Panathenaic Stadium in Athens – Greece
Visiting the Olympic arena in Athens and sitting in the marble seats once reserved for royalty, was a special experience where we physically felt part of history.
This site in Athens is the Panathenaic, meaning beautiful marble. This extraordinary venue is the only stadium ever built entirely of marble.
This site was originally laid out in the 4th century BCE as a venue for athletic and cultural competitions held in honor of the goddess of Athena. These games were important events in Athens combining sport, music and poetry. In the 2nd century CE. The stadium was expanded and rebuilt in marble that transformed this arena into a venue that could seat tens of thousands.
These marble seats we sat in were reserved for dignitaries and royalty and they offered a commanding view of the track below.
Over the centuries, the stadium declined. It was in the 19th century that the Panathenaic Stadium was excavated and restored. It played a central role in the Olympic tradition and hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Today, the Stadium is a living monument that continues to host events. Sitting in those royal seats offers the perspective from which leaders watch athletes test the limits of the human body.
Read More From Nancy
Dome of the Rock – Israel
One of the most recognizable landmarks in the world rises above the skyline of Jerusalem: the magnificent Dome of the Rock. Its brilliant golden dome can be seen from many vantage points across the Old City, making it one of the most enduring symbols of Jerusalem. The structure stands on a hill known as the Temple Mount, a site […]
Brandenburg Gate – Berlin Germany
While visiting Berlin, the Brandenburg gate quickly becomes more than just a landmark, it becomes a focal point of the city’s history. Standing at Pariser Platz, we faced a structure built between 1788 and 1791 under King Frederick William II of Prussia. Designed by architect Carl Gottheard Langhans, the gate was inspired by classical Greek architecture. Its […]
Lions on Szechenyi Chain Bridge – Budapest, Hungary
Walking across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest, feels more than just a river crossing. The bridge stretches across the Danube, linking Buda and Pest, two historic cities that once separated and later unified into modern Budapest. The bridge is both functional and symbolic. The Chain Bridge opened in 1849, becoming the first permanent bridge across […]
