Greece Historical Sites

A guide to a few of Greece's many archaeological sites

Greece is rich with archaeological sites and offers plenty of interesting historical places to visit. You could virtually spend days and weeks visiting only the most important places. Here are some of those archaeological sites in Greece.

Mycenaean architecture

This tholos tomb with stone dome, the largest known, was plundered in antiquity. An access passage (dromos), bordered by a peudo-isodome wall, leads to a façade 10.5 metres (34 feet) high. The door opens on to a rotunda, 14.6 metres (48 feet) in diameter and 13.5 metres (44 feet) high, with a masonry domed vault of 33 regular courses; some blocks bore a metal decoration, probably of 'patera' form.

This door has a pyramidal shape which is also found in Egypt, and which reappears in classical architecture. The lintel is made up of two enormous blocks; the inner one weighs about 120 tons. The void triangle above it is characteristic of Mycenaean architecture: it serves to deflect the thrusts of the upper part of the building on to the supports of the door. No other Mycenaean building can boast such exact stone cutting, nor such refined proportions; not for another 1,000 years in Greece was such technical perfection put at the service of such a grandiose architectural design.

One of the most spectacular Greece sites is Meteora region and its rocky mountains, where the city of Kalambaka is located at the foothills of Kalambaka mountains.

Olympia

Olympia is one of my favorite’s archaeological sites in all of Greece. You can almost feel the magic of the ancient Olympic Games and service as you stroll around the ruins.

The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC and reached their height of popularity in 576 BC. The festival was open to only Greek born men but later Romans were allowed to compete most likely because they were running the country by then. Slaves and women were not even allowed to be spectators and women caught sneaking in were thrown off a cliff. The events included foot races, wrestling, discus, javelin, long-jump, horse and chariot racing, and a type of boxing called pancratium. There were not only athletic events but also writing, poetry and history readings, plus business transactions and treaties were made between leaders of city-states.

Meteora and Kalambaka

Meteora is an area in Thessaly (Central Greece) and Kalambaka is the city under the rock towers of Meteora. The thing that makes Meteora so special is the monasteries on the top of the rock towers. The monasteries, the amound of peaks to climb and the paths for hiking brings in Meteora the whole year many tourists.

The ancient site of Delphi was a sanctuary, where a major temple to oracle of Apollo was located, is one of the most important sites in Greece, immediately after the Acropolis.

Delphi Museum

The Delphi Museum is situated right next to the ancient site of Delphi, and is a fascinating museum, filled with truly remarkable artifacts, statues and findings from excavations that have taken place in the site of Delphi. The main building of the museum is a shining white marble structure that is very modern, considering the ancient site next door that dates back thousands of years. On approaching the museum from the walk from the entrance or exit of the archaeological site, you will follow a small path that passes through several relics and tombs located outside of the museum.

Rhodes Island

Rhodes Island (Rhodos or Rodos in Greek), lies between Crete and the near East in the Aegean ocean. Rhodes is the biggest of the Dodecanese islands. Named the sun island or island of light there are hardly any days when the sun doesn't shine. With its subtropical climate and over 3.000 hours of sun per year you can be guaranteed a good tan on your holiday. Rhodes is one of the most popular holiday islands in Greece - even Greeks themselves come to Rhodes for a holiday from the mainland.

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