Learning the Difference Between Patheon vs Acropolis in Athens, Greece

Confused about these two words - Acropolis and Parthenon, I was never sure about what the Acropolis was for until we visited this UNESCO landmark in Greece. On our recent visit to Athens, I learned that "Acropolis" translates from Ancient Greek (akron + polis) means "high city". Hence, the Acropolis refers to the entire rocky hilltop plateau site.

The Acropolis of Athens served as a high fortress during the Bronze Age. It was a fortified citadel & military stronghold. Around the Bronze Age, 1700–1200 BCE, kings built palaces on the hill. Surrounding defensive walls made it an emergency fortress where citizens from the surrounding city below could retreat during invasions. However, by the Classical period (5th century BCE), the top of the hill was predominantly transformed into a sacred place.The Acropoils was not a place where everyday citizens lived. The actual residential city of Athens spread out around the base of the hill.

 

 

  In postcards and pictures sent by friends who are visiting the Acropolis, we usually see the Parthenon, the most photographed and famous temple dedicated to the goddess Athena sitting atop it. The Patheon also functioned as the treasury of the Delain League storing the city's wealth. Besides the Parthenon, there are other structures: Propylaea, Erechtheion, and Temple of Athena Nike. They were completed in a few decades in the 5th century BCE.

  Far from the stark, white marble visible today, original structures like the Parthenon and Erechtheion were painted in vibrant shades of blue, red, gold, and green.

  The Acropolis witnessed centuries of religious transformations:

Originally, it was a complex of pagan temples honoring ancient Greek deities. Then it was converted into a Christian Cathedral during the Byzantine era. Later on, it was connverted into an Ottoman Mosque in the 15th century.

  The Catastrophic Explosion of 1687: During the Morean War, the Ottoman forces used the Parthenon as a gunpowder storehouse. A Venetian mortar shell hit the ammunition, causing a massive explosion that blew out the center columns and destroyed large sections of the structure.

  Avoiding the crowds and the heat, we visited the Acropolis in late afternoon. Taking the Metro subway and getting there was easy! We had a relaxing walk up the hill, paused and read about all these buildings lingering there as long as we desired without following a tour schedule. It was relaxing and educational;

we even saw the flag lowering ceremony by the Greek soldiers! What I liked the most at the Acropolis was learning about the background and history of these great structures and the following:

1. Discovering how huge these temples are and that the Patheon is not the only building as there are others in the building complex; there are many more things to see.

2. the Erechtheion temple which features columns sculpted in the shape of six draped women known as Caryatids. The ones on the hill today are exact replicas; five of the originals are housed in the nearby Acropolis Museum, and one is in the British Museum.

3. Having a bird's eyeview of the city of Athens below us.

4. Watching the sunset at the Acropolis

As the sun went down and it was getting dark, we concluded our wonderful day at the Acropolis making our way down to the bottom of the hill. We discovered a mom and pop restaurant along the way and enjoyed a delicious Greek dinner and recounting what we learned and saw during our visit to one of the greatest site in the world!

RT, at the Acropolis, Athens, Greece 042026

A Hotel Review for Hotel Esperia, Kavala, Greece

We stayed at the Hotel Esperia recently when we visited Kavala. The hotel is reasonably new and modern with a spacious lobby furnished with comfortable chairs. Guests could hang out, relax or just read a book by himself/ herslef in a quiet corner.

We liked this hotel - Our room was spacious, clean and comfortable. The best part was we could walk to the waterfront and to the fortress on the hill.

We like the breakfast served at Hotel Esperia. The dining room was spacious, nicely decorated with food items thoughtfully displayed and served. The choices of food served was great including hot and cold breakfast items, a variety of pastries and desserts. We enjoyed our breakfast and our stay at this hotel.

  Customer service was excellent and the staff was friendly, helpful and welcoming.

  The location was fantastic for us too!

Score - 10/10, highly recommended from two Canadians vacationing in Greece!

  RT, Hotel Esperia, Kavala, Greece

  042026

Our Amazing Race Journey in Greece!

Today was a hectic day for us in Kavala! The morning started out very well as we had a delicious and healthy breakfast at our hotel.

We walked from the hotel to the Kavala Fortress enjoying the coastal scenery of the beautiful city of Kavala.

 

  However, having spent too much time taking pictures and enjoying the scenery on our way up the hill, we could only do a quick tour of the fortress as we needed to get on the 3P.M. bus back to Athens. We had to rush back to our hotel to retrieve our luggage via the short cut to the bottom of the hill.

 

At the half way point and thinking of getting back to our hotel faster, S. used the UBER app. on his cell to order a cab but the taxi never came. We ended up wasting more time waiting for the UBER to arrive. Sadly, this was the second time it happened to us in Greece - calling for an UBER which never arrived. Hurriedly, we raced back on foot to our hotel at around 2 p.m .

