Greece Taxi Tours & Transfers - Private Tours in/from Athens /Multiple Day Tours in Greece
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Cape Sounion Private Tour
and Poseidon Temple.
Cape Sounion private tour & Poseidon temple...enjoy one of the best panoramic sunset views, private evening tour for sunset photography. Greece Minivan & Taxi Service
Half Day up to 5 hours or Full Day tour up to 8 hours... or Airport / Port layover tour
Cape Sounion tour leaves Athens for a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. Passing through some of Athens most beautiful suburbs (elegant areas of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza). We visit Vouliagmeni Lake ("Sunken Lake") is a small brackish-water lake fed by underground currents seeping through the mass of Mount Hymettus located to the south of Vouliagmeni, Greece. The lagoon formed about 2,000 years ago. It was once a large cavern that collapsed following an earthquake. The outline of the collapsed cavern roof can be clearly discerned from a distance
The Vouliagmeni lake has quite unique environmental conditions: it is supplied with warm seawater (28-35ºCelsius) via an underground channel spreading through a network of flooded caves, so its temperature never drops below 18 °C (usually ranges around 21-24 °C), whereas a freshwater spring reduces its salinity to brackish levels
It continues deep inside the mountain in an underwater cave never fully explored, as its end seems impossible to trace even by employing sonar detection.
Because of its constant warm water temperature and its rich content in hydrogen sulfide, the lake functions as a spa since the end of the 19th century
The lake hosts the only existing population of a species of sea anemone, It has been declared a natural monument by the Greek State and is part of a Natura 2000
SOUNION/ Poseidon tour ( Morning or Afternoon) arrives at Cape Sounio where you will visit the 5th century B.C. temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world (on a clear day you can see at least seven islands). The Doric columns of local marble have 16 fluting's instead of the usual 34. The precipice is a sheer 197- foot drop to the sea.
Ancient Greeks believed at Sounion was the house of Poseidon, the God of the Sea.
Swim? Make the most of your trip by indulging in a refreshing swim in the small beach by the foot of the temple of Poseidon or in any one of the neighboring beaches in Legrena or Lavrio! Treat yourselves to some fresh fish and seafood in the local taverns. Drink in the lovely sunset view next to your better half – in one of Attica’s best locations – having the ancient temple as a backdrop and facing the deep blue sea!
The original, Archaic-period temple of Poseidon on the site was built of tufa. The archaic temple was probably destroyed in 480 BC by Persian troops during Xerxes invasion of Greece. After Greeks defeated Xerxes in the naval Battle of Salamis, the Athenians placed an entire captured enemy trireme (warship with three banks of oars) at Sounion as a trophy dedicated to Poseidon.
The temple of Poseidon at Sounion was constructed in 444–440 BC. This was during the ascendancy of the Athenian statesman Pericles, who also rebuilt the Parthenon in Athens. It was built on the ruins of a temple dating from the Archaic period. It is perched above the sea at a height of almost 60 meters (200 ft). Only some columns of the Sounion temple stand today,
Sounion private tour will continue to Lavrion (6 miles away) the road winds its way along the east coast of Cape Sounion. The landscape is more verdant than on the western side, villas and hotels are dispersed among the pine and olive trees above little beaches nestling in the creeks. At Lavrion in ancient times there was an abundance of silver mines. These mines helped finance the development of Athens. In the mountain at Lavrion many ancient mining installations have been preserved and there are marble quarries in the area of Agrileza, which supplied the material for the temple of Poseidon. The upgraded port of Lavrion enables visitors to get to the islands by boats much faster, as the distance from Lavrion, at the tip of the Attica peninsula, is considerably shorter than the trip from Piraeus.
Today the Greeks still come and pay homage to the divine nature of the Cape. Words cannot describe it. You have to see it ... and don't miss one of the most breathtaking panoramic sunset views in the world while having a drink or a variety of sea food, somewhere by the sea.
Daily: Approx.( Half day up to 5 hours Perfect for an airport layover tour) or one day tour up to 7 hours. Please read Touring/Info*
Sites Summer: daily, 8.00 to 20.00 pm. Winter: 8.00 to 17.00 Last entry 30 min before closing.
Entrance fee 8 Euro.
Closed on Holidays: January 1st. , March 25th, May 1st, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On Good Friday, the sites are open 12.00 - 17.00.
Highlights of Cape Sounion Private Tour
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Splendid view of the Saronic Gulf
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Sunset photo time
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Swimming / Lunch or Drink by the sea.
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Port of Lavrion