The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was – and is – a top music venue in Athens. Built in 161 by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, the amphitheatre could seat more than 6,000 in steeply sloped tiers at the base of the Acropolis.

 Alas, it was destroyed by invaders a hundred years later, only to be resurrected in the 1950s. It hosts the annual Athens Festival, an annual celebration featuring performances by international entertainers. 

The odeon also is a good place to take in classical Greek performances. Although a roof covered the theatre in ancient times, everything takes place under the stars today.