Megara: Ancient Buildings and Easter Customs

Megara brings together ancient water engineering, church architecture and archaeological finds with local customs and the old-town lanes of Alkathous Hill. The landscape adds its own distinctive touch: from the hill, views stretch across the Saronic Gulf, the Mégara Plain and the Pateras Mountains. This offers a choice of themes for your trip, from history and tradition to views and hiking.

Buildings, Finds and City History

The Archaeological Museum of Mégara is housed in a neoclassical building dating from the 19th century and opened in 2000. It displays finds from the city of Mégara and its surrounding area, dating from the 8th century BC to the 2nd century AD. The collection thus spans a broad period. The Kastaneio Folklore Museum focuses on traditional costumes from Mégara, Salamina, Corinth, Smyrna and Spetses.

One of the buildings with a particularly clear historical date is the Theagenes Fountain: this waterworks dates from the 5th century BC and is among the best-known water-supply structures of the ancient Greek world. West of the fountain, in the centre of ancient Mégara, stands the double church of Saint Athanasius and the Archangels. It was built in the 18th century and has two gabled roofs and a shared bell tower. Together, the fountain and church highlight very different periods in the city’s history.

Near the Archaeological Museum lies the Mourmouni Cave, a sanctuary of the goddess Demeter. On the southwestern edge of the city are the remains of a large round tower and the foundations of smaller buildings. Taken together, the historical sites range from finds and sacred places to archaeological remains on the outskirts.

Easter and May Day Customs

On Easter Monday morning, the “Roussalia” custom is observed in Mégara. Young men in traditional costume walk through the neighbourhoods, singing and dancing in a circle. Every Tuesday after Easter, the “Choros tis Tratas” is performed, a ritual women’s dance. The dancers wear the traditional Katifénia costume and sing songs about nature and the cycle of the seasons.

Another custom takes place on the eve of 1 May: engaged young women, accompanied by their friends, walk in local costume to the groom’s house. A boy accompanies the “Katifénies”; the procession carries a May wreath, Easter eggs, sweet breads and a bottle of wine. The customs differ distinctly: Roussalia passes through the neighbourhoods, the Choros tis Tratas combines dance and song, and the May Day custom ends at the groom’s house.

These customs offer practical points to consider when planning your trip: they differ in timing, participants and what takes place. If you are travelling with children, you can decide together whether buildings and local traditions, or views and hiking, should shape your stay.

Old-Town Lanes and Views of the Landscape

Picturesque lanes wind through the old town of Mégara on Alkathous Hill. The hill offers panoramic views of the Saronic Gulf, the Mégara Plain and the Pateras Mountains. The areas around the boundaries of the ancient city, the plain and the mountains of Mégara are also considered hiking areas. Alongside the old-town lanes, visitors can therefore explore a variety of landscapes.

When looking for a holiday rental in Megara, your preferred focus can help guide your choice: would you like history and customs to shape your stay, or would you rather focus on views and hiking? This question can help you choose Megara as a holiday destination in line with your interests. It can also help you plan a family trip around specific themes, without assuming that you need to decide on a fixed itinerary in advance.

Discover more destinations: Psatha, Filí, Mándra, Vlychada, Nea Peramos, Elefsina, Kineta, Vilia.

Back to the regional travel overview: West Attica.