Top Things to do in Saronic Gulf Islands
Things to do in Saronic Gulf Islands, Attica: The Best Historic Sites
Discover the best top things to do in Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece including Temple of Aphaia, Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, House of Aggelos Sikelianos, Agion Theodoron Church, Ancient Port of Salamis.
Restaurants in Saronic Gulf Islands
1. Temple of Aphaia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 974 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
For anybody with some cultural interest a visit to the Aphaia temple is a must, when on Aegina. Located in a quiet area, on a 160m high hill, surrounded by pine forests, the site can be reached by public transport, since most buses between Aegina town and the tourist resort of Agia Marina stop by here. We had arrived from Aegina town a bit too early, since the sanctuary only opens at 10am (and closes at 5.30pm). Entrance fee is 6€, but our student grandchildren were free, while my wife and me as seniors just paid half price. When there early July we had the place to ourselves, a great relief in comparison to a visit at Athens acropolis. The temple, somewhat forgotten over the centuries, is one of the best preserved monuments of antiquity in Greece. It is a peripteros (a temple surrounded by columns) in the Doric style, a few years older than the Parthenon on Athens acropolis. While the latter is considered a masterpiece of the classical period, the temple of Aphaia still belongs to the Late Archaic period. This can best be judged from the sculptures of the two pediments, which are exhibited now at the Glyptothek in Munich, the famous 'Aeginetes', once bought by Ludwig I of Bavaria. Strange is also the name of 'Aphaia', a local goddess, not encountered anywhere else in Greece. From the sanctuary we walked via the monastery of Agios Minas down to the beach at Agia Marina. It is not a walk that can be recommended anymore, nor is the direct path, since the area has been built up with many roads and houses.
