HERE - Olympia Summer Academy

DAY TRIPS IN ATTICA
HYMETTOS
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es the Byzantine and Christian
Museum was also built for her
( ✒ page 95). From time to
time, artistic events take place
in the courtyard of the palace.
However, you may find the
building closed, due to repairs
that are currently under way
(tel. 210 8042575).
➪
GETTING THERE:
Take trolley Νο 19 from
Athens (Vassileos Irakleiou
Str, in the vicinity of the
Archaeological Museum) to
Halandri Square, and change
to local bus line 451 and get
off at bus stop “Monastiri”.
Also, using metro line 1, get
off at “Maroussi”station and
from there take local bus line
446 (Amaroussio Station –
Penteli Hospital).
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MOUNT
HYMETTOS
Mount Hymettos is located
south of the Athens basin. It is
linked to the history of Athens.
Sanctuaries have been built
here since antiquity (among
others, the sanctuaries of Zeus
and Pan). Moreover, in the
western side were marble
mines. Marble was used for the
construction of monuments in
the Hellenistic and roman periods.
Hymettos has abundant
vegetation and a large variety
of fauna and flora. In the past
few decades, the state has introduced
special measures to
protect the important ecology
of Mount Hymettos. Hymettos
is the most popular destination
in the vicinity of Athens, combining
natural beauty with a
multitude of archaeological
finds and important Byzantine
monasteries.
☞
THE SIGHTS:
The Ayios Ioannis Kynigos
Monastery. Located at the
northern peak of Hymettos,
with a view of Athens and the
Mesogeia Plain, the monastery
was possibly built in the 12th
century. Only the central
church (built of plinth), which
has been modified, and the
main entrance (13th century),
remains of the old monastery.
The monastery accommodates
a women’s commune. Access to
the monastery from Agia
Paraskevi (open 8:00-12:00 pm
and 16:00-19:00).
The Ayios Ioannis Theologos
Monastery. The monastery is located
in the vicinity of the
perimeter of the Papagou suburb.
You can get there via
Anastaseos Str. The monastery
was built on the site of an ancient
building (you will find
here, among others, ancient
column capitals, pedestals).
The main cruciform church, is
dated to the late Byzantine period
(13th- 15th century). The
monastery accommodates a
women’s commune. It is closed
at mid-day (12:00-16:00).
The Asteriou Monastery.
Located north of Ayios Ioannis
Theologos, on a wooded slope,
Asteriou Monastery is thought
to have been founded in the
5th century. The building com-
plex, which has been preserved,
includes a four-side
fort-style court, two wings with
buildings and a main church,
built in cruciform style, with
interesting frescoes of the 16th
century. A domed cistern with
a fountain from the period of
Turkish occupation is preserved.
The monastery has
been designated a historical
monument (open 08:00-15:00).
The Kaisariani Monastery. Built
in the 11nd century AD, the
monastery is located in an idyllic
location on the slopes of
Mount Hymettos, nearby
Kaisariani suburb. According to
Greek mythology, the god
Hephaistos often came here.
The riverbed of the river Ilisos,
the sacred river of Aphrodite, is
located on a hill above the
monastery. The monastery was
built on the ruins of a roman
and late ancient Greek temple.
Four columns of the ancient
temple now support the dome
of the church. In the late 12th
century and early 13th century
the monastery prospered and
became an influential cultural
and spiritual centre. The church
of the monastery, dedicated to
the presentation of the Virgin
Mary, is built in the Hellenic
cruciform style, and decorated
with frescoes of the 16th century.
On the western wall of the
yard you will find a spring. The
water gushes from the mouth
of a marble goat. Formerly it
was thought that the water
cured infertility. It is thought
that they have “magic” qualities.
There is a spring at the stoup, a
sanctuary on the northwest wall
of the yard. Kaisariani
Monastery is an excellent starting
point for a hiking trip.
Ayios Ioannis Kareas Monastery.
The monastery, founded in
1550, is located a few hundred
metres from the Kareas area.
The main church, a two-storey
wing of cells and a small onefloor
building on the northern
side is all that remains of the
old complex. After the 1970’s
major reconstruction work was
done on the old monastery and
a new two-floor wing of cells
was built. It is a women’s
monastery (opening hours
08:00-12:00 and 16:00-20:00).
Panos Cave (Nymfolyptou).
Located in the southeastern
area of the mountain (3 kilometres
north of the suburb of
Vari). It was dedicated to Pan.
The deity was worshiped there
from 600 BC to 150 AC. Worth
seeing are the unique sculptures
and epigrams preserved
on engravings in the rocks. The
▲
151. Kaisariani
Monastery.
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