Acropolis & Parthenon Guided Tour in Spanish Athens

The Theatre of Dionysus on the South Slope

The tour starts at the southern entrance, a calmer way into the archaeological site than the main western gate, and its first stop is the Theatre of Dionysus. Built in the 5th century BC and enlarged in stone in the 4th, it held around 17,000 spectators and is considered the oldest theatre in the world. It was dedicated to Dionysus, god of theatre and festivity, whose spring festival saw new plays staged in competition.

Your Spanish-speaking guide shows you the marble seats of honour in the front row, the carved stage front and the remains of the temple of the god beside it. Arriving early means you see the theatre before the large groups, with soft morning light on the stone. Allow about 10 minutes here, and keep your headphones on to follow every story as you walk.

The Asklepieion, the Stoa of Eumenes and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Following the path west, you pass the Asklepieion, the sanctuary of Asclepius, god of medicine, founded in 420 BC beside a sacred spring. Pilgrims came here to be healed, and finds from the site tell a fascinating story about ancient health and medicine. Below runs the Stoa of Eumenes, a long covered colonnade built in the 2nd century BC by a king of Pergamon as a gift to Athens, where theatregoers sheltered from sun and rain.

At the end of the walkway rises the spectacular Odeon of Herodes Atticus, built in AD 161 as a roofed concert hall for about 5,000 people. Restored in the 1950s, it is still in use today and hosts some of the most important concerts and performances in Greece during the summer festival. From the path above, you look straight down into its marble semicircle.

The Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike

You enter the summit, as the ancient Athenians did, through the Propylaea, the grand gateway built between 437 and 432 BC. Your guide points out how the architects combined two styles: sturdy Doric columns on the outside and tall, slender Ionic columns inside, a clever solution for a building set on a steep slope. Even unfinished, it was admired as a masterpiece in its own time.

To the right, on a high bastion, stands the Temple of Athena Nike, a small Ionic temple to Athena as goddess of victory, built around 420 BC. It is one of the first sights you see on any visit, and its delicate proportions contrast with the power of the gateway beside it. From its terrace the view opens to the west towards the sea and the hills beyond the city.

The Parthenon, Athena's Temple

The Parthenon is the most harmonious temple of the ancient world, built between 447 and 432 BC in honour of Athena, protector of the city. Every column leans very slightly inwards and every step curves gently upwards, refinements that make the building look perfect to the eye. Inside once stood a huge gold and ivory statue of the goddess, and the marble was brightly painted.

Later the temple became a church and then a mosque, until an explosion in 1687 destroyed its roof and centre. Today restoration teams work carefully to put fallen pieces back in place. Your guide spends about 20 minutes here, explaining the sculptures and the reasons this monument is recognised by UNESCO as a symbol of classical civilisation. Is the Acropolis worth visiting with a guide in your own language? Here the answer becomes clear.

The Erechtheion and the Porch of the Caryatids

The visit ends at the Erechtheion, the temple that still bears the marks of the gods who fought for the city. According to legend, Poseidon struck the rock with his trident and gave a salt water spring, while Athena offered the first olive tree, and the Athenians chose her. An olive tree still grows beside the temple, and your guide shows you where the mark of the trident was honoured.

The south porch is supported by the six Caryatids, elegant female figures used as columns; those on site are copies, with the originals kept in the nearby museum. After the explanations you are free to stay at the top as long as you like, enjoying 360-degree views over Athens, from Lycabettus Hill to the port of Piraeus, and taking the best photos of the day.