subject: 5 Ancient Sites For a Walking Holiday in Greece by:Tony Maniscalco [print this page] Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus is the most revered destination in Greek mythology as it was believed to be home to the 12 principal Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient religion. It was once believed that the fabled mountain was built from crystal castles and that Zeus lived at the very top layer.
Mount Olympus is a perfect place for hiking in Greece as it features an endemic amount of flora and fauna, including Greek tortoises and brightly coloured geckos. The highest point of the mountain is called Mitikas, which means nose in Greek, and it stands at 2,919m high.
Temple of Hephaistos
The ancient temple of Hephaistos is an excellent place to begin a walk in Greece. It is located in the capital of Athens and boasts the accolade of being the best preserved ancient Greek temple in the world. However, despite this it still remains overshadowed by the Pantheon. You may know the site by its alternative name, the Theseum as it was once falsely believed that the legendary Greek hero, Theses, was buried at this site.
The temple was actually built to commemorate the God of blacksmiths and metallurgy and was designed by the architect, Ictinus, who worked on the Parthenon. The labours of Hercules are etched into the columns and it is worth taking a guided walk in Greece around the temple to gain a better understanding of the historical relevance of this magnificent site.
The legendary Acropolis is located just 500m away from the temple and it is possible to visit both of them during a themed walk in Greece.
The Tumulus of Marathon
This fertile plain may come across as one of the more bizarre sites that you'll encounter on your walk in Greece. However, the site holds great historical significance. It was here that the battle between the Athenians and Persians was fought in 490BC and it remains the final resting place for the 192 Athenians that died in this ancient war.
The Ancient Agora
The Agora was once the heart of Athens and featured the political, commercial, administrative and social centre of Greece. It was also the seat of justice and remained occupied without interruption during all of Athens' history. The site is a perfect spot for walking in Greece as it features many ancient restored buildings, including a Neolithic burial site, four colossal figures of the giants and tritons and the faade of an ancient gymnasium. The museum located in the grounds gives you a better understanding of this ancient culture and acts as a perfect pit-stop on your walk in Greece.
Rhamnous
One of ancient Greece's lesser known sites is 'Rhamnous' situated on the north-west deme of Attica. Rhamnous features incredible views over the Ebola strait and is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely picnic whilst walking in Greece. The site is better known as the sanctuary of Nemesis, the implacable avenging Goddess. An acropolis dominates the harbours, from which grain was imported for Athens during the Peloponnesian war. The site also houses a 5th century temple which was never completed and a smaller temple which is dedicated to the Gods, Nemesis and Thetis
