Surroundings, Athens

Until the Persian Wars only the Acropolis was surrounded by walls; but after the destruction of Athens by the Persians in 480 B.C. Themistocles had a wall built round the city. The work was done in great haste, using the ruins of the monuments and buildings which had been destroyed.A considerable stretch of these Themistoclean walls, with two gates (the Dipylon and the Sacred Gate), has been brought to light in the Kerameikos, another section north of the Olympeion. Further remains of the walls were found during the construction of the government buildings over the church of the Ayía Dynamis in Mitropóleos Street, at 6-8 Dragatsaniou Street and on the site of the Divani Zafolia Hotel, in Parthenónos Street, to the south of the Acropolis. These two latter sections are open to the public.The city's defenses were strengthened between 465 and 460 B.C. by the construction of the Long Walls, which ran southwest and south from Athens and were designed to secure communications between Athens and the ports of Piraeus and Phaleron. The road to Piraeus was further protected by a parallel wall built by Pericles in 445 B.C.This defensive system was completed in 337 B.C. by the construction of the Diateichisma, an intermediate wall between the Hill of the Nymphs and the Hill of the Muses which shortened the defensive line.

This range of limestone mountains rising to 1,413m/4,636ft divides Attica on the north from Bogotia. In ancient times there was a sanctuary of Zeus the Rain-Bringer on the summit.Nowadays Mount Párnis attracts many visitors with its pine forests and its pleasant climate. It is reached by way of the outlying suburb of Achárnes, starting-point of a road 12km /7.5mi which winds its way up with numerous sharp bends. After passing a sanatorium (alt. 1,000m/ 3,200ft) the road comes in 2km/1.25mi to the Ayía Triáda chapel, where there are a tourist pavilion and a hotel.Here the road divides: the right-hand branch leads to the luxury hotel, while to the left 3km/ 2mi is a mountain hut from which it is possible to climb to the summit.

10km/6mi northeast of Athens' city center is the conventual church of St John the Huntsman. The church lies on the northern slopes of Hymettos, 2km/1.25mi above the village of Ayía Paraskeví, which can be reached from the center of Athens by way of Vas. This is a domed cruciform church built in the 12th C. and (as recorded in an inscription) restored in the 13th C., with handsome walls of dressed stone. The limewashed narthex was added in the 17th C.The 17th C. frescoes in the interior area, unfortunately, are partly covered with whitewash.

This site of Achárnes was occupied from Mycenaean times, and in the classical period, as Acharnai, it was a place of some consequence. It is the setting of Aristophanes' comedy "The Acharnians". The village is reached from Omónia Square by way of Vathis Square and Liossion Street. 3km/2mi south of Achárnes, on the west side of the road, is a Mycenaean tholos tomb.The ancient acropolis was on a hill to the west, 12km/7.5mi from Athens.

Agrínion, situated just northwest of Lake Trikhonis, is chief town of the nomos (district) of Aetolia and center of the local tobacco trade.The archeological museum, the Pepastratios Municipal Library, and the grove of Áyios Christóforos on the hillside, are some of the sights worth visiting in the town.Agrínion is also home to the Papastratia festival of cultural and sporting events, which is held annually in June.

The Omorphi Ekklisía or "Beautiful Church" is a 12th C. domed cruciform church which owes its name to its graceful proportions and its handsome exterior of carefully fitted dressed stone. In the 14th C. a chapel was built on to the south side and a painter of considerable quality, probably from Salonica, embellished the interior with fine frescoes, which were restored in 1957.The church is located in the suburb of Galátsi, 8km North of Athens city centre.

Situated at an altitude of 460m/1,510ft on the north side of Pentélikon, on the road from Drosiá to Néa Mákri, is the village of Dionysius, one of the most popular resorts around Athens. On the outskirts of the village is a sanctuary of Dionysos, which belonged to the ancient city of Ikaria, home of Thespis, who produced the first tragedy in Athens in 534 B.C. The introduction of vine-growing was attributed to King Ikarios.

In the Athens Railroad Museum various locomotives and coaches can be admired. The oldest rolling stock in the museum dates from the second half of the 19th C., and includes some trains used by the Greek King George I and the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Aziz. In recent years some old steam locomotives and trams have been lovingly restored. Old railroad equipment and models complete the display.

13km/8mi south of the Athens city center is the coastal town of Ayios Kósmas. The town gets its name from a former monastery, the church of which stands on a rocky promontory. Traces of settlements here go back to the third millennium B.C. Some researchers believe that this was the site of the ancient Kolias Akra, where Persian ships were destroyed after the battle of Salamis in 480 B.C.

The suburb of Maroússi, 12km/7.5mi north of Athens, occupies the site of the ancient deme of Athmonia, where there was a sanctuary of Artemis Amarysia. In more recent times it has become known through Henry Miller's "Colossus of Maroussi". There are many shops selling local pottery.

The Marika Kotopouli Museum is housed in the former holiday home of actress Marika Kotopouli, and contains temporary exhibits of modern art. The house is an attraction worth visiting regardless of the exhibits. It has been restored by the municipality and is known for it's distinctive architecture and beautiful interior.

The American School of Classical Studies Fund, located in Athens, perform digs in Greece. They often hold seminars on archeological topics.

Prominent figures from Greek history have been recreated at the Wax Museum of Greek history in Ioannina.