Mount Lycabettus
Things to Do in Athens
Woman or wolf? Mount Lycabettus in central Athens has two possible claims to fame, neither of which may be true. Myth tells us that when Athena was busy helping to carry stones to the Acropolis for the construction of her temple, she dropped a big one (make that huge) and it became Mount Lycabettus. Athena must have been one strong goddess. The other is that the name, which translated from the Greek means “the one hill that is walked by wolves” (lycos is Greek for wolf) suggests the mountain, more like a sizeable hill, was once inhabited by wolves. While that makes more sense, it remains that Mount Lycabettus is, at 300 metres (900 feet) above sea level, the highest point in Athens.
It’s a popular spot with locals and tourists alike. Visitors can walk up the cretaceous limestone hill, a trip that takes 30 to 90 minutes depending upon one’s level of fitness, or use the funicular to ride up the side in comfort. At the top, which comprises two peaks, is situated a restaurant and open-air theatre. Concerts staged here feature local and international artists, the likes of B.B. King, Bjork and Black Sabbath, to name a few, proving the diversity of music presented.
The best part of Mount Lycabettus is the view. From atop the hill, one can get a real sense of the layout of the city of Athens, and plan a walking tour from there.
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