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Philopappos Hill, Filopappou
Athens, Attica, Greece
37.9674° N · 23.7193° W
Get DirectionsPhilopappos Hill -- also known as the Hill of the Muses -- is a pine-covered hill in the Koukaki neighbourhood of central Athens, immediately southwest of the Acropolis. At its summit stands the Monument of Philopappus, a funerary monument built in the 2nd century AD. The hill's paths wind through cypress and pine, with views across the city toward the Aegean. It is here that footage exists of Van Morrison and Bob Dylan walking together and talking, shot during Dylan's 1989 European tour when he performed in Athens -- a document of two of the twentieth century's greatest songwriters in an ancient landscape.
The sight of Dylan and Morrison on Philopappos Hill -- two musicians whose imaginations had always been drawn to old things, deep time, and the weight of history -- has a particular resonance for fans of both. Morrison, who spent significant time in Europe throughout his career, had a well-known affinity for Greek and Mediterranean culture. Dylan, whose 1989 Never Ending Tour passed through Athens, was rarely filmed in informal settings; the Philopappos footage is unusual in its candour.
Philopappos Hill is freely accessible from multiple paths off the surrounding streets, including from Dionysiou Areopagitou Street and from the Filopappou neighbourhood below. It is a popular walking destination for Athenians and tourists, combining the ancient monument at the summit with views of the Acropolis across the saddle between the hills. The paths are shaded and relatively quiet even in peak tourist season.
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