A stroll at the seven hills of Athens
Rome and Constantinople may be widely known for their glorious seven hills, but Athens has its own set to be proud of and share with its visitors...
In antiquity, the Athenian society used them for religious and functional purposes, legislative trials, important rituals, but also to inform the public for any upcoming astro - meteorological phenomena. It is not coincidental that the seven hills of Athens were believed to be interconnected with underground tunnels…
Nowadays, the least we can do is choose them for an incredibly invigorating stroll. We make a start with the hill that hosts the «Akropolis of Athens / Parthenon» which is the epicenter at 156 metres altitude and, indeed, the most popular public space of the city of Athens. The pedestrian street created by the great architect Dimitris Pikionis, the peripheral road of the Akropolis and the new architectural promenade of the Athens Acropolis Museum, constitute a superb stroll around the "holly rock".
The «hill of Arios Pagos» counts 115 meters above ground and offers unique views to the ancient agora, the Plaka quarter, the area of Monastiraki and the two most central squares of the capital, that of Omonia and Syntagma / Parliament.
If you choose to visit the «hill of Filopapou» make sure you have sufficient time in order to also visit the adjacent «hill of the Nymphs» where the National Observatory of Athens is located, but also the «hill of Pnika». This 3 in 1 promenade will take you through beautiful paths within the pine forest where you can also have a picnic with views to the Akropolis or the distant sea.
The best way to approach «Lycabettus hill» is on foot. When you reach the top you will be rewarded with unhindered views to the immense county of Attica through the special binoculars and there is a lovely cafe to sit and relax.
Last, but not least, the «hill of Tourkovounia» is a very good choice either for hiking or cycling. You will love it for its numerous beautiful spots, its "cool" forest and its numerous cafes that will offer you stunning views to the Attica basin right down to the port of Piraeus.
