Cape Sounion Where the Temple Watches the Sunset

Cape Sounion Where the Temple Watches the Sunset

Cape Sounion sits seventy kilometers south of Athens, and the Temple of Poseidon -- fifteen Doric columns from 444 BC standing against the Aegean -- is one of the most dramatically positioned ruins in Greece. The drive along the Athens Riviera coast passes beaches and seaside restaurants. The cliff drops 60 meters to the water on three sides. Byron carved his name into one of the columns in 1810.

Best time: Late afternoon for sunset. The sun drops into the Aegean directly in front of the temple and the columns turn gold against the darkening sky. Bring a jacket -- the cape catches wind.