Cape Sounion Soúnion
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Cape Soúnion, at the southeastern tip of Attica, is famed for the magnificent situation of its temple of Poseidon, perched on the edge of a precipitous crag.Homer refers in the "Odyssey" (3, 278) to the "sacred cape" of Soúnion. In the seventh century B.C. there was probably a simple altar here; about 600 B.C. the large figures of kouroi now in the National Archeological Museum in Athens were set up beside it; and around 500 B.C. work began on the construction of a temple in poros limestone which was still unfinished when the Persians destroyed it in 480 B.C.In the bay below the temple were boat-houses, of which some remains can still be seen.Buses from Athens (60km/37mi).
Opening hours:
9:30am-5pm
Always opened on: Assumption Day - Christian (Aug 15), Óhi Day - Greece & Cyprus (Oct 28)
Always closed on: Greek National Day (Mar 25), Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26), Good Friday - Christian, Easter - Christian
Entrance fee in EUR:
Adult €4.00, Concession or reduced rate €2.00, Students from EU FREE, Child 18 & under FREE
Transit: Bus: 14 (orange) To Sounion from Mavromateon.
Related Attractions
Temple of Poseidon
In Sounion, on the substructure of the earlier temple destroyed by the Persians the architect responsible for the temple of Hephaistos in Athens erected in 449 B.C. the present marble temple of Poseidon, with 6 x 13 exceptionally slender Doric columns. It stands on a terrace, artificially enlarged, to which a propylon gave access. In the bay below were boat-houses, some remains of which can still be seen.
Sanctuary of Athena
In Sounion, on a flat-topped hill northeast of the temple of Poseidon (beyond the modern road) is a sanctuary of Athena of the sixth century B.C. Beside a small building measuring only 5m/16.5ft by 6.8m/22ft, of which the lower courses of the walls and the base of a cult statue are preserved, are the foundations of a similar but larger temple (11.6m/38ft by 16.4m/54ft), with the base of a cult statue. The roof was borne on four columns, in the fashion of a Mycenaean megaron. After suffering damage during the Persian wars the temple was rebuilt with two colonnades, not at the east and west ends as was the normal arrangement but at the east end and along the south side. The reasons for this departure are unknown.
Lavrion, Greece
Nine km/6 mi north of Sounion is Lávrion, noted in antiquity for its silver mines.11km/7 mi north of Cape Soúnion and 2 km/1.25 mi north of Lávrion, near the coast (to the east of the road), is the site of ancient Thorikós, on a hill overlooking the bay of Lávrion.Ferry boats for Kea and Kythnos leave from Lavrion and there is also the Olympic Marina.
Lavrion Mineralogical Museum
Lavrion Mineralogical Museum is the only such museum in Greece. Its collection includes ore and minerals in the rock face. Some of the exhibits are rare, such as annabergites, serpierites, spangolites, and laventulanites.
Makronísi
Area of island: 18 sq. km/7 sq. miMakronísi, the "Long Island", lies five km/three mi off the coast of Attica to the east of Cape Soúnion. In antiquity, it bore the name of Helen, who, according to Pausanias, rested here. Archeological evidence points to a modest degree of settlement from the Neolithic period onwards. In more recent times, the island was used as an internment camp for opponents of the government. It is now inhabited only by a few shepherds.
Sounion National Park
The Soúnion National Park was established in 1974 in Attica. It is 750 hectares/1,850 acres (with surrounding area 2,750 hectares/6,790 acres). Special features include Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine).The park is largely known for its beautiful views over the Aegian Sea and beautiful coastline.
Temple of Hephaistos (Hephaestus) / Thesseion
Parthenon
Agora
Erechtheion
Theatre of DionysosCape Sounion Pictures
Map of Athens Attractions
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