Sacred Gate

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Inside the ancient site of Kerameikos lie the remains of the city wall built by Themistocles in 479 BC, then rebuilt by Konon in 394 BC. The wall is broken by the Sacred Gate, now visible just in its foundations. This gate spanned the Sacred Way (Iera Odos) and was the one by which pilgrims from Eleusis entered the city during the annual Eleusian procession

Transportation

  • metro: Thissio

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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Nearby attractions

1. Dipylon Gate

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Within Kerameikos, the Dipylon Gate, northeast of the Sacred Gate, was the main entrance to the ancient city of Athens, and the point where the…

2. Holocaust Memorial

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Greek-American sculptor Deanna Maganias' concept for the city's memorial to the victims of the Holocaust is a fragmented Star of David, made from Egyptian…

3. Ets Hayim Synagogue

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This compact Romaniote synagogue, built in 1904 and renovated in 2010, is now used only for services on high holidays. The raised main hall is reached via…

4. Agios Athanasios Church

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This church has gone through several incarnations over the centuries and sits on the site of a former ancient monument. Just down the street is the oldest…

5. Kerameikos

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6. Museum of Traditional Pottery

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If the Kerameikos site sparks your curiosity, head to this small museum around the corner. In a lovely neoclassical building, it's dedicated to the…

7. Beth Shalom Synagogue

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Athens' main synagogue is a handsome white marble building dating to 1935. Renovated in 1972, it has two stained-glass windows with abstract designs…

8. Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos

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Visit the small museum at Kerameikos to see the originals of some pieces that are shown in replica around the historical site: delicate grave stelae …

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