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Athens Although Athens gets more and more commercialised, it still manages to maintain its authentic side, not in the least because of its lasting remnants of classical times. The best thing to do is to start your trip at the Plaka, the centre of old antique Athens and decide what you would like to explore. Or go to the centre of the present Athens, Sindagma Square, which in itself is not very interesting, but serves as a good starting point for walks to the main sights. Will it be the museums, the street markets or maybe the Acropolis site with its monuments? Or maybe you should start with a visit to one of the two other areas packed with ruins, the Agora (northwest of the Acropolis) or the Roman Forum. Or simple deliberate on it when sitting outside a charming taverna at the Plaka, letting the world pass by. It is your holiday, isn't it? Section Sights:Temples The Acropolis Hill is one of the main sights of Athens. This 'sacred rock' of Athens served as a residential area from the Neolithic period onwards. Besides that, it was the matrix for the cult of the city's patron goddess, Athena. During the Classical period, the monumental entrance to the area was constructed, the Propylaea. Besides that, three important temples were erected on the ruins of earlier ones, namely, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Nike. All these monuments reflect the successive phases of the city's history. Although these monuments were converted into Christian churches and houses belonging to previous invaders (such as the Franks and the Turks) at one time, after the liberation of Athens from the Turks, a large-scale restoration and preservation plan was made, which is still maintained on this very day. For more information on the Acropolis and its various monuments, see the site of the Ministry of Culture
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