The original name given to the central square of Athens during planning was the Square of the Muses. However, after the palace was erected, it was renamed Palace Square. On 3 September 1843, following a boisterous public rally demanding that a constitution be established, it was renamed Syntagma (Constitution) Square.

The square is bordered by Amalias Street, which runs directly in front of the Parliament Building and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier; Vassileos Georgiou I Street to the north; Philellinon Street on the west; and Othonos Street to the south.

The numbering of the streets in Athens starts from Syntagma and all distances to major Greek cities are measured from here as well.

The square has been at the centre of many major political and social events, such as the 3 September Revolution, the raucous rallies on the day of Greece’s liberation from the Germans on 12 October 1944, the civil war events of December 1944 and, naturally, most political speeches given by party leaders during election times.