Charming districts in Attica, with a nostalgic allure!
Corners seen in retro postcards, narrow quiet alleyways offering history-packed walks, true pieces of heaven inside the bustling urban scenery. The broader area of Athens boasts colorful districts, intact through the years, inviting their visitors to magically travel back in time and step into the atmosphere and slow-living of past decades.
Treat yourself with a getaway touched by vintage aesthetics, capture those images that perfectly mix the past and the present. Keep that feeling alive, with carefree-strolling around passageways unaffected by time, well-hidden in the heart of Attica.
Plaka and Anafiotika
In the shadow of the Sacred Rock of Acropolis, this captivating area in the center of Athens, has been relentlessly captivating travelers from all over the world. Inhabited since ancient years, Plaka has been a bewitching and inspiring destination for more than 3,500 years. Also known as “Neighborhood of the Gods”, it’s like a secret passage to Athens of the 19th century. A walk not to be forgotten, with sweet-smelling jasmines and vivid bougainvilleas adorning the street corners. The list of sites is countless; visit byzantine churches and mosques, the Old University and the Benizelos mansion, the oldest residence in Athens and all other interesting places in the area.
Don’t miss out on wandering around Anafiotika, a small locale built according to the typical Cycladic architecture, by construction workers who came from the island of Anafi. Its tiny alleys and white-washed houses take you in a fantasy tour to the heart of the Aegean Sea. Embrace its peaceful energy and imagine dipping your feet into its crystalline waters!
Monastiraki
Still down-town, a walk around the picturesque area of Monastiraki must be included in your to-do list! Kick-off from its homonym square, a living crossroad of culture. Admire the Tzistarakis Mosque built in 1759 and the small church of the Virgin Mary Pantanassa. A few meters away, Abyssinia Square and its colorful open-air bazaar with antiques, furniture, books and any kind of ornaments are the perfect occasion for a lighthearted walk and endless clicks amongst the folkloric history of Greece.
Mets
Southeast of the Zappeion Megaron, the area of Mets is often referred to as the “Montmartre of Attica”. Beautiful neoclassical buildings with blooming yards filled with colorful flowers and citrus trees spread along its sidewalks, are just a few of the distinctive features that render Mets a popular quaint area. Don’t leave without visiting the First Cemetery of Athens, a riveting outdoor exhibition hosting sculptures and funeral monuments that are true masterpieces.
Kifisia
Heading to the north of Athens, Kifisia perfectly matches greenery with emblematic architecture. Its gracious mansions with a variety of architectural rhythms and influences, create pictures of exquisite beauty. The suburb doesn’t stand out only for its lovely residences and stores, but also for the Church of the Virgin Mary of Xydou, the first byzantine monument in the area. Easily accessible by public transportation, Kifisia is ready to bewitch you!
Nea Filadelfeia
Strictly connected with the “Asia Minor Catastrophe”, Nea Filadelfeia has a long refugee background and a unique character. Seated northwest in the basin of Attica, it is justifiably one of the most scenic districts in the broader area of Athens. Two-storey houses with tiled roofs and tiny gardens pop-up from every single street, each one unraveling its own story. Actually, the refugees’ settlement has been declared as “traditional” and is protected under a presidential decree.
Piraeus
The city of Piraeus can boast of Kastella, a quarter brimming with idyllic spots, impressive corners and breathtaking view. Narrow alleys and well-preserved mansions, 19th century villas and two-storey neoclassical buildings are smoothly “mixed” in a highly-aesthetic canvas. Broadly known as “Skalakia”, Foskolou street takes you up to the colorful buildings of Kastella. Choose among its dozens of small traditional tavernas and taste delicious dishes, within a vibrant old-Athens ambience.
Despite its modern and metropolitan character, the broader area of Athens still has a few districts which proudly take you back to long-gone times. True gems of architecture, with pristine spots and corners, compose images of unspoken beauty and nostalgia.
