Before the Easter Half Term, a number of Year 12 and 13 students and Teachers embarked on a trip to Athens, Greece as part of their Sociology studies.  The trip was an eye-opening opportunity for everybody to embrace the Customs and Culture of Greece.  The group visited The Holy University Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary - Panagia Kapnikarea a very Unique church in Greece where miracles have been registered, and is also one of the oldest churches in Athens dated to the Middle-Byzantine period. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary (specifically to the Presentation of Mary to the Temple) and is generally known as Kapnikarea, In 1834 the building was in danger of being demolished.

The group also had the privilege to visit The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments, which are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world. The Acropolis in Athens was a fortress and military base during the Neolithic period, due to its position which offers a great view of the land and the sea. During the Mycenaean times, it became a religious centre, dedicated to the worship of the goddess Athena. Students were able to walk around and learn the historical and cultural importance of Acropolis, alongside this they also saw first ancient theatre still standing beautifully and learnt about the history of Acting and Drama. 

Students were able to visit the first Olympic Stadium that ever existed. It is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. The stadium was built on the site of a simple racecourse by the Athenian statesman Lykourgos (Lycurgus) c. 330 BC, primarily for the Panathenaic Games. It was rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus, an Athenian Roman senator, by 144 AD it had a capacity of 50,000 seats. After the rise of Christianity in the 4th century it was largely abandoned. The stadium was excavated in 1869 and hosted the Zappas Olympics in 1870 and 1875. After being refurbished, it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896 and was the venue for 4 of the 9 contested sports. It was used for various purposes in the 20th century and was once again used as an Olympic venue in 2004. It is the finishing point for the annual Athens Classic Marathon. It is also the last venue in Greece from where the Olympic flame handover ceremony to the host nation takes place.

The group took part in a beautiful Greece dance show provided just for them!

There was an opportunity to visit the Parliament of Greece where they were able to watch the change of the Guards and learn the history of Democracy. The Parliament is the supreme democratic institution that represents the citizens through an elected body of Members of Parliament (MPs).

Students were able to see the Church of Holy Metropolitan, Church of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, where students had the pleasure and time to pray and admire the art exhibited in the church. In between the squares of Syntagma and Monastiraki in Athens lies the Metropolitan Cathedral - or Mitropoli Athinon as locals refer to it. Dedicated to the Annunciation of Virgin Mary, it’s also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation. Its ground breaking took place in 1842, and the building was completed in 1862. Since then, it has been considered one of the most important landmarks of Greece’s modern history.

Another place of importance was Ellinikon port of Athens where the group managed to tour the West side of the suburbs and see the development that has been dome so far. The Ellinikon is unique in Europe for its location and its size is three times larger than Monaco, as well as its scale and ambition. The Ellinikon will set new benchmarks for the future of Mediterranean coastal development for integrated sustainable living; for iconic placemaking; for smart-infrastructure; and for its broad base of business potential, from tourism to innovative commercial properties to ground-breaking destination.  A collection of several communities will be home to thousands, supported by essential services available to all such as Education and Healthcare and be able to enjoy the sun and the beautiful food!

Overall the group had a great time, as well as viewing these fantastic monuments, they were also able to take a stroll through traditional Greek markets.  Students and staff found the trip memorable, and relished the opportunity to explore and find out more about Greece.