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Plaka: the most beautiful neighborhood of Athens

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Athens Plaka

Plaka is one of the most picturesque locations in Athens. It is visited by dozens of tourists everyday so its narrow streets are always full of people visiting the restaurants and cafes or just walking around admiring the beautiful scenery.

History of Plaka

Athens Greece

plaka photos - old town of athensEvery summer thousands of visitors make a pilgrimage to the city's best preserved 19th century neighborhood, with its beautiful resorted mansions and charming narrow streets, its lively tavernas, antique shops and interesting nightlife. It's called Plaka because it is flat, as opposed to the neighboring district Rizokastro, which was built on the sides of the Acropolis. It used to have lots of small houses and almost as many large mansions with spacious courtyards, cut off from view by high walls. According to another version, the area took its name from a large plaque founded in Adrianou street. The name initially referred only to one part of the NE tip of the Acropolis, but has later come to mean all the small neighborhoods that composed old Athens.

Tower of the Winds - Aerides

From Dioskouron Street continue to Areos Street which will lead you to the square where a monument is located. It is called the Horologion or Clock of Andronikos Kyrrhestes, after the architect from Syros who built it in the 1st BC. It served as waterclock, sundial and weather vane. Its eight sides are orientated to the eight points of the horizon, which correspond to the eight winds whose names and symbols are carved out of the upper portion.

Anafiotika

Anafiotika is the most picturesque neighborhood in Plaka Square. Built just under Acropolis it had been constructed by people who used to live in Anafi island and came to Athens after King Otto had asked them to build his palace. The habitants of Anafi were considered to be great builders and that's why the king invited them to work for his palace. They built their own houses in Plaka square keeping the architectural style of their home island. This neighborhood has been giving a different style to Athens town centre until today.
A walk in Plaka should definitely include a passing through Anafiotika where one can take amazing photos and have nice view to Athens town centre

Plaka usuful links

Tourist Guide

Athens Tourist Guide
Here you will be able to learn more information about Athens, be informed on which places to visit, see lots of pictures and more...
Plaka Hotels
Here you will find a big list of hotels situated in Plaka with details, photographs and great prices!
Plaka - Plaka Hotel Athens
Plaka Hotel is 3 star hotel in Plaka, Athens, close to Acropolis and historical centre. Plaka hotel offers comfortable rooms at special low rates. Find here special discounts for Plaka hotel.
Plaka Acropolis Map
A detailed map of the area of Plaka and Acropolis in Athens Greece
Athens Guide Map
An interactive guide map that guides you around the center of Athens, including the famous area of Plaka. It includes all monuments, restaurants, tavernas, and the hotels in Plaka.
Travel Tips: Athens
A short list of tips for Athens visitors. Plaka is included as a place one MUST visit!
Exploring Athens: Plaka walking in Athens old city
Plaka is the most beautiful old city of Athens. You can pay a visit to it and then pass by Monastiraki, Anafiotika and the mosque as well.
Sunshine Express Tour
Sightseeing is a must in Athens and there is no better way to do this than by train. The sunshine express will take you from Aiolou street to Plateia Agoras to admire several areas on the way.
Important!

Dreamy holidays in Greece!

Greece Vacation Packages

Plaka

Athens Greece

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Picturesque Plaka 

Books about Athens

Greece

Did you know the word "plaka" in Greek means fun?

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Athens Greece Guestbook

Have you ever been to Plaka in Athens? Or do you just wish to comment on this lens? You can do it here, by submitting a blurb! Thanks

  • Lindrus Oct 17, 2011 @ 9:05 pm | delete
    Very nice lens! Plaka is so quaint! Greece is so beautiful and such a perfect vacation spot!
  • peppervel Oct 12, 2011 @ 10:30 am | delete
    would love to visit Plaka. it's really so beautiful.
  • Margo_Arrowsmith May 2, 2011 @ 10:21 am | delete
    Oh, yes, walking through these streets was just indescribable! Wow!
  • greek_aficionado Apr 19, 2011 @ 11:46 am | delete
    Hi Stella,
    this is a great lens about Plaka in Athens.
    I hope you will have some free time to take a look at my new lens with selected videos for Greece.

    http://www.squidoo.com/10-videos-you-cant-miss-before-coming-to-greece
  • Rafick Apr 19, 2011 @ 11:22 am | delete
    I love Greece, Greek music, Greek food and almost everything Greek. I know Greece very well... when I was a student I went all over the place on a bicycle. I also went to Mount Athos.
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Athens Scenes From Capital City

Published by Didier Millet, Csi (October 1, 2005)

Vibrant and rapidly evolving Athens, confluence of the ancient and modern worlds, is the subject of this colourful pictorial essay. Historic monuments crown this mythology-laden city - from the bare marble grandeur of the Parthenon and the Theatre of Dionysus to the stately ruins of the temple of Olympian Zeus. Athens' conjunction of the very old and the relatively new results in many quaint neighbourhoods. Tour Plaka, the oldest quarter of modern Athens; the market district of Monastiraki; the cafés and bars of Psirri; or the excellent museums and trendy boutiques of Kolonaki. In addition, explore the wider Athens, set against the sun-drenched hill of Lycabettus and the glistening waters of the Saronic Gulf. Architectural photographer John Cleave has taken his original photographs of post-Olympic Athens and modified them with the use of Adobe Photoshop, creating an individual and artistic rendering of the enchanting city.
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Bella_Stella

Hello world! My name is Stella, travelling is my life and Greece my home country. I am here to rock your world!

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