HERE - Olympia Summer Academy

TOUR OF ATHENS, stage 9
FROM SYNTAGMA SQUARE TO OMONIA SQUARE
70
▲
103.
Panepistimiou
Avenue by night,
at the junction
with Omonia
Square.
Square. It is a busy area, with
with small roads around Omonia
Square and Kaniggos Square and
interesting places (small shops,
traditional cafes etc.).
☞
➣
THE SIGHTS:
4.1 ➣ THE NATIONAL
THEATRE OF GREECE
(Ayiou Konstantinou Str)
Built from 1891-1901, according
to the design of Ern. Ziller,
it was commissioned by the
king George I and funded by
Greeks residing abroad. A rep lica
of the National Theatre of
Vienna, it is built in the renaissance
style. The theatre opened
in November 1901. It was formerly
called the Royal Theatre,
but in 1930 it was renamed
National Theatre. The central
auditorium (Italian style) has
a capacity of 1000 spectatores
(stalls, dress circle, upper circle,
and two boxes). Facing the theatre
(at Menandrou Str) is the
three-storey neoclassical Eynard
Mansion, which accommodates
a Museum dedicated to actors
K. Paxinou and A. Minotis.
4.2 ➣ΑYIOS
KONSTANTINOS
(Ayiou Konstantinou Str)
Facing the National Theatre, it is
a monumental church (1871-
1896/1905) built by L. Kaftan -
tzoglou. The recently renovated
three-columned, cross-in-square
church has a stately façade in a
combination of neoclassical and
renaissance styles, a monumental
entrance in the form of an
ancient propylaea, and an attractive
interior decoration.
4.3 ➣PIREOS STR
(P. Tsaldari Str)
Constructed along the path of
the ancient road linking Athens
to Piraeus. The Long Walls were
constructed along the side of
the street. The first paved road
in Athens, Pireos Str links the
city with the port of Piraeus.
In the 19th century an industrial
zone was developed and a multitude
of factories were constructed
along the road. In the
past few years a multitude of
factories were renovated and
used for another purpose (museums,
cultural centres, the
Higher School of Fine Arts).
The buildings at Pireos Str, a
very busy street, are interesting
examples of urban industrial architecture.
At number 138 of
Pireos Str one will find a modern
building that houses the new
Benaki Museum where periodic
exhibits of the Museum are held
(✒ page 94). At number 254,
Tauros area stands the Civilisation
Centre “Hellenic Cosmos”
established by the Foundation
of the Hellenic world ( ✒
page 99).
4.4 ➣Koumoundourou
Square (Eleftherias)
An attractive, wooded square.
Facing Pireos Str is the
grand neoclassical mansion
of the “Municipal
Gallery” built in
1874 (designed by
G. Metaxas).
Neighbouring the
gallery is the small
church of Ayioi
Anargyroi (1893).
Located on the
square is a small
stone-built theatre,
which is used for events.
4.5 ➣Ayion Assomaton Str
As you descend Pireos Str take
a left turn at Ayion Assomaton
Str. You will find at number 45
one of the best-known traditional
buildings of Athens (picturesque
classicist style, 1880),
with copies of the famous twin
Caryatids on the balcony. The
house, is among the most photographed
and painted themes
of Athens.
4.64.7 ➣Gazi
( ✒ page 42)
Botanical
Garden
of the Athens
University
Located at the crossroads
of Iera Odos,
which in Greek means
Sacred Road (built along
the path of the ancient road of
the Eleusinian Mysteries ✒
page 115) and Sp. Patsi Str. It has
a total area of 7,000 m 2 . Some
120 varieties of trees and plants
and mosses and grasses from
different parts of the world.
104. Copies
of the Caryatids,
at the small
house at 45,
Ayion
Assomaton Str.
105.
The Botanical
Garden
of the Athens
University.
71