Greece is full of ancient relics that testify of its rich history. Primarily we think of the impressive marble temples built to honor the gods, and which even today are on display and are being admired all over the world. There are also historical places that have a great significance for the Greeks but are not seen as clearly in the landscape. One such place is found in Marathonas.
At Marathonas (or Marathon) the “Battle of Marathon” between the Athenian army and the Persian army took place in 490 bc. There the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians and won against all odds. After the battle, King Miltiades sent a soldier named Pheidippides to Athens to tell the good news. He ran all the way from Marathonas to Athens, something which was the inspiration and the birth of today’s “Marathon-run” which is organized all over the world.
A reminder of the battle is the marble monument that stands on the site where there once was a burial mound as a homage for the 192 Athenian soldiers who died during the “Battle of Marathon”.
The Marathon dam:
The Marathon dam was built during the years 1926-1929 and served as a water provider for Athens for 30 whole years. The dam is often mentioned as it had a major impact regarding the modernization of Greece. Today, the dam, also called Lake Marathon, has no function even though it is still filled with water. The dam was designed to be a symbol of ancient Greece, particularly for Athens, and as a reminder of the “Battle of Marathon”.
Above the dam there is today a café and restaurant where you can sit and look out over the impressive landscape which this construction has created.
In the Marathon area, we also find one of Attica’s longest beaches, Schinias Beach, which during the summer months is full of Athenians who come here for a dip in the sea. It is a very nice sandy beach with not too deep waters, where both grown-ups and small ones can have a good time. Here, next to the the beach, you will find many beach bars, water-sports facilities and taverns and that makes Schinias a beach which you can visit on a full day trip. 15 meters from the water there is also a dense pinetree-grove where you can find plenty of shade during the hot summer days.
But please drive a bit further as well to the small beach next to Agia Marina harbor, from where ferries cross over seas to a place called Styra on the Evia peninsula. This beach may not be as big, but the water is an amazing turquoise blue colour and here you actually get a feeling of being very far from Athens. Of course also here there is a small taverna right next to the water.
