For
a refreshing view of this sprawling city, a walk up the
hill of Lycabettus can be invigorating in many ways. It
is steep on the side, so much so, a funicular railway was
built to assist the inveterate climbers. On the other, it
is gently sloping, with some rocky outcrops. Licavitos as
it is known, altitude 909ft,was once reputed to be the home
of wolves (Lykos-wolf) and fortunately this is no longer
true.
Although
Lycabettus is basically a limestone rock, thanks to the Philodasic
Society and the Municipality, the slopes are thickly wooded.
Legend has it that Lycabettus was a rock which Athena was carrying
to Athens to form a bulwark for her citadel.
The
walk up can be attempted from three routes. Either (for
the gentler ascent) from Sarantapichou ( the Periferiako
or circular road) above Asklipiou St., or from Daskalogianni
St. ( behind the Panathinaikos Football stadium) or for
the lazy way up by Funicular from Aristippou Street. The
steeper route is from Kolonaki, up Ploutarchou Street
through the woods.
a walk up the hill
The
development of Lycabettus was undertaken by the Municipality
of Athens many years ago and the wooden log bridges, seats
and shored-up stone walls, have added to the natural beauty.Southwest
you see the Acropolis with Thissio and Philopappou Hill
in the background, Faliron Bay and further still Piraeus
and suburbs. Further west is Daphni Monastery and the suburbs
of Aegaleo and Peristeri.
Southeast
overlooks the Zappeion in a sea of vivid green which is
the National Gardens. The Panathinean white marble stadium
(where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896) and
further west the suburbs of Pagrati, Vyrona, and Kessariani,
with University city in the distance before the imposing
violet-hued Mt Hymettus range.
Chapel of St. George
Northeast
are the green suburbs of Paleo Psyhico and Filothei, Agia
Paraskevi and Holargos. In the foreground you will see Athens'
first and only skyscraper, the Athens Tower, the Athens
Hilton and the U.S. Embassy. Nearer still the Lycabettus
Open Air Theatre where many concerts are held during the
Athens Festival every summer. The backdrop is Mt Penteli
from where the marble for the Acropolis came and still visible
are the chalk white cuttings where the quarries were.
Atop the hill a restaurant and pastry shop both with excellent
panoramic views over the city are very popular with people
who come for an ice cream or coffee or a good meal. Further
downhill leading towards the south, is an ouzerie and snack
bar which are usually more popular around sunset, the panoramic
view being part of the attraction.
St
George Day sees the celebration for the 19th century Chapel
of St. George which perches on the hilltop like a cherry
on the cake. At Easter time this is a very popular place
for Athenians to celebrate the Resurrection. By
today, the first wild cyclamen will have sprouted and
dispersed among the pine trees. By the 1st of May people
will have climbed all over the hillside looking among
the myriad wild flowers to choose their flowers for the
"stefani" or wreath to place over their door
for good luck. Lycabettus has always been a favourite
getaway spot for busy Athenians and will probably attract
nature lovers and idle strollers for many centuries to
come. Its also a reminder of how much this city has sprawled.
Where else can one rise above the pollution?
the pollution of Athens
If
you are tired of crowded beaches filled with tourists or
those cosmopolitan island bars, then maybe it's time to
look into another way to spend your holidays.
