord Byron, Constitution Square, the former Royal Palace, the National Gardens, the Academy, and the University Library. In addition, if traffic permits, a photo stop will be made at the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in antiquity, 700 years in the making. Located just behind Hadrian's Arch, the temple pays homage to Zeus, ruler of the Olympian gods. Originally there were 104 Corinthian columns, each 17 meters high, but today, only 15 columns remain.

Your tour concludes with a drive back to port.

For tours that offer more in-depth exploration with actual visits to one or more sites, see the other options in this port.

Special Notes:

This tour is not available to passengers beginning or ending their voyage in Piraeus (Athens).

Please be aware that ongoing restoration work is often carried out at the sites visited.