Monuments to visit Central Greece

A mythical temple on the famous Acropolis of Athens, the Erechtheion is one of the most sacred on the hill and in the entire city. To the north of the Acropolis, a jewel and masterpiece of Ionic art, the very elegant Erechtheion was erected in the ^5th century BC at the very place where, according to legend, Athena and Poseidon fought for the possession of Athens. It is next to this temple that the sacred olive tree of Athena would have grown and that there was the salt water well, a gift from Poseidon, whose trident would have left a mark on the northern wall of the building. The architect of the Erechtheion remained unknown, but he was able to exploit the irregularities of the ground to build a complex of several buildings on different levels. In this temple were worshipped several deities: Athena Polias, but also Poseidon and others still linked to the legendary history of Athens, such as Erechtheus to whom the temple owes its name. The temple is decorated with four porticoes on each side: the one on the southeast side, certainly the most famous, is the Caryatids. The Doric columns are replaced by female figures of perfect grace when you know the weight that weighs on their heads. In fact, it is their thick hair and the many folds in their clothing that reinforce the structure and allow the whole thing to remain standing.

The ones you see on the monument are only casts: of the six korês, only five are visible in the Acropolis Museum, the sixth being in the British Museum.

This site allows you to discover the remains of the colossal temple of Zeus Olympian: 15 erected columns that are still very impressive. It must be said that the Olympiion was the largest temple ever built in Greece! Begun by Pisistrate in the 6th century BC, it was completed 600 years later by Emperor Hadrian before being destroyed by the Barbarians. The setting sun bathed the surviving columns in a magnificent golden hue, and we can understand this stylite hermit who, in the 17th century, chose the top of one of them to install his cabin!

The ramparts visible on the heights of the city were built in medieval times. One notices however in the walls some pieces brought back from older monuments or earlier fortifications that can, without certainty, be traced back to the time of the first ramparts of Cassandra. The walls are the work of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I and the Persian Hormisdas, as indicated by a 9 m long inscription on the upper part of the Hormisdas tower (only part of it has survived).

This fortification was built against the Roman wall, so that they reinforced each other. At the same time, many towers (60 are visible today, including the White Tower) were erected at regular intervals to reinforce the ramparts and protect the very vulnerable lower town. The perimeter of the fortifications reached up to 7 km, of which only 3 km are preserved today. The height of the walls varies from 8.30 m to 10.50 m. Built largely of stone and mortar, they regularly give way to strips of brick which increase the solidity of the building.

The most imposing part of the old fortifications is certainly the White Tower. Overlooking the port of Thessaloniki, it has become its emblem. The tower was probably built by the Turks on the ruins of an older tower, unless it was the work of the Venetians who occupied the city before the Turks.

The complex includes many monuments such as the palace, the arch of Galerius, the rotunda, the octagon and the hippodrome. All these buildings were built on the orders of the emperor Galerius.

The first of the monuments of the complex is the Arch of Galerius. Located between the palace and the rotunda, it marked the intersection of two perpendicular streets, including the current Karamanlis, each lined with flamboyant porticoes. It was built to commemorate the victory of Galerius against the Persians, shortly before 305. The sculpted reliefs show the emperor in all his majesty defeating some submissive Barbarians kneeling at his feet. It is interesting to note that the reliefs do not have the beauty of the works of the Hellenistic period, the characters are lifeless, squeezed together, and the proportions are not always respected, which announces the austere stylization of the Middle Ages.

Between Tsimiski and Prinkipos Nikolaou streets, at the level of the Triumphal Arch, the ruins of Galerius' palace. When one knows that only the south-eastern part of the palace is preserved, one can better imagine the proportions which were those of the building. The parts visible today are organized around a vast square courtyard surrounded by four corridors and decorated with mosaics. To the south opens the large door that led directly to the port of the city. But the most impressive part of these ruins is undoubtedly the octagon. This room, remarkable by its architecture was to be used as throne room to the emperor.

The rotunda Saint-Georges is the last monument of the complex of Galerius. Research has proven that it was part of the great palatial complex since it was connected to the Arch of Galerius, itself connected to the palace by gigantic porticoes. Some think that it was a temple dedicated to Jupiter, others that Galerius had wanted to make a mausoleum of it (which was never used) or that the rotunda was used during the organization of demonstrations in the palace. The interior walls of its lower part were covered with marble while the high part was decorated with splendid mosaics. Around 400, the rotunda was converted into a Christian church and thus underwent some architectural changes - some of which would have precipitated its collapse during an earthquake. At the time of the Turkish domination, it was transformed into a mosque. Its impressive mosaic decoration dates from the Christian era.

This fairly well preserved monument dates back to 160. and was discovered in 1889. As the castle, it is the place for summer cultural events and its stands can accommodate up to 2000 spectators. The program is to be obtained at the Tourist Office.

It is one of the best preserved theatres in Greece. Built in the 4th century BC in limestone from Parnassus, it was restored in the 2nd century BC and decorated a century later with a bas-relief depicting the works of Heracles.

Contemporary to the temple of Apollo, it was still undergoing some work in the 2nd century AD by the Romans to accommodate up to 5,000 spectators. Not everything is there and some of the preserved fragments are on display in the museum. We must imagine today that dramatic and lyrical competitions were held in the theatre during the great festivals of the sanctuary. The orchestra, a large circular paved track where the choir used to perform, was surrounded by a still visible aqueduct used for the drainage of rainwater. Just behind were the stage and, further back, the stage buildings. These were deliberately low to allow spectators to enjoy the view of the valley.

Going along the theatre, and following the path marked out, one reaches a place from where one can see: below on the right, the so-called Corcyrean base, in front of which a foundation of grey limestone and tuff carried the tall column of three young women dancing; high up on the left, the hall of Knidé, which it is not necessary to go and see up close. It was probably a large room richly decorated with paintings, the roof of which was supported by two rows of four wooden pillars.

On the way back to the theater, a rather difficult climb leads to the stadium. Built in the ^5th century B.C., it was rather crude since the embankment was used as bleachers. These limestone ones, still visible, were built by Herod Atticus.

The 7,000-seater stadium, 177.55 m long and 25.50 m wide, was the venue for the Pythic Games, which were held every eight years from 582 BC onwards, and then every four years thereafter. They commemorated Apollo's victory over the serpent Python and included musical, sports and equestrian competitions. Athletes and judges entered the stadium by passing under a triumphal arch supported by four pillars of which pieces remain. On the start and finish lines, you can still see notches that served as foot restraints for the athletes who were running on the track. Finally, a last visible testimony of these Games is the presence of a high-backed bench, 7 m long, in the middle of the bleachers on the right side. This was where the judges who decided between the competitors sat.

The Methoni Citadel is one of the most beautiful Venetian citadels in the country. Closing off the western part of the bay, this citadel remains one of the best preserved in the whole Mediterranean. It is entered by a majestic stone bridge built in 1828 by the French. From the top of the famous Bourzi Tower, built by the Turks in the 16th century, you have a beautiful view of the mainland and the islands of Sapientza and Schiza. The rest of the citadel offers little to see, but you can always go for a walk on the ramparts or visit the defensive bastions.

On the northwest side of the Temple of the Olympiad is Hadrian's Gate, an impressive 18-metre high marble arch. Hadrian's gate was built in honour of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. It delineated the boundary between the ancient city of Theseus and the new Roman city that extended from the current Avenue Amalias to Illissos. It is a unique Romanesque arch, framed by two Corinthian columns. Above, the two statues of Theseus and Hadrian were erected on the same level.