  We retrieved our luggage and asked the hotel front desk to call a taxi taking us to the bus station. We told the driver that we were in a big hurry to catch the bus at 3p.m. He was very understanding and did his best to get us there. As soon as we reached the bus terminal, I ran to the ticket window and asked when the next bus to Thessaloniki would be.

  " In 1 minute! Your ticket please! " the ticket lady replied loud and clear. We bought our return tickets days ahead but I was unable to find them! I searched through my purse, my wallet and the pockets in my pants. I couldn't located them!

  " Hurry up! Buy your tickets. You will miss your bus!" The ticket lady urged me.

  Feeling the heat and sweating all over, I kept praying and searching through all our belongings. Where were these darn return tickets?

  Thank God! I finally found our two bus tickets folded carefully in my cell phone wallet. We rushed to the bus driver, handed them over to him and got on the bus just before it left!

 

Making it just in time for the Thessaloniki bus, which took about 2 ½ hour from Kavala to Tessa, we were able to catch our next connection and caught the 5:30 PM bus from Thessaloniki to Athens. Thank God!

Breathing a sigh of relief, we settled into our seats and tried to calm our nerves. My husband and I looked at each other and he said with a big smile on his face, " Dear, how do you like our amazing race in Greece so far?"

  Letting out a big laugh, I replied," We made it!" By the time we arrived back to Athens, it was way past 11:30 pm and we were exhausted!

  RT, Just made it to the Bus going to Thessaloniki Kavala Bus Terminal, Kavala, Greece

Climbing to the top of the Kavala Fortress, Kavala, Greece

We would have loved to visit all of the famous places and cultural landmarks of Kavala, Greece, however, due to time constrain, we chose to see the one that stood out the most for us:

  The Kavala Fortress (Acropolis) - a historical & architectural landmark of Kavala.

After fueling our bodies with a nice buffet breakfast at our hotel, we walked towards the fortress. We were simply awed by the beauty and the slower pace of life in this Greek city.

Not the busy tourist season yet, Kavala was not as busy as Athens and there were no busloads of toursits. It was just peaceful and quiet.

 

Normally, this walk up to the hill might have taken about 30 to 40 minutes. But the scenery walking up the hill was just too beautiful for us not to pause for a few minutes, admire for a while, enjoy and take pictures of these awesome scenes.

One thing we did notice was the number of signs and pictures outside churches and buildings reminding visitors that this was a city visited by Saint Paul years ago after seeing a vision in which a man calling him to go to Macedonia.

 

 

 

  There were churches, numerous shops, nice cafes and restaurants along the hill up to the fortress. I loved those colourful houses along the hills.

The littel gardens were decorated with thriving plants, pots of seasonal flowers, birdhouses, baskets and comfortable seating inviting guests to sit and linger for a while. There were so much to see! We made numerous stops on the way to the top.

We even found a restaurant serving a traditional Greek Easter lamb dinner which we had been looking for in the past few days! How we wished we had time to stop and enjoy that! ( Too bad, we had purchased our return bus tickets already for the late afternoon, therefore, we didn't have the flexibility to pause as long as we desired.)

Having reached the hill, we paid for the entrance admission and climbed up to the watch tower of the fortress. The climb to the top of the watch tower was a little challenging as the stairs were quite narrow. We needed to be very careful.

Sitting atop the Panagia peninsula, this 15th-century Ottoman fortress (built over Byzantine ruins) offered panoramic views of the city, port, and Aegean Sea.

Standing on top of the fortress tower, we felt the power of being able to see the city below us and its surrounding area.

Taking in the stunning 360 degree views before us, we were glad we came to the fortress and made the efforts of climbing the steps and reaching to the top!

 

RT, Kavala Fortress, Kavala, Greece 042026

Kavala - One of Greece's Most Scenic Coastal City

After visiting the ancient site of Philippi, our next stop was Kavala, Greece. We took the 6:30 p.m. bus from Krinides and arrived at this coastal city in the early evening. After unloading our lugguage, we went out for a stroll and to explore the neighboruhood around our hotel.

Wow, what a nice waterfront! We never expected Kavala to be such a beautiful city! We walked past quite a number of nice eateries and restaurants, however, most of these restaurants were closed due to their Greek Orthodox Easter holiday.

We did find a restaurant by the waterfront, but it offered a different menu than what we had in mind. Though unable to find a traditional Greek Easter lamb dinner, we still enjoyed a nice meal at this waterfront restaurant.

Kavala - an absolutely beautiful city with houses built hugging the hills; there was a tropical feel to this town. For a brief moment, we thought we were walking in a tropical town.

The waterfront area looked lively in the evening even though Kavala does not have a big population which is approximately around 51,000 to 56,000 people living in the main urban center of the city.

When the broader Municipality of Kavala (which includes nearby villages like Krinides and Amygdaleonas) is taken into account, then it has a population of around 66,000 to 70,000 inhabitants

. Kavala is one of northern Greece’s most scenic coastal cities, rich with Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman, and early Christian history.

