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News
Sights of Interest in Greece
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Temple of Olympian Zeus
06-03-2013 17:41The Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens stands beside the monumental Hadrian’s arch in close proximity of the picturesque district of Plaka and the New Acropolis Museum. From this colossal temple, only sixteen magnificent columns survive out of the original 104 columns.
The Parthenon is generally accepted as the most important expression of Greek architecture and one of the most influential buildings of all times. Yet, the temple of Parthenon is by no means the largest Greek temple. The Temple of Olympian Zeus is the largest temple constructed in Greece.
This majestic temple was started getting constructed by the tyrant Peisistratos in 515 BC. After his fall of the power, the democratic Athenians refused to finish the temple as they saw it as a monument to a hated tyrant. The work was taken over by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of Seleucids, in 174 BC, but it stopped with his death in 163 BC. The temple was finally completed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 124 AD. In order to thank him for finishing it, the Athenians built a two-storey arch next to the temple, whose inscription announces Hadrian’s claim on the city, dividing Athens between Greek hero Theseus and Hadrian.
Inside the Olympieion stood two colossal gold and ivory statues: one of the mighty god Zeus and one of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. The Temple of Olympian Zeus is a great example of Corinthian order in Greece, made of Pentelic marble. It measured just over 110 meters long and more than 43 meters wide, with three rows of eight columns each across the front and two rows down the long sides of twenty columns each, 104 columns in all.
Ancient authors suggest that the central part of the temple was to be open to the sky. The scale and plan made the temple the match of the other enormous temples of the Greek world, the ones at Samos, Ephesos, and Miletos.
Other important monuments of the site are the Doric temple of Apollo Delphinios, the Delphinion Court, the gates of the Themistoclean Wall, the temple of Panhellenic Zeus and the small temple of Kronos and Rea. The archaeological site is part of the sites that can be visited with the general admission ticket.
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Top bews!
Santorini has a secret... but we have to share it.
It opened in 2004 and soon became one of the favourite dining spots in Santorini. It is called Metaxy mas which means.. between us, but it is not a secret any more that this restaurant has a rich menu with almost 40 different dishes and appetizers based on traditional Greek cuisine.
Parea Restaurant: a beautiful terrace for the perfect dinner.
We have been choosing Parea Tavern for our meals and dinners for 14 years! Every time someone from Touristorama travels to the island of Santorini, he enjoys authentic Greek cuisine at the terrace of this restaurant in the heart of Fira. And we are not the only ones. Thousands of tourists include it among their favorites on the volcanic island.
We found the best scandinavian bar in Naxos!
Touristorama has been travelling all around Greece and its islands for over a decade. This year, during our trip to Naxos, the biggest of the Cyclades complex, we discovered an interesting spot, perfect for your night out on the island… which is what we do best: finding the best places and then propose you should visit them! Prime is a Scandinavian Bar, located on a privileged position in Chora of Naxos, opposite the port. It’s been operating for 21 years and enjoys a great fame to both foreign and local tourists.
Aktaion - Writing gastronomic history since 1922
Like a relay race of three generations; a journey with happy days, sad days, joys, sorrows, wars, Occupation, poverty, hunger, deaths, volcanic eruptions, catastrophic earthquakes, flee for a better life, return, better days, feasts, tourism explosion, financial crises and so on… Everything has been indelibly inscribed on the walls of this small building, Aktaion. I feel grateful that life has given me the opportunity to hold the reins of Aktaion all the way to its centennial.
Something old, something new.... Marmita combines them both!
The Marmita Restaurant is now a part of the history of Santorini, since it has been operating in Megalochori since 2004. From 2013 it s been running under the observation of new owner Giannis Manikas and the sense of renewal is obvious.
Privacy on the vivid island of Santorini? Yes, you can have it!
Explore the fascinating volcanic island of Santorini the way you want it yourself! Enjoy a unique accommodation experience, with huge doses of privacy and luxury by choosing to stay in Incognito Villa.
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