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The GOLDEN AGE TOUR is a guided sightseeing experience, scheduled mainly during the summer season (from APR 15 to OCT 31). This tour is mostly reserved for groups organized by Tour Operators and Travel Agencies. The starting point of the GOLDEN AGE TOUR is on Vassilissis Amalias avenue, right in front of the National Garden. The first stop is at Syntagma (constitution) square, where you shall see the change of the guard at the Unknown Soldier's monument in front of the Hellenic Parliament (the building used to be the King's palace). |
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After the change of the guard, you board the SUNSHINE EXPRESS and proceed through Vassilissis Sofias avenue. Turning down Irodou Attikou street the SUNSHINE EXPRESS passes in front of the National Guard barracks, the Prime Minister's offices and the Presidential Residence and comes to a stop at the entrance to the Zappeion garden nearby the statue of Karaiskakis (hero who fought in the Greek revolution of 1821). Passengers are then escorted to the Panathinaikon stadium (venue of the first modern day Olympics in 1896, built entirely out of marble), following which, prior to returning aboard the SUNSHINE EXPRESS, everyone is offered a taste of traditional Greek sweets and Greek coffee (or light snack and beverage) at the famous Athenian Cafe - Restaurant "AEGLI" situated in the heart of the Zappeion garden.
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After boarding, the SUNSHINE EXPRESS passes by the Zappeion Megaro (venue of important summits and conferences) and through the Zappeion garden joins Vassilissis Olgas avenue on its way to the monument of Lord Byron (English lord/poet who fought in the Greek revolution and perished in the city of Messolongi in 1824), while on the opposite side of the road lie the ruins of the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus. Turing left onto Vassilissis Amalias avenue and, leaving behind Adrian's Arch (that was built as the gate to the new part of ancient Athens), the SUNSHINE EXPRESS turns into Lysikratous street, where the old Byzantine church of St. Catherine is located, while ahead one can set eyes on the grandiose form of the Acropolis. |
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Turning into Dionyssiou Areopagitou street by the statue of Makrygiannis (famous Greek general who led the liberation struggle of the Greeks in the 19th century), the GOLDEN AGE TOUR continues by the ancient theaters of Dionyssos and Irodou Attikou (built in the 2nd century BC), always having the Acropolis (dates up to the 6th century BC) and the Parthenon (the present Parthenon was finalized during the Golden Age of Pericles between 447 and 438 BC) on the right hand side. Passing the hill of Areopagus (the place where the ancient supreme court convened and also the place where St. Paul first introduced Christianity to the ancient Athenians), the SUNSHINE EXPRESS approaches the Pnyx (the place for the Assembly of the People in ancient times, with the Athens space observatory built in modern times) and proceeds on its way to the Thission (temple dedicated in ancient times to the Olympian god Haephestus). |
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The GOLDEN AGE TOUR continues through Keramikos (burial place of ancient Athens) and the nearby old byzantine church of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity). Turning into Adrianou street, the SUNSHINE EXPRESS approaches the area of the Archea Agora (ancient marketplace, gathering place for ancient Athenians, philosophers and politicians) and the Stoa Attalou (a well preserved indoor marketplace built by King Attalus of Pergamus in the 2nd century BC ). Passing by the area of Monastiraki and the old Mosque (presently hosting the museum of ceramics), the SUNSHINE EXPRESS continues the tour by going through the old Roman Agora (new marketplace area financed by the Romans in the 1st century BC). |
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Within the Roman Agora area lies the legendary Tower of the Winds (Aerides), a sophisticated observatory which was built in the 1st century BC by the famous architect Andronicus Currhestes. The SUNSHINE EXPRESS then proceeds by passing through the narrow traditional streets of the old commercial city center and the Plaka area and returns to its starting point on Vassilisis Amalias avenue, ending the GOLDEN AGE TOUR. Duration of tour: 1 hour and 40 minutes approximately.
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