Dominating the Athenian skyline, this beautiful, world-renowned monument is dedicated to Goddess Athena, the virgin patron of Athens. Constructed in 438 B.C. by Ictinus, Callicrates and Carpion, under the supervision of Phidias, the Parthenon is the most important surviving monument of the ancient world and stands as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece and the Athenian Democracy.
The Temple of Poseidon, at Sounion, the tip of the Attica peninsula (45 miles southeast of Athens), was built in 440 B.C. However, archaeological findings show the area was a site of worship as far as 700 B.C. Carved into the base of one of the columns of the Temple of Poseidon is the name of the famous romantic poet Lord Byron. It is possible he made the inscription during his first visit to Greece.
The pass of Thermopylae is the historical site of the battle that took place in 480 B.C. between the Greeks and the Persians. Under the command of King Leonidas of Sparta, the greatly outnumbered Greek army remained in the pass to prevent Xerxes’ vast cavalry and infantry force further invading the land. They held ground for three days before being outflanked via a hidden goat path, which according to legend, was shown to the Persians by a traitor named Ephialtes. However, their feat gave the Greek army enough time to reassemble and successfully combat the Persians in following battles. The epigram on the monuments reads :Oh stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians (Spartans), that we lie here, obedient to their words.
Full day Marathon tour starts with a 22-mile drive through the northern suburbs of Athens, Kifisia, Ekali, St. Stefanos and the well-known area called Marathon located at the foothills of Pendelikon Mountain. We make our first stop at Marathon Lake where you have the chance to have an early Greek coffee in a nice coffee shop right above the Marathon Lake, enjoy the scenery and take beautiful photos.
Arriving at the city of Marathon, we visit the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the outnumbered Athenian army (9.000 soldiers) defeated the Persians (500.000 soldiers).
The Tomb of the 192 Athenians was erected near the battlefield reminding all of us of the sacrifice of those patriots for a free country. The outcome of the battle was important not only for Greece but for the rest of Europe. The name of the athletic long distance race, the ‘MARATHON’ comes from the legend of Pheidippides who was a Greek runner and was sent from the city of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians were defeated by the Athenians but after announcing his message “NENIKIKAMEN” (meaning We have won) he collapsed and died of exhaustion. In the first Olympic Games in modern Athens in 1896, a Greek runner named Spyros Luis won the Marathon race honouring Pheidippides and the victory of the Athenians.
We continue our tour by visiting the Marathon museum and then we drive south to a sacred site of the hunter Goddess Artemis, the Temple of Artemis in Vravrona sometimes called, romantically, The Parthenon of the Bare Maidens. The temple is rarely crowded and stands by an amazing museum filled with images of the children who studied at the temple, discreetly hidden, approachable by the curving road from the parking area.
We leave the museum and after a 20 mile, drive we arrive at Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon built on top of the hill, exactly at the meeting point of the Saronic Sea with the Aegean Sea. The temple was dedicated to God Poseidon, the lord of the Sea and it was there where all the sailors offered a last sacrifice to appease God Poseidon before leaving the safety of the Saronic Golf. We continue by making a last stop at a picturesque fish-tavern by the sea to enjoy your lunch or -even better- dinner while watching the beautiful sunset.
Full day Marathon tour continues with a 44-mile scenic drive back to Athens along the coastal Poseidon Avenue. Most of the visitors agree that the drive is quite similar to the French Riviera area. We drive through the most beautiful suburbs of Athens: Lagonissi, Vouliagmeni, Voula, Glyfada and Old Phaleron. A few stops are required so you can have the opportunity to take photos of the sandy beaches, the yacht harbours, and Vouliagmeni Lake whose water possesses therapeutic qualities.
The duration of the tour is approximately 9-10 hours.
Please take a look at the right of the page for additional tour information.
