Athens

In 480 BC, the Persians burned Athens to the ground. The Athenians had already evacuated, fleeing to the island of Salamis with their families. Weeks later, they crushed the Persian fleet in the straits, turning total destruction into one of history’s greatest comebacks.

Athens has been continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities on Earth. By 1400 BC, a Mycenaean fortress sat atop the rocky hill now called the Acropolis.

The city’s golden era began after those Persian Wars. The statesman Pericles launched an ambitious building program using 20,000 tons of marble quarried from Mount Pentelicus, 10 miles north of the city.

The Parthenon, completed in 438 BC, became the centerpiece. Architects Ictinus and Callicrates designed the temple with subtle optical tricks. The columns lean slightly inward, and the floor curves upward at the center, creating an illusion of perfect straightness.

During this same period, Socrates wandered the Agora arguing with anyone who would listen. Sophocles staged tragedies in open-air theaters. Citizens voted on laws in the world’s first democracy.

The Parthenon survived for over two thousand years until 1687, when Venetian forces bombarded the Acropolis. The Ottomans had stored gunpowder inside the temple. The explosion blew out the entire center of the building, leaving the ruins visitors see today.

Start at the Acropolis early in the morning before the crowds arrive. The climb takes about 15 minutes, and the marble gets slippery, so wear sturdy shoes.

The Acropolis Museum at the base displays original sculptures and artifacts in a modern building with glass floors revealing ancient ruins below. Walk downhill into Plaka, Athens’ oldest neighborhood, where narrow streets wind past Byzantine churches and neoclassical houses.

At the Ancient Agora, stand where Socrates once debated and explore the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, an ancient shopping arcade.

Grab a souvlaki wrapped in warm pita from a street vendor. Greeks have been grilling meat on skewers since the Bronze Age, and archaeologists found ancient stone barbecues on Santorini dating to 1700 BC. For something sweet, try loukoumades, fried dough balls drizzled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon.