6ATHENS

Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, its recorded history going back 3,500 years. Long the most important and largest city in Greece, it only officially became the capital in 1834. It is home to many of the most famous and important sites in Greece.

The Acropolis of Athens, perched 150 m / 490 ft high on a rocky hill overlooking the city, is a large citadel or acropolis. This isn’t the only acropolis in Greece, but it is by far the most impressive and well-known, so is usually just referred to just as “The Acropolis”. Although there is evidence of the hill being occupied as early as 4,000 BC, what can be seen now are the remains of what was built by Pericles in the 5th century BC. The complex of buildings was dedicated to the goddess Athena, from whom Athens gets its name – or perhaps the goddess takes her name from the city. The experts are divided on that question, although most think the city name came first.

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