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of history. The Acropolis Museum and tury churches like Agios Georgios and
the Parthenon are among its head-
line attractions, but it is the more subtle
gems that add depth to the experience.
There are smaller museums, quieter and
less visited, that provide a respite from
the crowds with their carefully curated
collections.
Behind Plaka’s well-trodden paths,
one finds Anafiotika, a hidden village-like
enclave. Nestled beneath the Acropolis,
Anafiotika’s whitewashed houses and nar-
row streets evoke the architecture of the
Cycladic islands. This area, originally set-
tled by workers from the island of Anafi,
offers a rare, almost ethereal escape from
the bustling city below. Its quaint charm is
accompanied by the serenity of 17th-cen-
i GR E E C E TR A V E L
Agios Simeon, which together frame the
paths leading up to the Acropolis, where
the view from the summit extends across
the entire city.
A short walk from the Acropo-
lis brings one to the Agios Nikolaos
Ragavas church, a testament to Athens’
turbulent history. This 11th-century Byz-
antine structure, remarkably preserved
through the centuries, is not only a beau-
tiful example of religious architecture but
also a symbol of resilience. It is the last
church bell still ringing in Athens—a his-
torical echo that resumed its tolling after
the German occupation of 1944, a stark
reminder of the city’s layered past.
The Monument of Lysicrates, just off
Hadrian’s Arch, serves as another silent
storyteller. Erected by a wealthy patron
of the arts in the 4th century BCE, this