Propylaea, located on the west side of the Acropolis, serve as an entrance to the site of the Acropolis. They acquired their present form during the "Golden Age of Pericles", when most great works of the Acropolis took place. Propylaea were built by the famous architect Mnesicles, in the years 437-432 BC but were never completed, as the Peloponnesian War broke out. They were designed in such a way as to awe the visitor that climbs the stairs and enters the sacred space.

Propylaea are built with a special mix of Doric and Ionic order and are made from the famous Pentelic marble. Their project inspired many later architects who created commensurate buildings in various European cities.

In antiquity, the northern part of Propylaea hosted an art gallery with top painters of the time, while on the south side of the visitor can admire the Temple of Athena Nike.

In the days of the Frankish empire, the Propylaea were the Frankish ruler’s residence, while during the Turkish rule they were the headquarters of the Turkish garrison. It is then that a part of the building is converted to gunpowder storage, which explodes in 1640, causing considerable damage to the monument.

After the Greek Revolution, the later buildings were demolished and the space was attempted to obtain the form he had in antiquity.