Athens - Hill of the Nymphs

(Local Name: Lófos Nimfón) At the western end of the chain of hills which runs southwest of the Acropolis is the Hill of the Nymphs, easily identifiable by the domed Observatory on the summit. It is reached by way of a side street off Apostólou Pávlou Street. The Classical-style Observatory was built by Theophil Hansen in 1843-46 to the design of Schaubert. To the right of the entrance are the remains of the ancient sanctuary of the Nymphs from which the hill takes its name - a levelled rock surface and a dedicatory inscription. This level platform on the highest point of the hill was chosen by Ferdinand Stademann in 1835 as the viewpoint from which to draw his "Panorama of Athens" (republished 1977).

To the southeast the Hill of the Nymphs merges into the Pnyx. From both hills there are fine views of Athens.