Mycenae

Mycenae (Mykines) in the Argolid in the Peloponnese is the citadel of the Bronze Age kings of Mycenae and, together with Tiryns, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. The entrance is the Lion Gate with two lions whose heads are missing; it dates from around 1250 BC. The walls of Cyclopean masonry once stood up to 18 m high and 6 to 8 m thick. In Grave Circle A, Heinrich Schliemann's excavations from 1876 found shaft graves with gold, including the "Mask of Agamemnon", which in fact long predates the Trojan War.

The Treasury of Atreus dates from the 13th century BC and is the largest of the nine tholos tombs at Mycenae. A passage of 99 steps leads down to a rock-cut cistern about 15 m below the surface. A museum displays finds from the excavations, and a car park lies right at the entrance. From Athens the drive takes about two hours, and Nafplio is around 25 km away. Tiryns, the sister site, combines well with the same trip.