Plaka , Greece

Pedestrian street near Ermou (Ερμού) Street.

Walking around the City

While many of the modern parts of Athens are architecturally unremarkable -- a jungle of concrete apartment buildings -- there are a few very walkable neighborhoods. One such neighborhood is Plaka, an old section of town with stone streets, neoclassical architecture, and lovely restaurants with outdoor seating. Another is Monastiraki, the site of many shops and a well-known flea market. The very long, centrally-located Ermou Street, is a shopping haven.

Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

Pláka (Greek: Πλάκα) is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens. It is known as the "Neighbourhood of the Gods" due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites.

Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens, at night.

Name

The name "Plaka" was not in use until after the Greek War of Independence. Instead, the Athenians of that time referred to the area by various names such as Alikokou, Kontito, Kandili, or by the names of the local churches. The name Plaka became commonly in use in the first years of the rule of King Otto. The origin of the name is uncertain: it has been theorized to come from Arvanite "Pliak Athena", meaning "Old Athens", or from the presence of a "plaque" which once marked its central intersection.

Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens

Location

Plaka is on the northeast slope of Acropolis, between Syntagma and Monastiraki square. Adrianou Street (running north and south) is the largest and most central street in Plaka and divides it into two areas: the upper level, - Ano Plaka - located right under the Acropolis and the lower level - Kato Plaka - situated between Syntagma and Monastiraki.

Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

Modern neighbourhood

Plaka is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists around the year, and is under strict zoning and conservation regulations, being the only neighborhood in Athens where all utilities (water, power, cable television, telephone, internet, and sewage) lie underground in fully accessible, custom-made tunneling. Motor vehicles are not allowed in Plaka, and most streets are too narrow, thus not being able to accommodate them anyway.

Museums in Plaka include the new Jewish Museum of Greece, the Museum of Greek Folk Art, an annex of which is the Old Public Baths building, the Frissiras Museum, the Museum of Popular Music Instruments, the Museum of Pavlos and Alexandra Kanellopoulou and the Athens University Museum. Excavations have proven that Adrianou Street is the oldest street in Athens still in continuous use with exactly the same layout since antiquity.

Girl wearing a shirt for the Communist Youth of Greece. It says "Πρωτοπόρα θεωρία Πρωτοπόρα δράση για το μέλλον μας το σοσιαλισμό," which translates as "Pioneering theory Pioneering action for our future socialism.

 Athens viewed from Mount Lycabettus (Λυκαβηττός).

Monastiraki (Μοναστηράκι) Square.

Flea market in the Monastiraki (Μοναστηράκι) neighborhood. This market seems to have a preponderance of camouflage clothing.

Ελαια restaurant. Rooftop dining area with the Acropolis (Ακρόπολη) behind it, at night.

Ελαια restaurant. Rooftop dining area at night.

Restaurant overlooking the Ancient Street of the Tripods (αρχαίας οδού των Τριπόδων).

Flea market in the Monastiraki (Μοναστηράκι) neighborhood.

Dogs resting in the street in Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

Restaurants at night in Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

Plaka (Πλάκα), an old neighborhood in Athens.

Ermou (Ερμού) street.

Street vendors. Ermou (Ερμού) street.

Ermou (Ερμού) street.

Posted in: GREECE