Philopappus Hill - Petralona

Voutie Park

Starting the historic walk from the Voutie Park in the neighborhood of Petralona. Very close to the Petralona Metro station and the trolley line 15, Mercury Square stop. Right next to the parking lot of Dora Stratou traditional dances theater.

The Koilon

Koilon coming from the shape, named the area, the ancient Dimos (municipality) and its central street.

Information tablet

A tablet is placed at the bottom of the Koilon offering information on the location.

Carved rocks

All rocks have been carved to form rooms, benches, stairs and graves. It's very unlikely to find an untouched by human hand rock on this hill.

Graves

Burials were placed next to the streets so that the dead would be remembered.

Water sewage and chariot wheels

The water sewage canal following the street was carved on the rock and covered on the top. The chariot wheels have left deep carves on the rock.

Shops

Shops along side the Koilis Street carved on the rock.

The Koilon

Looking down the Koilon from its top.

Kimon's tomb

The family grave of Kimon. The carved stone shows that further constructions covered the remaining naked stone we see now.

The Pikiones Streets

Playfully constructed fragmental stone paved streets directed by the architect Pikiones.

The Pikiones Streets

The Pikiones' stone pavements can be found all around Philopappus Hill.

Flowers and trees

The variety of plants on the hill is surprising.

Observation spots all around the hill

Benches and city observation spots all around the hill.

City views

City views

City views

The monument of Philopappus

At the highest point of the hill stands the Monumental Tomb of Philopappus.

The city from the top of the hill

Views of the Parthenon, Lecabettus Hill, the Acropolis Museum, the Stadium and more.

Sculpture remains on the monument of Philopappus

Sculpture has been hammered by the byzantine Christians in several occasions, so we can only suspect of the original content of the sculpture.

More views of the Parthenon

Views of the Parthenon, Lecabettus Hill, the Acropolis Museum and the Stadium where the first modern Olympics took place.

Pikiones' stone pavements

Remarkable decorations all around the Pikiones' streets and paths.

The supposedly 'Socrates' prison'

This fame doesn't relate to reality. Actually, it's the stone remains of an impressive monumental construction that was originally extended much further than the existing rocks. These rock caves played an important role during the WWII used by heroic archeologists to save inside it lots of the antiquities of the National Museum. A thick concrete wall closed the entrances for many years.

The amazing construction of St. Demetrios Loumbardiares

The construction directed by the architect Pikiones contains embedded innumerous antiquity particles of pots and marbles found in the area.

The Pnyka Hill

The Pnyka Hill and remains of the fortification of Athens. The Pnyka was the center of Athenean Democracy since this is where the representatives would gather to discuss and make decisions.

The cradle of Democracy

Actually Perikleus, and all the famous rhetors stood on this rock on the top of Pnyka Hill.

The National Observatory

The old Observatory at the front and the new at the back. Both are still in use the old one as a Museum while the new one still hosts scientific services and accepts lots of visitors and tours.

Views of the west trails of the Philopappus Hill (Nymphon Hill)

The west part of the area we use to call Philopappus Hill (Muses HIll) is actually a separate Hill named Nymphon Hill, including the Pnyka, the Observatories and the North slopes of Koilon.

Trails on the Nymphon Hill toward the Koilon

Trails on the Nymphon Hill toward the Koilon

View of the Koilon from the North