Day 16, Nov 24, 2018, Saturday:
We started off early and intended to
take a taxi to Hadrian's arch. The taxis we saw on the way were reserved. They told us we can
easily walk. So we walked, enjoying the quiet, serene Athens morning
on a weekend. Our targets are circled in blue in the map
Saw a few churches, entered them. Even stayed for a mass for a few minutes.
Saw a few churches, entered them. Even stayed for a mass for a few minutes.
Pastry shop near our hotel
The Arch of Hadrian:
Reached Hadrian's arch
The Arch of Hadrian is a
monumental gateway built to celebrate the adventus (arrival)
of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and to honor him for his
many benefactions to the city, on the occasion of the dedication of
the nearby temple complex in 131 or 132 AD. The arch was constructed
without cement or mortar from solid marble, using clamps to connect
the cut stones. It is 18m high, 13.5m wide, and 2.3m in depth.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus:
We then searched for the entrance to the temple of Zeus. Walked towards it and bought the ticket.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus
is a former colossal temple dedicated to Zeus, the head of
the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC,
completed in the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd
century AD
Fifteen columns remain standing today and a sixteenth column lies on the ground where it fell during a storm in 1852. Nothing remains of the cella or the great statue that it once housed.
National Garden:
We then walked to the National Garden. Beautiful place with huge trees, a pond and a small zoo
Palms...
Saw the nice little zoo. These parakeets were very busy in their nests... a video here:
Parakeets... Athens National Garden
Lovely Spanish Fountain here...with koi fish
Had some food.
Benaki museum:
Then we walked to Benaki museum. Awesome museum. We started with the earliest exhibits, then went to the washroom located between 2nd 3rd floors , then continued from 3rd floor coming down. Best pieces are there, so our strategy worked great
The Benaki Museum, established and
endowed in 1930 by Antonis Benakis whose family lived
in Alexandria, Egypt. in memory of his father Emmanuel
Benakis, is housed in the Benakis family mansion in downtown Athens.
the Benakis donated the family's house in Athens and their collection
of more than 37,000 Islamic and Byzantine objects .
Islamic and chinese objects have been moved to satellite museums and
this main museum focuses on Greek culture
Mother of pearl inlay
We walked to Syntagma after some food at the National Garden
End of yet another AWESOME DAY!
VIDEO LINK:
Our video of Athens museums, Benaki and National archaeological museum is here:
Video of National garden and Syntagma square:
Roman Agora, Hadrian's Arch, Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Library:
Parakeets... Athens National Garden
Report of the last day of our vacation covering National Archaeological Museum and Hellenic Motor Museum at Athens is here:
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