There are lots to see such as the Kavala Fortress (Acropolis),the Kamares Aqueduc, the Imarett, Muhammad Ali’s House & Square, the Old Town, Tobacco Museum of Kavala etc. One can also go for a day trip such as the ones we went to - the archaeological Site of Philippi (UNESCO World Heritage) located about 15 km northwest, and the Baptistery of St. Lydia.

We look forward to visiting some of the famous landmarks and learning more about this beautiful city the next day!

  RT, Kavala, Greece 042026

Leaving Krinides and Taking a Krinides Town Bus to Kavala, Greece

Krinides (Κρηνίδες) is a small, historic town located in northern Greece within the Kavala Municipality. Despite its small population, around 2900 people, Krinides is world-famous because of its direct proximity to major historic and thermal sites.

  1. Archaeological Site of Philippi (UNESCO World Heritage) Located right on the doorstep of Krinides, ancient Philippi was founded in 356 BC by King Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great). Key sights inside the complex include:

- Ancient Theater of Philippi: Built into the hillside, still hosting cultural performances and plays during the summer Philippi Festival.

  - The Roman Forum & Via Egnatia: The ancient Roman highway that connected Rome to Constantinople.

  Prison of Saint Paul: The traditional site where Apostle Paul was imprisoned during his mission to Europe in ~49–50 AD.

  - Early Christian Basilicas: Impressive remains of 5th- and 6th-century Christian churches (Basilica A, Basilica B, and the Octagon).

  2. Archaeological Museum of Philippi

  Situated adjacent to the ruins, this two-story museum houses artifacts uncovered from the prehistoric, Hellenistic, Roman, and Early Christian periods of the region.

3. The Baptistery of Saint Lydia

  Located just a short walk (about 1 km) outside Krinides along the Zygaktis River, this sanctuary marks where St. Paul baptized Lydia of Thyatira,the first recorded Christian convert on European soil.

  4. Mud Baths of Krinides (Pηλόλουτρα Κρηνίδων)

  A short distance from the town center, these therapeutic clay baths and thermal mineral springs have been used since ancient times.

  We were gald that we visited the famous Archaeological Site of Philippi and the Baptistery of Saint Lydia and witnessed an infant baptism there.

  Unfortunately, we didn't have time for the famous mud bath.

  If we had two full day there, we coud have explored this nice village a littel bit more.

We had to say goodbye to Krinides after our short stay at the Lydia Hotel and took the local KTEL Kavala town bus from Krinides to Kavala and were pleasantly surprised to find that taking the bus to Kavala was quick and budget-friendly.

  Buses usually run hourly throughout the day on weekdays, with slightly reduced service on weekends.

Since the elderly lady at our hotel didn’t speak English, we couldn't understand the information she gave us as to where we should wait for the town bus. After waiting at the wrong spot for half an hour and missing the 4:30 p.m. bus, we took the 6:30 pm bus instead.

The bus ride took about 40 minutes covering a distance of around 15 km; our one way ticket was €1.50. It was a nice smooth scenic ride! We arrived to Kavala after 9pm. Looking forward to our next adventure in Kavala!

 

RT, Krinides to Kavala, Greece 042026

A Hotel Review - Lydia Hotel, Closest Hotel to the Achaeological Site of Philippe, Greece

We stayed at the Lydia Hotel when we visited the ruins of Philippi, Greece recently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  We could see a church not far away from our hotel room balcony. To our great pleasant surprise this church right beside our hotel is indeed the Saint Lydia Church (often called “St. Lydia” or “Church of Saint Lydia of Philippi”) which commmorates Lydia who met St. Paul and was baptised in a nearby river.

 

  We were actually staying in a historically significant spot — not just a hotel stop, but a key location in early European Christianity! How blessed were we!

  The hotel, located in a rural village, has a rustic feel to it. It is a family run business. The front desk was staffed by an elderly couple after 8p.m. Though unable to communicate in English with us, they were very helpful when we needed assistance with our TV channels. There was no English TV service in our hotel room. Though a little outdated in its decor, our room was clean and comfortable.

But the view from our room was beautiful, peaceful and tranquil.

  Breakfast was included with our room. We were served a basic breakfast in the dining room - a spacious and inviting place with a fireplace in the middle and a TV watching area at one side of the room. Guests could hang out and chill in the dining room, around the bar or TV area.

The elderly lady tried her best to help ordering a cab for us going to the archaeological site. However, we couldn't understand her instructions of where the bus stop was, hence, we waited at the wrong bus stop going to town and missed the earlier bus for Kavala, our next destination.

  Overall, the room at the Lydia Hotel was clean, pleasant and affordable but lacking some amenities such as English TV channes for news; more clear directions in English for bus stops into town and close by villages would have helped a lot.

 

The location was excellent! Just a short walk from where we were - the Philippi Archaeological Site, where Paul preached — one of the most important early Christian locations in Europe.

  I would give it a score 8 / 10

 

RT, Lydia Hotel, near the Achaeological Site of Philippi

  Greece, 042026