Greece co-signed the UNESCO treaty in 1981 and has registered 18 monuments so far in the World Heritage List.
UNESCO’s goal is to protect monuments from any kind of wear and tear so that they can be passed down to future generations.
We are presenting to you 10 of the most impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites in Greece which are worth seeing up close.
The Acropolis, Athens
One of the largest and most significant UNESCO World Heritage monuments in Greece and in the world is the Acropolis. As its name denotes – the word derives from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, “highest point, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”) – it is located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens. It contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous of which is the Parthenon. It is a symbol of the ancient civilization, the power and greatness of Athens during the period of its greatest prosperity, the “Golden Age of Pericles”. The monuments of the Acropolis stand out for their innovative architecture which later influenced art trends for many centuries.
Archaeological Site of Delphi
At the foot of Parnassos mountain lies Delfi, an UNESCO World Heritage monument since 1972, which was the famous oracle site of ancient Greece, where god Apollo gave his oracle. It was considered the “navel of the world” as it had been a renowned religious and spiritual center of Greek antiquity for many centuries worldwide, which made important predictions regarding significant events such as the Trojan War. Even the landscape reveals its grandeur with two giant cliffs at the foot of Mt Parnassos, the Phaidriades, overlooking the oracle and the sanctuary.
Meteora, Kalabaka
Meteora is world famous not only as a miracle of nature but also as one of the most important religious places in Greece, as it hosts one of the largest complexes of eastern Orthodox monasteries. Over the centuries, many anchorites chose the steep rocks of Meteora to withdraw so that they could devote themselves to God. Today there are six monasteries which stand precipitously and majestically on immense natural rock pillars which dominate the whole area and welcome millions of visitors from around the world.
Ancient Olympia, Peloponnese
Olympia (or the so-called “valley of gods”), in western Peloponnese, was the most glorified sacred site of ancient Greece, which was dedicated to god Zeus. Olympia established itself as the most important religious and sports center, where the great Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. and held every four years in honor of Zeus; to this day they are the world’s largest sport event.
Agio Oros (Holy Mountain), Athos Peninsula, Macedonia
The peninsula of Athos or Agio Oros is the easternmost of the three ones in Chalkidiki. Mount Athos is the only place in Greece that is entirely dedicated to the worship of God and entry to women is prohibited. It is a self-governed part of the Greek state and spiritually under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The monastic state of Agio Oros includes 20 monasteries, sketae, huts, cells, ´kathismata´ and hermitages.
Medieval City of Rhodes
Walking through the medieval streets of Rhodes, visitors can admire another UNESCO World Heritage site in Greece, that of the Medieval City of Rhodes. It seems that time has stopped since the era of knights. The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1523 and made the city a stronghold, leaving behind a great jewel of architecture. The Palace of the Grand Masters, the Great Hospital and the Street of the Knights make the Upper Town of Rhodes one of the most important monuments of the Gothic period.
Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus, Peloponnese
Its natural beauty and the beneficial climatic conditions made the ancient city of Epidaurus the ideal place for human healing with the power of gods. This is how the sanctuary of Asklepios was established, a sacred place used for ceremonial medical practices, named after Asklepios, the god of medicine. The site with its temples and hospital buildings served as a healing center for both Greeks and Romans. The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is located on the southeast end of the sanctuary and it is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Greek architecture.
Old Town of Corfu
The old town of Corfu is bordered by the Old and New Forts, which were created during the Venetian occupation to protect the city from the Ottomans. The historic center of Corfu is reminiscent of Italian style, which is not unreasonable as the Venetian rule on the island lasted for about 400 years. The island escaped the Turkish invaders and managed to flourish and stand out from the rest of Greece.
Monastery of Saint-John the Divine and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Patmos
The first thing you notice on Patmos island is the monastery of St John the Divine or the Evangelist. It crowns the hill of Hora. It looks like a Byzantine castle and was built like a fortress and its presence is overwhelming. It was founded in 1088 by Ossios Christodoulos, following a grant by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I. Komnenos. The establishment of the monastery marked the birth of a cultural, spiritual and religious center, which is a point of reference for the whole Christendom. It is known that St John the Divine (Theologos) wrote both his Gospel and the Apocalypse, which made the island one of the most important pilgrimage destinations ever since.
Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns
The Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns, located in the regional unit of Argolis in the North-East Peloponnese, are the ruins of the two greatest cities of the Mycenaean civilization, which dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th centuries B.C. and played a vital role in the development of classical Greek culture. The site has been in the World Heritage List since 1999. These two cities are associated with the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, which have influenced European art and literature for more many centuries.
