I am interested in information about the Peripatos, a walk that circles the Acropolis in Athens. According to my source, J.B. Connelly's The Parthenon Enigma (Knopf, 2014), it is an ancient walkway of a little more than 1/2 mile in length that allows people to view the ancient caves and shrines that surround the Acropolis, walking in a "wilderness landscape", and also to see the surrounding city from above. Connelly says it was opened to the public in 2004. I find no information about it though in Rick Steve's Greece (2025). The Acropolis Loop mentioned there seems to be something different, circling the Acropolis at a greater distance from it and at street level rather than partway up the slope near the caves and shrines. Google's AI assistant says, if I understand it, that the Peripatos can't currently be visited. Its information isn't entirely clear, however, and I haven't been able to find anything definitive elsewhere. Can you help? Thanks. :-)
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
3395 posts
I found this, it's in Greek, translate it:
https://archaeologia.eie.gr/archaeologia/gr/02_DELTIA/Peripatos.aspx
According to the map, the location of the current Peripatos matches that of the ancient one. I don't know which one RS is talking about.
Also, a 52-minute documentary on Greek TV that talks about the parts inaccessible to the public, including the caves:
It's also in Greek... a translator, whether a smartphone or a human, will probably be needed.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks. :-)
Posted by
Brighton, UK
1483 posts
If you look at the Acropolis on Google maps the Peripatos is clearly shown. The part that was opened up in 2004 is the walk along the north side of the Acropolis. It’s inside the site fence but below the face of the rock.
Calling it a wilderness landscape is a bit of an exaggeration but the north face is very wooded. I’ve seen tortoises there for example. It’s a really interesting part of the site and, as your source says, there are a number of small shrines cut into the rocks that are visible.
Alan