Why visit / Interesting facts:
- Amazing view over the whole city
- Great hill for a stroll
Time required: 120 minutes
Public transport:
- Red Metro Line: Akropoli station
Address:
Photos: (see more photos)
Photo: . SantiMB .
Things you need to know:
- Philopappos Hill is a pine-and-cypress-covered hill right next to Acropolis to the southwest. Winding shaded paths make the area ideal for taking strolls
- The hilltop offers one of the best views of the city. This place used to be the favorite vantage-point of generals
- Socrates' Prison, the cave where the ancient philosopher was held captive after his death sentence, is located here. Socrates died here after drinking a poisenous liquid
- Philopappos tomb and monument, on the peak of Hill of Muses, was erected in honor of Roman senator Philopappos, a lover of Greek culture. He spent his retirement here and died in Athens in 114 AD
- Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris is a charming 15th c. Byzantine church decorated with some fine frescoes. A lightnign prevented a Turk commander from demolishing the temple with his cannons, hence its name 'Saint Dimitri the Bombardier'
- On the first day of Lent, hundreds of Athenians gather here and fly kites
What to do there:
- Walk around the hill following the winding paths and discover the various monuments
- Enjoy the sweeping views from the Acropolis to the sea
- Relax on a bench after the tiring sightseeing
- Do not miss Agios Dimitrios church, Socrates' Prison and the Philopappos Monument
