August 26, 2011

Athens - Panoramic Monuments And Endless Traditional Experiences

Certainly not many cities can hold the title of being one of the oldest cities in the world, but Athens is one of them. With 3500 years under its belt,Athens is a city with ties to some of the greatest accomplishments of mankind. For example, it was the home of Plato and Aristotle. It's been called the "birthplace of Western civilization," and features some of the most monumental and famous buildings on Earth. These things, combined with the new modern city atmosphere, make Athens a city that has no match, and if you are thinking of visiting, you will need to start by getting a passport for everyone in your group. Start by going online and looking into expedited child passports and adult passports.

Americans Will Need A Passport

Online passport services mean you get to completely skip the waiting in long lines at the passport office of post office. Rather, you can just go online from the comfort of your home. From the website, you can complete the forms, decide when you want your passport delivered, and receive the help of trained passport specialists. No matter what sort of service you need, such as replacements for stolen passports, it can be expedited.

Acropolis

Easily the most famous location in the city is the Acropolis, and it's UNESCO World Heritage Site status only validates this. The Acropolis is a large hilltop area that contains many of of ancient Greece's most important buildings, such as the Erechtheum, the Theatre of Dionysus, and the mighty Parthenon, which is easily the most recognizable building in the whole city, and even in the world. It is a gorgeous temple dedicated to Athena, the city's patron goddess. It stands as a symbol of ancient Greece's glory and grandeur, and it houses famous art and features breath-taking architecture. Because it's located on top of a hill, it also provides some spectacular views of Athens.

Agora

Another very important landmark is the Agora, a site that used to serve as a market place, as well as a political and cultural hub of ancient Athens. There are many important landmarks inside and very near to the Agora, including the Temple of Hephaestus, which is the best preserved ancient temple of Greek origin, and it can take hours to explore the whole site. There is also a museum on-site if you are interested in learning a little more.

National Archaeological Museum

Archaeology lives and breathes in Athens, and it's not hard to see why. If you are interested in learning more of Athens' ancient residents, head to the National Archaeological Museum, where exhibits span from prehistoric eras to more modern classical Athens. It's actually considered to be one of the top museums on Earth, and is filled to the brim with artifacts. Some of these include objects from Troy, the famous golden mask of Agamemnon, the strange Antikythera mechanism, classical statues, precious gems and jewels, and even some mummies from Egypt.

Parnitha National Park

If you are looking to escape the bustle of the city and unwind for a little, head to Parnitha National Park, a place where people can walk along the marked paths and see caves, gorges, and springs. The National Garden of Athens is another great place to relax after a day of exploring.

Athens is a consistently popular vacation spot, and if you are thinking of traveling to this beautiful city soon, start by going online and looking into expedited child U S passports and adult passports. If you are looking to replace stolen US online passports, that can be done online and expedited as well.

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