Cape Sounion, 70 kilometres south of Athens, holds the Temple of Poseidon on a promontory where the god of the ocean was worshipped by sailors departing and returning from the Aegean. Lord Byron carved his name on one of the columns in 1810. The view from the temple — 60-metre cliffs above blue water, with the islands of the Saronic Gulf visible to the south — is one of the great vistas of the Mediterranean.
The Athenian Riviera Route
The drive south from Athens follows the Athenian Riviera — the coastal road through Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza. Vouliagmeni Lake is a saltwater thermal spa embedded in a coastal limestone ridge; Astir Beach, the former royal beach, is the most prestigious swimming address in greater Athens.
We programme the outward journey via the coastal road to allow the Greek Islands sequence, and the return via the motorway to save time. Sounion is best at late afternoon when the columns catch the western light.
The Temple and Its Columns
The Temple of Poseidon was built around 444 BCE from local marble and still stands with 15 of its original 34 Doric columns intact. No reconstruction, no modern additions.
The site is open until sunset. Optimal visit: arrive one hour before sunset, walk the perimeter, observe the light change on the marble, remain until the last light leaves the sea. FFGR Greece includes the return via the coastal road — arriving back in Athens by 10 pm.
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