Panathenaic Stadium

Athens, Greece

---

The Panathenaic Stadium, located in Athens, is one of the city’s most remarkable historic landmarks and the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.

Originally constructed in ancient times for the Panathenaic Games, a festival honoring the goddess Athena, it was later rebuilt in marble during the Roman era and could accommodate tens of thousands of spectators. After centuries of decline, the stadium was restored in the 19th century and became the venue for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies as well as several sporting events, linking the ancient Olympic tradition with the modern movement.

Often called Kallimarmaro, meaning “beautiful marble,” the stadium remains an important symbol of Greek history and sport. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction, the finishing point of the annual Athens Classic Marathon, and the site where the Olympic flame is ceremonially handed over to future Olympic host nations.