This Famous Archaeological Site Has Been Recreated Entirely With LEGO

It may be one of the most popular archaeological sites in Europe, but as it turns out, the Acropolis’ attraction isn’t only its ancient history. There’s also a LEGO version in Athens to visit.

Created by Australian model-making enthusiast Ryan McNaught, the LEGO version of this famous Athens site is almost as popular as the real thing.

The recreation took McNaught over 300 hours to build and consists of 120,000 LEGO blocks. Such a labour of love has seen the model take centre stage in the Lab section of the Acropolis Museum, where it has enjoyed a home for the past four years.

The University of Sydney’s Nicholson Museum donated the LEGO recreation to the Acropolis Museum after it racked up an impressive 100,000 visitors in Australia.

Other scenes are more reflective of classical Greek history. Visitors who look closely will see Theseus, who later went on to become King of Athens, defeating the fabled Minotaur, Alexander the Great (who came a century afterwards) chatting with philosophers, and a performance of the highly influential Oedipus Rex in the theatre of Dionysus.

Also on show are historical figures who played a more contemporary role in the history of the Acropolis. Most notable of these is Lord Elgin, the British archaeologist who famously removed the Parthenon marbles and placed them in their current home in the British Museum. As highlighted in the LEGO display, this is an issue which remains contentious even today. Elgin’s inclusion in the LEGO depiction reflects the spaces left by the museum in their recreation of the Parthenon relief on the top floor.

A lighter nod to contemporary life comes through the inclusion of a souvlaki van, featuring many happy customers queuing up to enjoy this famous Greek dish. Of all the scenes depicted in Ryan McNaught’s LEGO version, this is by far the one that visitors to the Greek capital are most likely to witness as they explore the rest of the city. There are plenty of souvlaki places in Athens to experience firsthand.

Having enjoyed a highly successful run throughout the past four years, the display of the LEGO Acropolis is set to finish at the end of 2018. For LEGO-loving visitors looking for an alternative experience in Athens, this is a must-visit on your trip. With any luck, you might even bump into Gandalf.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.