By Elena Dacoula
Athens is a great love and walking is the best way to discover its beautiful hidden corners. One of the favorite routes for visitors and locals alike is Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, Anafiotika and Plaka.
Passing through the National Garden, enjoying the calm and coolness, your steps lead you to the duck pond. You choose the exit towards Zappeion. Crossing Amalias Street perpendicularly, you enter Dionysiou Areopagitou, a pedestrian street that feels like stepping onto a theatrical stage, while at the same time you realize that Athens is a living city inhabited for centuries. Immortal monuments of ancient times, with the Parthenon as the crowning glory, coexist harmoniously with some masterpieces of modern architecture, creating a small luxurious neighborhood. In the middle, people of all ages and nationalities form a "stream" that brings sound and life to the street. They often stop to watch street performers or enjoy the musicians playing nearby.
No matter how many times one sees the Parthenon, it always commands attention, forcing you to pause, admire and photograph it – especially at dusk, when Eleftheria Deco’s stunning lighting highlights its uniqueness. Dionysiou Areopagitou is inseparably linked to music, thanks to the Athens Festival events. A show or concert at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on a summer evening is a unique experience every visitor should treat themselves to.
The route towards Anafiotika and Plaka
Turning back and taking Thrasylou Street (which later becomes Stravonos), you climb towards Anafiotika. On the left, the picturesque chapel of St. George of the Rock. In front of it, a commemorative plaque dedicated to the hero Koukidis, while behind it a path with wide steps leads to a clearing with Athens spread out at your feet. On Sunday afternoons, you can hear the National Anthem from the band attending the flag-lowering ceremony.
The low stone walls are usually full of people who climb up there to admire the enchanting view. Descending the steep stairs, you enter the heart of the tiny neighborhood, the "island without a sea". The maze-like narrow streets, the whitewashed houses with colorful shutters, blooming flowers and the smells from the kitchens transport you to a different era.
Going downhill, you find yourself in the wonderful Plaka, which is a preserved palimpsest of the entire history of Athens. Wandering through the alleys with shops, tavernas on the slopes and cafés perched on steps, with Greek music playing everywhere, you feel the essence of the city. A table at the beautiful Melina Café, a hotspot for its atmospheric interior, is often a cherished wish.
From Anafiotika to the Roman Agora
At the Roman Agora, you admire one of the most best-preserved monuments of antiquity, the Tower of the Winds (Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos), while searching for the amazing jazz saxophonist who usually plays in front of the Archaeological Service building. Through the columns of the Gate of Athena Archegetis, the Hill of the Nymphs with the Observatory invites you to take photos.
Moonlit nights at the open-air cinemas is an experience not to miss. In Plaka, the beloved Cine Paris, with its breathtaking view of the Acropolis, competes with the movie itself.
Via Kydathinaion Str., you reach Filellinon Str., where the secret garden of Rallou Manou Square with the imposing Russian Church, the Unknown Artist Monument and the tables of the classy By the Glass create a romantic atmosphere with candlelight – a tempting spot for a glass of wine.
Before starting to climb Vasilissis Sofias Ave. with its beautiful neoclassical buildings, a mandatory stop is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Join the crowd to take photos of the Evzones. The sight of the changing of the guard, with the shadows of the Evzones outlined against the monument, is truly impressive.
Walking through Athens in summer is not just a journey through a city, but a step back in time, a sensory celebration of history, culture and life. Let every street and corner tell you a story and every moment linger like the golden light of the Athenian dusk.
