Ancient Agora of Athens

The Ancient Agora of Athens was the heart of public life in the ancient city, where citizens gathered to trade, debate, and take part in the political life of the world's first democracy. The site lies in the Monastiraki area, at the foot of the Acropolis, and is among the best-preserved and most pleasant archaeological sites in Athens, Greece, with shade, gardens and views up to the Parthenon. The most important surviving building is the Temple of Hephaestus, a Doric temple dating from around 449 BC and one of the best-preserved ancient temples in Greece. It stands on a low hill above the Agora, and the walk to it passes through shaded paths and flowering gardens. Nearby, the Stoa of Attalos, a two-storey colonnaded building reconstructed in the 1950s by the American School of Classical Studies, houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora with objects such as pottery, voting tokens, and bronze allotment machines used to select jurors. Also on site are the Church of the Holy Apostles, a Byzantine church from the tenth century, the remains of the Tholos where officials lived, and the Altar of the Twelve Gods. A visit takes about one and a half to two hours. Information panels explain the location of the Bouleuterion, law courts and fountain houses, and a guide or audio guide helps make sense of the scattered foundations. Many visitors find the Agora less crowded than the Acropolis, and it makes a good second stop in Athens. The site is most popular in the late morning and early afternoon, when tour groups from the Acropolis tend to pass through. Early morning and late afternoon offer cooler temperatures, softer light on the Temple of Hephaestus, and fewer people. Summer heat can be intense on the open ground, although the trees provide some relief. A combined ticket valid for several days is available and includes the Acropolis and other sites. The entrance is on Adrianou Street, a pedestrian road lined with cafés, and a second entrance sits near Thissio metro station.