GREECE
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Athens has stood as a symbol of Western cultural achievements since antiquity.
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Acropolis was originally the residence of Mycenean Greek rulers for over 3,000 years.
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It showcases the pinnacle of ancient Greek architecture, with a series of monuments built on the hillsides and atop a 150-meters rocky outcrop.
The complex's crown jewel is the Parthenon constructed in the 5th century B.C. to honor Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom.
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A sleek museum with full-height windows that sensationally frames the 'high city.'
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Over 4,250 artifacts are displayed across three spacious floors, including painted pottery, ritual objects, and sculptures that once graced the temple complex.
Yet the most impressive is the Parthenon marble sculptures on the third-floor gallery.
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Traces of ancient Athens are also visible in this leafy area, northwest of the Acropolis.
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It's the finest example of a classical Greek marketplace, featuring a series of buildings around a vast square where commercial, residential, political, and judicial gatherings happened.
Though most buildings now lie in ruins, two structures stand out in full glory: the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos.
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Construction also boomed under Roman rule, beginning with the Roman Agora.
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It's a large marketplace initiated by Julius Ceasar and completed by Augustus.
Later, Emperor Hadrian adorned the city with more constructions, including a library, an aqueduct, a bridge, and several temples.
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It boasts the world's finest and most extensive exhibition of Greek antiquities.
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More than 11,000 exhibits dating from prehistory to the classical period are displayed in this impressive neoclassical building.
The museum's vast collection is arranged in themes and spreads over dozens of halls on two floors, taking hours to explore.
A masterpiece from the Aegean civilizations.
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