Plaka, 8 things you didn’t know about ….

….the most beautiful quarter in Athens!

Opposite neighbourhoods, which are directly linked to the capital’s history and contribute to the magic of Athens, are perfect for picturesque walks. Plaka, located between the Acropolis, Syntagma Square and Monastiraki, is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Europe, with a history dating back 3500 years!
– The iconic Greek taverna was born in Plaka
– Plaka is famous as the “neighbourhood of the gods” because it lies directly under the sacred rock of the Acropolis
– Plaka is the heart of the carnival celebrations in Athens. Thousands of costumed people stroll through the narrow streets every year and the streets are filled with confetti and streamers.
– The Anafotika take their name from the Anafiotes, construction workers who came to Athens in the 1840s to build Othonas Castle. It is therefore not surprising that the small neighbourhood on the northeast side of the Acropolis hill is reminiscent of the Cyclades islands.
– The buildings of Plaka were declared a protected monument after the war. As a result, the area is the only part of Athens today where you can see an area as large as it was more than 100 years ago.
– The archaeological findings in Plaka show a historical journey of more than 6000 years of civilization.
– The first university in Greece can be seen on Tholou Street. It is the Kapodistrian University of Athens, which took its name from the country’s first governor, Ioannis Kapodistrias, and was founded in 1837. Today it houses the Historical Museum of the University of Athens.
– The Jewish Museum is located on Nikis Street. The objects on display there were saved during the Second World War, mainly art and documents from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as a variety of religious objects and jewellery.