A Greek Odyssey: An Architectural Look Back In Time

My most recent travels took me to a new corner of the world: the eastern Mediterranean. I had long wanted to visit Greece; having worked for several years at a local Greek restaurant, I couldn’t wait to order everything the Greek tavernas had to offer! Perhaps even more appealing, however, was the promise of great architecture– the stuff architectural history textbooks are made of.

SALA Architect Katie Leaf

First stop: the Parthenon! One could hardly make a visit to Athens without seeing it. What more is there to say about this building? It is among the most recognized structures in the world, and has been plastered on everything from calendars to feta cheese labels for as long as any of us can remember. However, the chance to see an icon like this in person for the first time never disappoints me. The experience always brings a new perspective of the building, whether of scale, spaces, or setting.

SALA Architect Katie Leaf

The Acropolis as a whole was thrilling to visit, with temples rising up straight out of the pages of Buildings Across Time. Perhaps most impressive was being able to observe the commanding prominence of the site within the context of the city; the imposing rock plateau rises far above the rooftops of surrounding neighborhoods and is every bit as dramatic as you might hope. Note: it was also sweltering up there in the relentless summer sun, and boy does it get crowded as the day wears on.

SALA Architect Katie Leaf

SALA Architect Katie Leaf

SALA Architect Katie Leaf

One of the most fascinating things about this country is the rich layering of history that can be seen before your eyes. A construction project in Athens can hardly be undertaken without uncovering 2000-year-old ruins. This was evident during the recent construction of the new Acropolis Museum, under which foundations of an early Christian settlement were discovered. Even the modest Byzantine church in front of our hotel had found classical columns upon digging down in their courtyard.

SALA Architect Katie Leaf

SALA Architect Katie Leaf

It is truly incredible to consider the span of this history. Greece’s iconic classical ruins are more than two millennia older than the very oldest buildings in Minnesota. They were already ancient history when Rome’s Pantheon was built! And even they are relatively new in comparison to some of the older civilizations that inhabited the country. Wow!

Look for part two of my eastern Mediterranean travels in a future blog post!

SALA Architect Katie Leaf