Byzantine Secrets of Athens is not just another general guide to Athens. It is focussed specifically on the city's Byzantine period of history – that stretched from the late antiquity to the Ottoman times, roughly from the 5th to the 15th century. However, the topics discussed on the pages of this book are not limited to the Byzantine buildings. These magnificent structures offer us the opportunity to look at Athens from a less usual angle. At the same time, you will not miss its iconic monuments such as the Acropolis or the Tower of the Winds. Their stories are also described, although from a less frequently applied perspective. I took an opportunity to look beyond the ancient period of their existence and discuss their later stories, for instance when they served as the Christian places of worship.

The guidebook is divided into six main parts, organised geographically. They take the travellers on six walking and hiking adventures around Athens. Each walk will offer you a chance to admire the most impressive Byzantine churches of the city. During these strolls, you will understand their deeper historical and architectural context. Naturally, these monuments are the work of thousands of people – master builders, sculptors, painters, and masons – and they have served the needs of the Athenian population over the centuries. Thus, the book also tells the stories of some of these individuals, such as priests, monks, scholars, and artists. The guidebook is richly illustrated with photos of the described buildings and exhibits. There are also plans showing the location of the sights visited during each of the six suggested tours of Athens.

Byzantine Secrets of Athens is available from Amazon as a paperback and as an e-book for Kindle, and as an e-book from Google Play Books