Except the hill of Acropolis, there are other significant hills inside the center of Athens within walking distance from Athenian Residences. Like Lycabettus, Philopappou and Areopagus. And of course many more smaller like Strefi, Pnyx, Skouze and hill of the Nymphs, where the national Observatory is located. We will talk about the 3bigger, in order to help you choose where to go to see the view or to have a picnic with your kids or a romantic walk.

Areopagus hill is located 900meters (12minutes walking) away from the hotel (address: Theorias 21, PC 10555) and 350meters northwest of the Acropolis hill.  This hill is more preferred by couples that they are staying on our hotel.

Areopagus means Areios Pagos, which translated into hill of Ares (the god of war), because of the trial of god Ares over there from the other Olympian gods about the murder of Halirrhothius (Poseidon’s son). Even Aeschylus wrote that at this court they tried Orestes (of Homers) for killing his mother Clytemnestra.

This hill was starting to function as a court during the Golden Age of Pericles and continues to work like a court during roman times. After that Apostle Paul is said to have delivered the famous speech, "Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." (Areopagus sermon, Acts 17:24).

Now days the Areopagus court still running, but not at this hill. The new address of this Supreme Civil and Criminal Court of Greece is located at Leof.Alexandras 121, PC11522, but the hill has the same name yet.

Since the hotel has big rooms (55-75sqm), we often have families with kids, who they are choosing to visit Filopappou hill for picnic among with our delicious breakfast in a box, instead of going to Tatoi which is far away and they need transportation. Filopappou hill is 1,2km (15minutes walking from the hotel) (address: Filis 215, 11741) took its name after Philopappos, an aristocratic origin. After his death in 116 and in his honor, his sister and the citizens of Athens were constructed a tomb at the hill of Muses/Mouson hill called it μνημείο Φιλοπάππου-monument of Filopappou. At the south side there is also Dora’s Stratou theater and at the west side there is Socrates prison, which I strooooongly recommend you to visit.  

Lycabettus hill is far away from Athenian Residences (2km, so about 30 minutes walking), but it’s a spectacular hill.  In my opinion of course... Μy point of view is supported by the fact that there is a funicular-cable car (at: Aristippou 1, 10676, Kolonaki) to go up at the top of the hill, in order to avoid uphills. Over there you can worship God (if you are Christian) at the chapel of Saint George or you can revitalize yourselves with a cold fresh juice/lunch at the restaurant having the best view of the whole Athens.

The myth says that the goddess Athena went to god of fire called Hephaestus to ask for weapons, in order to protect the city of Athens from Poseidon (that he lost in their competition to name the city). Hephaestus fell in love with the goddess. Athena tried to avoid him, but she couldn’t manage and he ejaculated on the goddess's knee. The goddess got angry and wiped the spot with a piece of woolen cloth and threw it to the ground. From the goddess Earth came Erechtheus. Athena secretly closed the baby on a big jar and gave it to the king of Athens’s Cecrops three daughters (Aglavros, Ersi and Pandrosos) with the command to never open it. The 3sisters felt curiosity and eventually they opened the jar and saw a reptile in the form of a child or a snake around the small Erechtheus. Terrified the two of them, Aglavros and Ersi, were killed themselves falling of the Acropolis Hill.

At that time the goddess Athena carried a big rock from Pallene to help Athenians construct the Parthenon upon the Acropolis hill or protect the city building the Cyclopean walls, when a raven informed her of the release of Erythheas and the death of the two women. Surprised by this ugly event, the goddess left the rock slipped out of her hands and gave tο the crow the black color. This rock named Lycabettus hill, because of the light that shines when the sun rises.

So, lets walk around the hills of Athens to know the myths and facts that defined their names. Shall we?