Day 79: Exploring Athens Part 2: Hadrian’s Library, Roman Agora & Ancient Agora

Monday, 5th September 2022

A Rainy Start

I’d endured another restless night’s sleep, waking at 3:33 exactly, then being woken again just after 5 a.m. by noisy guests in a nearby room. I reset my alarm for 6:45, giving me an extra 30 minutes to sleep. I decided that today’s sightseeing wouldn’t be as hectic now I’ve seen the main attractions (Acropolis-Parthenon); therefore, I could start a little later.

After a quick shower, I grabbed my rucksack and retraced my steps from yesterday’s trip from the hotel to the Piraeus metro, but this time, I stopped to grab a coffee and croissant. Since it was a working day, all of the shops that had been closed yesterday were now open and there were more people on the streets despite the early hour.

I made it to Monastiraki station just after 7:45. It was pretty cloudy today, and as I stood waiting for Hadrian’s Library to open, it began to rain–the first rain I’d seen in a long time! I sought shelter under an awning opposite the entrance while I waited for it to open, finishing my coffee and hoping the weather would improve.

Hadrian’s Library

Unwilling to be deterred by the drizzle, I walked up to the entry gate as soon as I saw it was opening. There was no queue, so I had the site to myself, which was lovely despite the weather.

The wet conditions made for rather dull photos, but on the bright side, I wasn’t too hot. The rain was light, and by the time I’d walked around the site, it had mostly stopped. Hadrian’s Library is quite small, and it only took me about 20 minutes to walk around it, even at a leisurely pace.

Roman Agora

Nearly adjacent to Hadrian’s Library, the Roman Agora is situated to the south and is even smaller. Using my multi-attraction ticket, I entered and explored the ruins. Thankfully, the rain stopped as suddenly as it had started, and the clouds began to break so that some blue sky shone through.

The site is relatively small but contains several exciting pieces and is worth exploring for anyone interested in Greek history. As a bonus, Acropolis Hill provides an impressive backdrop to emphasise the area’s historical significance.

Ancient Agora

I had already decided that I wouldn’t visit the Lyceum or Ancient Cemetery attractions included in the multi-pass ticket, as I had some work to do and couldn’t spend all day sightseeing. As a result, my last stop of the day was the Ancient Agora. Like the previous two attractions, the Ancient Agora is north of the Acropolis but slightly further west. However, it’s quite a large site, and you could easily spend an hour or two exploring the vast grounds and buildings.

Entering the Agora from the north is about a 10-minute walk from the Roman Agora. One of the most impressive buildings on the site is the Temple of Hephaestus, shown below.

There was also an attractive art installation on display during my visit featuring Socrates and Confucius, both influential philosophers, even though they lived in different periods of history.

Finally, I visited the Stoa of Attalos, which has been reconstructed and turned into a museum, entry to which is included in the multi-attraction ticket.

Piraeus

Satisfied and impressed with my 48 hours of Athens sightseeing, I took the metro back to Piraeus via Monastiraki station, arriving at the hotel just before midday. I spent the next couple of hours working, then reviewed some photos and videos I’d taken over the last two days.

In need of food, I ventured out for a late lunch, hoping to find a cheap street vendor offering Gyros. I eventually found Street Souvlaki on the way down to Pasalimani Marina. The meat in the Gyros was rather fatty and not very good, but I finished it anyway, and it filled me up enough.

Back at the hotel, I got engrossed in producing one of my YouTube videos, so much so that I didn’t leave the room for dinner until 7:45 – quite late for me! I returned to the marina and browsed several menus, eventually settling on Bibere, where I had a nice plate of chicken fajitas and white wine.