Cape Sounion Soúnion

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).

Must-see attractions nearby:

Old Parliament / National Historical Museum

Asklepieion

Olympieion

Address

Sounion Archeological Site
Soúnion
Greece

Hours

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30
Close	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00

Always opened on:

Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Óhi Day - Greece & Cyprus (October 28)

Always closed on:

Greek National Day (March 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)

Transit

Bus: 14 (orange) To Sounion from Mavromateon.

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(Near Athens)

Makronísi

Makronísi, 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.