Galery

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In front of the largest temple of antiquity, that of Olympian Zeus (with 104 Corinthian columns, a height of 17 metres and more than 700 years to complete the temple) Emperor Hadrian erected a majestic arch, a year after the church was completed, on one side of which is written, "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus" and on the other - "This is Athens, the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus", to mark the boundary between the ancient and the Roman city. The arch was built in 132 AD.

The first bell which tolls in Athens

"St. Nicholas Rangavas" may not be the oldest church in Athens (this title is held by the little church "Holy Apostles" in the ancient agora), although it is from the 11th century. It was, however, the first one to obtain a bell, something which was forbidden during the Turkish rule. This bell announced the liberation of Athens in 1833. The church on the corner of Pritaniou and Epiharmou streets in Plaka is part of the Rangavas' family palace which originates from the Byzantine Emperor Michael the First.