The Panathenaic Stadium, Athens

After the Acropolis I would put the Panathenaic Stadium as my favourite site in Athens. I deliberately planned my visit for early in the morning to beat the heat (there is no shade) and apparently the crowds because it wasn’t at all busy while I was there, but a queue was starting to build up as I was leaving. An adult ticket cost €10 and included a very good audio guide that came in the form of an old style mobile phone. Note that you can only buy admission tickets in person from the entrance booth.

A stadium was first constructed on the site in 330 BC by Athenian politician Lycurgus for the Panathenaic Games. These games were a series of athletic competitions as we are familiar with, but also religious festivals and cultural events; just as the Olympics and Paralympics of today they took place every four years. Events would include chariot races, singing contests, processions of priests and priestesses and even the sacrifice of cows and sheep.

In 144 AD the Roman Senator Herodes Atticus had the stadium completely rebuilt in white marble. It was abandoned for centuries but then restored in 1896 which is how you see it today. Note, the steps are surprisingly high and a tad slippy – I had on sensible shoes and was being cautious – this definitely isn’t the place for sandals or heels.

In 1894 a Greek representative without official permission proposed that Athens host the Olympics in 1896. Since Greece had declared bankruptcy the year before this was going to be a tall order. But the Greek Crown Prince Constantine voiced his support and reached out to a wealthy Greek merchant living in Egypt called George Averoff. He insisted that the stadium be built entirely in marble from Mount Penteli – the same as had been used on the Parthenon and though it sounds like it was a very stressful endeavour they did manage to complete the stadium in time to host the Olympics that year.

You can also walk through the same tunnel that the Olympic athletes travelled through in order to reach a small museum on the Olympics where you can find a lot of posters and memorabilia – including the London 2012 mascots.

A great place to visit with a rich history, I’d set this as one of Athens’ definite must see sites.