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About this activity

Board your vehicle for the approximately 40-minute scenic drive into the heart of Athens, the famous Acropolis. Your tour will pass through many of Plaka district's major sites, including Hadrian’s Arch, the statue of Lord Byron, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Constitution Square, the former Royal Palace, the National Gardens, the Academy, and the University Library.
The Acropolis dominates the Athenian landscape and your guided walking tour will reveal the wonders of the ancient ruins and the stories behind each of the landmarks. You’ll begin by climbing the 80 steep steps through the Propylaea, the monumental marble gateway to the Acropolis. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view of the city below.
On the highest point of the Acropolis stands the Parthenon, one of the greatest monuments of ancient civilization and the perfect representation of Doric-style architecture. On the north side of the Acropolis stands the Erectheion, a sacred site is where it was once decided which God would rule the city. When Poseidon thrust his trident into the ground, water burst forth, but when Athena touched the ground with her spear and an olive tree grew, she was named ruler of the city. On the south side of the building, you'll then discover the Porch of the Caryatids, or Porch of the Maidens, your last stop before the end of the tour: the graceful sculptures are engineered to support the weight of the roof on the slender neck of each female figure. Legend has it that when Lord Elgin removed one of the original statues to decorate his Scottish mansion, the remaining stone maidens could be heard crying in the night.