AREOPAGUS AND PNYX

The Areopagus. Geologically speaking, the Areopagus hill is an enormous block of blue-grey marble veined with red, overlooking the Agora in Athens. Politically, it was above all the Mecca of Athenian democracy: the Areopagus was the high legal body that judged gods, heroes and men accused of murder. At the top of the hill that took the name of the judges, one could find the stone of contempt, seat of the accused, and the stone of resentment, seat of the accuser. Saint Paul first addressed the Athenians from this hill in 54 AD.

Pnyx Hill. Place where the assembly of the people met and where votes were taken by a show of hands. The speakers' galleries can still be seen. Below, Athens stretches out on either side, with the Acropolis opposite. Today, this green, olive-tree-lined hill is a haven of tranquillity and a pleasant walk.

The Hill of the Muses, or Philopappou Hill, features a funerary monument dedicated to a Roman benefactor of Athens of the same name. The surrounding Philoppapou Park is an oasis of greenery and freshness. Don't hesitate to lose yourself in its depths, along the dirt paths that criss-cross it.

Not far away, the hill of the Nymphs features a beautiful neoclassical observatory dating from the 19th^century . These hills offer incredible views of the city and the Parthenon.