Antonis Tritsis Metropolitan Park

Located on the border of the municipalities of Ilion and Agioi Anargyroi-Kamatero, the Antonis Tritsis Environmental Awareness Park is one of the last wildlife refuges in the urban environment of Athens. As most of the wetlands in the basin have shrunk or dried up in recent decades, the six man-made lakes, which are linked by an artificial canal, are a dominant feature of the landscape and provide a respite for aquatic organisms that have lost their habitat.

The park, which covers an area of approximately 1,200 stremmata (about 120 hectares), is a unique bird sanctuary in Athens and is characterised by the diversity of its vegetation.

In 1987, the first studies were carried out by the Athens Regulatory Planning Organisation and the unified character of the area, which was in danger of being fragmented by conflicting uses, was secured. In 1993, the Regulatory Planning Organization of Athens, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, launched the tender for the first phase of the project to create a model ecological park and hyper local recreation centre.

Members of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOE) have been observing and recording birds in the park since its establishment. To date, 175 different bird species have been recorded. HOE organises environmental information programmes to highlight the natural wealth of the park and raise public awareness. The park is an important place for hiking, cycling, friendly meetings, social events, nature-loving activities, etc.