Day Activities
BEACHES
Along the way to Aulaki Beach you will find several schools offering instruction in sailing, water skiing and other outdoor activies.
IMPORTANT: get yourself a snorkeling mask and fins, and enjoy the crystal clear water
ANCIENT SITES
7 kilometers north from Porto Rafti there is the coastal region of Vravrona. In addition to containing the hotel most of you will be staying at, this region contains several archeological finds. In particular there is the Temple of Artemis Vravronia and a museum next to this site.
Artemis Vravronia. In the 5th c. BC, one of the most important sanctuaries in Attica was built. It flourished on the north-west fringes of a hill dominating the plain of Vravrona. Dedicated to the great goddess of nature and protectress of children, the site, with its distinctive features, gave the goddess her epithet: Artemis Vravronia.
Vravrona Museum. The museum contains the best of the findings from the sanctuary of Artemis Vravronia and objects discovered in excavations from various sites in the Mesogaia (this region of Greece).
SOUNIO
Sounio
is the most southern point of Attica. We highly recommend a day's
excursion down to this site. There, you can find the temple of Poseidon,
a spectacular, built with with marble pillars, site. From there, you have
a splendid view of the Saroniko gulf as well as of the little islands
offshore. After visiting the Temple of Poseidon, you have time to walk at
leisure on the rocky promontory of Sounio.
Temple of Poseidon
This
is located in Sounio and is pretty much the only major attraction in Sounio.
You can get to see this Temple by tour bus/group or by driving down yourself.
The most popular time to view this site is towards sunset, but as you can
imagine, you and hundreds of other tourists will be contesting for the view.
This Temple is a must see for two reasons. First it is absolutely picturesque
and has a breath taking view of the islands of the Aegean and the Saroniko Gulf.
The other reason is to appreciate some ancient history. The Temple was
built to honor the sea god Poseidon. It also served as part of an "early
warning system". The triad points of the Temple of Poseidon, the Temple of
Aphaia and the Acropolis
relayed warning signals of approaching hostile ships to each other.
Whenever we bring guests here we have a story to tell. As we can't be with everyone this time around, please do us the favor when you go to this site and go to a flat ground overlooking the cliff (if you are looking at the Temple as you approach it from the tourist entrance, this spot is 15 meters past the Temple slightly on your right and directly in front of the Aegean.) Well here is the story. In the time of the Minoan empire (in Crete) a tribute of 6 male and 6 female virgins were required from each Greek city-state. They were required to do the "Running of the Bulls". Basically, these youth were put into a maze and the bulls were let loose. The trick was to figure a way around the maze to avoid the "killer" bulls. If you survived after a year you were sent back home. The problem was no one survived. Thus all the Greek city-states feared sending their children. Well, in Athens at that time the King's son, Theseus, was a vibrant intelligent teenager who cared for the people. Theseus thought the system was unfair because he was excluded from the lottery system (the one that chooses who the 12 kids are). He was excluded because he was going to be the future king. Theseus was however incensed by this inequity so he rigged the lottery to have himself included and chosen. When his father found out he overturned the results but Theseus was emphatic that he must go.
The king reluctantly agreed but he told his son that if the Athens' ship carrying him to Crete were to come back after a year, it was to raise a white sail if he survived or a black one if he was killed. Theseus embarked on an incredible adventure. Most of this adventure is part of mythology and you can read many a books about this. Well Theseus was so bright he figured out the mazes and kept all the Athenian children alive. A severe earthquake supposedly hit Crete and Theseus made his break to escape, and escape he did. Theseus' father, the King, loved his son so much he spend the whole year camped at the Temple of Poseidon waiting to see the Athenian ship's sails. As Theseus approached home, his father stood at the spot (you should be standing on) waiting and watching. Unfortunately, Theseus in his excitement to make a fast escape did not notice that the ship had up a black sail. His father on seeing this black sail approach from the direction of Crete, was full of grief and threw himself to his dead below. The king's name was Aegeus. Thereafter, the sea he fell into (and right below your feet) was called the Aegean Sea. Theseus returned home to become king and went on to become one of the most equitable and greatest kings of ancient Athens.
DAY
TRIPS TO THE ISLANDS
From Porto Rafti (via the port of Rafina) you can go to Andros, Mykonos, Paros and Tinos islands. Rafina is a great alternative to the congested, dirty port of Pireaus. Furthermore, you can visit Makronissos, Kea and Kythnos islands via Lavrio (south of Porto Rafti).