One of the biggest joys of travelling is imagining the thoughts and experiences of previous explorers, especially if you're visiting an ancient monument. Isn't it wonderful to feel the energy and to enjoy the startling silence of the mind amidst crowds of tourists? I find this practice really enhances my experience and helps me create a story, a special relationship with a place.

When in Athens, the traveller should definitely dedicate at least a couple of hours to the exploration of the Acropolis. If you think about it for a minute, this is probably one of the most important places for Western civilisation. Classical Greece bequeathed the world philosophical and political achievements, and also artistic and architectonic marvels.

Acropolis literally means 'highest point in the city,' and many towns in Greece have one, but the significance of the Athenian has earned it the qualification of 'The Acropolis.' The rocky hill which dominates the skyline of the Greek capital was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, but it was not until the fifth century BC that the site acquired its most remarkable buildings. After the victory over the Persians, Pericles, a prominent Athenian statesman and general, commanded the construction of the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike.

As it is not hard to imagine, the Athenian Acropolis is also associated with incredible legends. According to a popular myth, Poseidon, the god of sea and earthquakes, and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, fertility and nature, competed for the honor of being the patron of the city. Poseidon hit the Acropolis rock with his trident, from which a horse arose as a gift to Athenians, while Athena gave the city an olive tree. The citizens preferred the second gift, and so Athens was named after Athena. This shows the differences between religious ideas, but in the end, both gods coexisted peacefully, and were also depicted in the sculptural elements of the Parthenon.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the outstanding architectural ensemble is protected and it is undergoing restoration since 1975. What really caught my attention was to know that the restoration project is designed to be completely reversible, in case future experts decide to change elements. The project also required extensive research in ancient construction techniques combined with modern technology. Together with the New Acropolis Museum, which houses the sculptural and architectural pieces of the archaeological site, the long-term conservation works will enhance the protection of the masterpieces of Greek Classical art.

The ideas associated with this wonder of the world have never faded or lost importance. The universality of concepts such as democracy, freedom of speech, and the brilliant works of art and architecture are the testimony of the glories of Ancient Greece and of its legacy to the cultural heritage of humanity.

Exploring the Acropolis with my friends on that hot summer day was an unforgettable experience. As I wandered around the site, I could not help but to think about how it must have been during the times of Pericles to look at the grand monuments from any point of the city. It was a marvellous thought.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

My lovely friends and guides of Athens at the Propylaea.

Propylaea, entrance to the Acropolis.

Details of the Parthenon.

Adamantia at the Acropolis.

The Caryatids of the Erechtheion.

Details of the Parthenon.

The Parthenon is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece.

Views from the Acropolis.

Amazing Parthenon!

Temple of Athena Nike.