The Panathenaic Stadium, which Athenians call the Kallimarmaro, "of beautiful marble", is one of the city's most moving places, especially for sports lovers. It fills a natural hollow between the hills of Ardittos and Agra, east of the National Garden, and is the only large stadium in the world built entirely of white marble from Mount Penteli.
From the Panathenaea to the Olympics
The first stadium was built around 330 BC by the statesman Lycurgus for the athletic contests of the Panathenaea, the great festival in honour of Athena: the stands were then of earth and wood. In the 2nd century AD the immensely wealthy Athenian Herodes Atticus, the same as the Odeon below the Acropolis, rebuilt it in marble, seating tens of thousands. At the end of antiquity the stadium was abandoned, its marble burned for lime and the valley filled with earth.
In the 19th century, with the birth of modern Greece, the idea arose of reviving it. After initial excavations, the wealthy merchant Georgios Averof funded its complete marble reconstruction for the first Olympics of the modern era, in April 1896, promoted by Baron de Coubertin. It was a memorable success, crowned by the marathon victory of the Greek shepherd Spyridon Louis. A statue of Averof greets visitors at the entrance.
The stadium today
The stadium has the characteristic long, narrow horseshoe shape, with the track and stands arranged in 50 rows. At the 2004 Athens Olympics it hosted archery and the marathon finish. The ceremony handing over the Olympic flame, lit at Olympia, to the country hosting the Games takes place here, and every November the Athens Authentic Marathon finishes here, following the legendary route from Marathon. In summer the stadium hosts concerts.
The visit, with an audio guide in several languages, lets you walk the track, sit in the stands, climb the Olympic podium and pass through the ancient tunnel that led to the athletes' changing rooms. A small exhibition displays the posters and Olympic torches of all the modern Games.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, opposite the National Garden |
| Getting there | 15 minutes on foot from Syntagma or Akropoli; tram to Zappeio; trolleybus to Stadio |
| Ticket | Own ticket (not a state site) with audio guide; reductions for students and over-65s |
| Time | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| From outside | The stadium can be seen well from the avenue without a ticket |
Behind the stadium a path climbs Ardittos Hill, with a fine view of the Acropolis. Nearby are the Pangrati district, with cafés and tavernas frequented by Athenians, and the Olympieion. See also the ancient Olympic Games and the Athens Marathon.