Marathon

Marathon lies on the Marathon Plain in Attica, Greece, where lowland fields meet the Aegean coast at Marathon Bay. The town’s name is inseparable from the Battle of Marathon, fought here in 490 BCE, when Athenian forces defeated a Persian army. The Soros, a burial mound traditionally associated with the Athenian dead, remains a focal point of the battlefield area. Northeast of Athens, Marathon also gives its name to the modern marathon race, commemorating the legendary run from the battlefield to the city. Nearby Schinias has coastal wetlands and a pine forest beside the bay. Browse other webcams across Attica to place this historic coastal plain in a wider geographic context.

Attica combines the dense energy of Athens with the maritime calm of the Saronic Gulf, reflecting its position between the gulf and the Aegean Sea. Greece’s political and cultural centre also extends to coastal headlands and islands, including Hydra in the Saronic Islands. The Acropolis of Athens, crowned by the Parthenon, is its defining ancient monument, while Piraeus connects the capital with sea routes across Greece. At Cape Sounion, the Temple of Poseidon stands above the Aegean at Attica’s southern edge. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Attica.

Greece occupies a mountainous peninsula and island-dotted coastline in southeastern Europe. The Aegean Sea shapes its eastern shore, while the Ionian Sea lies to the west; Crete is the country’s largest island. Athens is anchored by the Acropolis, where the Parthenon has stood since the fifth century BCE as a defining monument of classical antiquity. Beyond the capital, the Pindus Mountains run through the mainland, and Mount Olympus is associated in ancient Greek religion with the home of the gods. Greek food traditions centre on olive oil, seafood, cheeses and regional dishes, with long meals remaining an important part of social life. Continue through nearby webcams to explore the islands and mainland regions of Greece.