First Cemetery of Athens Walking Tour
Description
The official cemetery of Athens, the city’s First Cemetery isn’t just a historic landmark: given its wealth of beautiful carvings and ornamental gravesites, it’s akin to an open-air sculpture gallery. On this 3-hour, small-group walking tour, venture from the centrally located Syntagma Square and explore this 19th-century landmark, while your art historian guide tells you about the area's past.
Tour Options
Itinerary
As we start walking we pass around the Temple of Olympian Zeus, talking about the decision to be Athens the capital of Greece, and the need for the first Cemetery of the new capital
We are heading to Anapafseos street, that means Rest to the main entrance of the First Cemetery, talking about sculpture, the funerary customs, and everything had to do with the life and death since antiquity in Greece
The city’s official cemetery, the sprawling landmark is famous for its pretty green space, several churches, and highly ornamental gravestones. Admire the sculptural tombs while your guide, an art historian, tells you about its backstory. Opened in the 19th century, the First Cemetery is the final resting place for a number of Greek luminaries, from artists and poets to actors, politicians, and several former prime ministers. After you’ve discovered the sights and sculptures of the First Cemetery, continue your tour with a coffee stop in the historic Mets neighborhood, one of the prettiest districts in the city. We are reaching the First Cemetery of Athens, and the main Gate, we talk about the the sculpture of 19th Century, and we stop to the main and wellknown tombs, we talk about the different styles of the sculptures. You will learn also if finally the Cemetery is haunted or not.
Though the National Garden of Athens we are heading to Synagma square, where is the end of our tour
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or wheelchair users
- Operates in all weather conditions; please dress appropriately
Reviews(6)
Beautiful cemetery--Many statues. Very informative tour. There is a bone storage building you can also access.
Super informative and accommodating. Highly recommend for a tour around Athens and you won’t be disappointed. We saw multiple sites, I got historical context, and got local advice.
We had an extremely knowledgeable guide who was both historian and archaeological student. As we walked the lesser known neighborhoods to arrive and the "First Cemetery" , it was a pleasure to hear how the locals spend their time. The cemetery was not morbid but rather a quiet sanctuary of history, art, and quite apparent is the respect families have shown and continue to show to those who have passed before them. I would do this tour again without hesitation!
Hercules was great! He took me to so many interesting places and knew so much about the life of ancient Greeks, their culture and lifestyle. Answered all of my questions and was willing to show me even more places that he thought I might consider interesting.
Great overall detailed experience of not just the Cemetery but of Ancient Greece as we walked too and from the Cemetery. Guide was very knowledgeable
Ellania, our tour guide was amazing and so sweet, very knowledgeable as well. The cemetery is very large and peaceful❤️