On our way back from Albania, we decided to visit Meteora again and to do this, we stopped in Greece for a few hours. Just thinking about this visit gave me a strange feeling. As soon as I got there, I felt overwhelmed by memories and emotions. It was a real pleasure to revisit the valley of Thessaly, an area blessed with unique landscapes which seem to be cut out of a fairy tale.

Admiring the beauty of this region was easy, but the difficult part was to compare the past images with the present ones. I felt like I was playing a game and I was trying to find the similarities between the two images.

The spectacular high sandstone rocks make this corner of heaven unique in the world. It is true that the image of these mysterious rocks, whose origin is still unknown, is simply breathtaking, but what really makes them special are the monasteries built on top of them.

The six monasteries were built by monks many centuries ago and for good reason they are the main attraction in the area. The Monasteries of Meteora seem to be unreal thanks to their extraordinary appearance which gives you the impression that they are suspended somewhere between the earth and the sky. It is unbelievable how the monks succeeded in building these masterpieces right on top of the rocks.Nowadays, the complex of monasteries is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its cultural and religious significance.

Even though I wanted to revisit all the six monasteries, I only managed to see three of them. The first one was the Monastery of Saint Stephen with its two lovely cathedrals which shelter sacred relics of saints and religious items.The second one was the Monastery of Varlaam located in the middle of a sublime scenery and blessed with an interesting museum where you can admire a collection of painted icons and holy objects. The last one was the Monastery of Great Meteoron, a real proof of architectural mastery. This is the biggest and the oldest monastery in the complex and it is blessed with beautiful frescoes, religious icons and spectacular views.

All of these monasteries were exactly how I remembered them. They looked as if the passing of time hadn’t changed them at all. My only regret is that I didn’t manage to visit all of them again, but at least I saw the other ones from the car. The Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapafsas, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and the Monastery of Roussanou looked unaffected by the passing of time as well.

Everything happens for a reason and maybe the fact that I haven’t revisited all the monasteries will make me come back to this place. Who knows, maybe I will return to this amazing place after 10 more years? What I do know is that Meteora is the kind of place which deserves to be visited more than once.

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It is true that the city has gone through major changes during the centuries, but somehow it managed to preserve its authenticity.

The historical center of Athens can be considered an open-air museum thanks to the multitude of remains that can be admired there.

The place that perfectly portraits the energy of the glorious past of Athens is definitely the Acropolis. The Holy Rock of Athens, as the Acropolis is called, rises majestically in the heart of the city and is considered the most important symbol of the Greek ancient culture. This fortified citadel is blessed with 21 important remains of Greek temples, edifices and buildings.

My favorite places and also the most well-preserved in the entire complex are: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

1.The Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, who is considered the patroness of Athens. This cultural monument is the most significant edifice of the Ancient Greece that still stands today. Displaying features of both Doric and Ionic architectural styles, the entire sanctuary is surrounded by massive columns and it is considered a fine example of Greek architecture.

The Parthenon had a tumultuous history and it passed through several stages during the centuries. For example the edifice used to serve as a treasury of the Delian League and later it became the symbol of the Athenian Empire.  In the 5^th century CE it was converted into a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and after the Ottoman conquest it was turned into a mosque. It is definitely a surprisingly interesting evolution.

2.The Erechtheion is also an ancient temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. Displaying an interesting and complex design, with a lot of Ionic architectural details, this temple is in my opinion the most beautiful and the best preserved in the entire area. My favorite part of this temple is the famous Porch of the Caryatids. Also named the Porch of the Maidens, this interesting structure has six support columns designed as six female figures.

As well as the Parthenon, the Erechtheion went through a tumultuous evolution over time. It used to be a church in the Byzantine period, a palace in the Frankish period and the residence of the Turkish commander’s harem in the Ottoman period.

3.The Propylaia is the monumental gateway to the Acropolis of Athens or the main entrance to this sacred place.  This structure consists of a number of rooms and gates which are linked with porticos and stairs. Surrounded by massive columns and walls and displaying a blend between the Doric and Ionic architectural styles, the Propylaia was considered one of the most innovative buildings of the Classical Antiquity.

It was the only building that survived the Greek, the Roman and the Byzantine periods. The Propylaia used to serve as the palace of the Acciaioli family during the period of the Duchy of Athens.

4.The Temple of Athena Nike is a small temple named after the Greek goddess with the same name. The temple was actually built in order to worship Athena as the goddess of victory and wisdom. The name Nike means victory in Greek.

Situated on the right side of the Propylaia, this is the first structure which was entirely built in the Ionic architectural style. The temple was surrounded by a railing covered with different architectural motifs representing Athena’s life.  The original fragments of the frieze that used to decorate the temple are now exposed in the British Museum and the Acropolis Museum.

5.Another interesting building situated in this complex is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. As the name suggests, this theater was built by Herodes Atticus in the memory of his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla.

Built on a steep slope, in the shape of an amphitheater, the original theater had three stone walls and a wooden roof and it was used as a stage for music concerts.  The remains of the Herodeon, as it is also called, host nowadays different outdoor music concerts and theatre performances.  It seems that this building hasn’t lost its main purpose.

To conclude, in case you haven’t visited the Acropolis yet you should definitely plan a trip there. This will be a great opportunity to admire the remains of the most important Greek temples, edifices and buildings.

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I am talking about those places loaded with a special type of energy, whose value is pointed out by their important role in history. These places can have a great impact on you, especially if you are a history and an art lover.

I have recently visited the Acropolis for the second time and I must say that it was indeed a wonderful feeling. Situated on a rocky outcrop, above the city of Athens, the Acropolis is an ancient fortified citadel which hosts the most important remains of some Greek edifices, temples and buildings. Rising right in the heart of Athens, the Holy Rock of Athens, as it is called, is the most important reference point of the Greek ancient culture.

The word “acropolis” comes from the Greek akron which means extremity and polis which means city. Even if this complex of buildings was repeatedly destroyed during the wars that took place in Athens, it was rebuilt each time. The Acropolis went through a tumultuous period until the end of the 19^th century, when things fell into place for this Greek citadel. That was the moment when the reconstruction process began and the ancient appearance of the citadel started changing.

Some of the original sculptures and objects were sent to the most important museums in the world. So, don’t be surprised if among the sculptures and objects which can be admired on the Acropolis, there are also copies! This is not such an important aspect and it doesn’t affect the beauty and the energy of this place.

There are actually 21 remains that can be admired in the citadel. The Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Temple of Athena Nike are among the ones that are worth mentioning. In my opinion these five are also the most well-preserved and interesting buildings in the entire complex.

Another interesting aspect is that visiting the Acropolis you will have the chance to admire a spectacular panoramic view over the entire city.

To conclude, the Acropolis of Athens is definitely a place which deserves to be added on anyone’s trip list.

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