Temple of Poseidon

Be stunned by this sanctuary of the sea god
Talk of the town: In 1810, a young Byron graffitied his name on the nearest pillar, and later immortalised the site in the verse of Don Juan.

Word to the wise: While you’re here, stop for lunch at one of the many fish tavernas around Cape Sounio then find a deserted cove to dip in the sea.
Looking out over the waves as the sun sets between the mighty marble pillars of this epic temple you can understand why it was dedicated to Poseidon, the brother of Zeus. It stood as a beacon of hope to sailors out at sea, who would say a prayer to him as they passed to grant them calm waters.

Built around 500 BC, it originally had 34 columns, but today only half remain. Even in a state of semi-ruin the site is breathtaking. Come at dawn to appreciate it before the tour buses overrun the place. As Byron wrote, ‘Place me on Sunium's marbled steep, Where nothing, save the waves and I, May hear our mutual murmurs sweep’.

To get here take an orange KTEL Attikis bus from Platia Aigiptou. They leave every hour on the half-hour winding along the coastal road for two-hours (EUR 5.70).