1.
Greece
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Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, historically also known as Hellas, is a country in southeastern Europe, with a population of approximately 11 million as of 2015. Athens is the capital and largest city, followed by Thessaloniki. Greece is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, situated on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the northeast. Greece consists of nine regions, Macedonia, Central Greece, the Peloponnese, Thessaly, Epirus, the Aegean Islands, Thrace, Crete. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of the mainland, the Ionian Sea to the west, the Cretan Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin and the 11th longest coastline in the world at 13,676 km in length, featuring a vast number of islands, eighty percent of Greece is mountainous, with Mount Olympus being the highest peak at 2,918 metres. From the eighth century BC, the Greeks were organised into various independent city-states, known as polis, which spanned the entire Mediterranean region and the Black Sea. Greece was annexed by Rome in the second century BC, becoming a part of the Roman Empire and its successor. The Greek Orthodox Church also shaped modern Greek identity and transmitted Greek traditions to the wider Orthodox World, falling under Ottoman dominion in the mid-15th century, the modern nation state of Greece emerged in 1830 following a war of independence. Greeces rich historical legacy is reflected by its 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among the most in Europe, Greece is a democratic and developed country with an advanced high-income economy, a high quality of life, and a very high standard of living. A founding member of the United Nations, Greece was the member to join the European Communities and has been part of the Eurozone since 2001. Greeces unique cultural heritage, large industry, prominent shipping sector. It is the largest economy in the Balkans, where it is an important regional investor, the names for the nation of Greece and the Greek people differ from the names used in other languages, locations and cultures. The earliest evidence of the presence of human ancestors in the southern Balkans, dated to 270,000 BC, is to be found in the Petralona cave, all three stages of the stone age are represented in Greece, for example in the Franchthi Cave. Neolithic settlements in Greece, dating from the 7th millennium BC, are the oldest in Europe by several centuries and these civilizations possessed writing, the Minoans writing in an undeciphered script known as Linear A, and the Mycenaeans in Linear B, an early form of Greek. The Mycenaeans gradually absorbed the Minoans, but collapsed violently around 1200 BC and this ushered in a period known as the Greek Dark Ages, from which written records are absent. The end of the Dark Ages is traditionally dated to 776 BC, the Iliad and the Odyssey, the foundational texts of Western literature, are believed to have been composed by Homer in the 7th or 8th centuries BC. With the end of the Dark Ages, there emerged various kingdoms and city-states across the Greek peninsula, in 508 BC, Cleisthenes instituted the worlds first democratic system of government in Athens
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Kolonaki
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Kolonaki, literally Little Column, is a neighborhood in central Athens, Greece. It is located on the slopes of Lycabettus hill. Its name derives from the two column that defined the area even before a single house had been built there. Kolonaki is a wealthy and upmarket district, as one of the capitals leading shopping areas, it includes a number of high-end boutiques from young adult to casual fashion to prestigious haute couture from Greek and international designers. One of its shopping streets, Voukourestiou Street, is now known for its jewellery. Museums and galleries also abound in Kolonaki, the Benaki Museum, inside a preserved neoclassical manor house, and the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art and are two of the finest private collections in the country. Two smaller museums to be found in Kolonaki are the Museum of the History of Greek Costume, a walk across the street from Vasilissis Sofias Avenue are the Byzantine Museum, and the War Museum of Athens. There is a plethora of options for nightlife, including bars, ouzeries. Outdoor seating on pedestrian walks is typical, creating an atmosphere at night. The main Kolonaki Square is surrounded by cafes and restaurants, the Lycabettus Funicular, a funicular railway, links Kolonaki to the summit of Lycabettus hill. Kolonaki also hosts two metro stations, Evengelismos and Megaro Mousikis
3.
Filiki Eteria
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Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends was a secret 19th-century organization whose purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman rule of Greece and establish an independent Greek state. Society members were mainly young Phanariot Greeks from Russia, Serbs, one of its leaders was Alexander Ypsilantis. The Society initiated the Greek War of Independence in the spring of 1821, the direct translation of the word Filiki is Friendly and the direct translation of the word Eteria is Society. The name of Filiki Eteria has been transliterated in numerous publications with combinations of Filiki, Filike, Philiki and its purpose was to unite all Greeks in an armed organization to overthrow Turkish rule. The three founders were Nikolaos Skoufas from the Arta province, Emmanuil Xanthos from Patmos and Athanasios Tsakalov from Ioannina, soon after they initiated a fourth member, Panagiotis Anagnostopoulos from Andritsaina. Skoufas met with Konstantinos Rados, who was initiated into Carbonarism, Xanthos was initiated into a Freemasonic Lodge at Lefkada, while Tsakalov was a founding member of the Hellenoglosso Xenodocheio an earlier but unsuccessful society for the liberation of Greece. At the start, between 1814 and 1816, there were roughly twenty members, during 1817, the society initiated members from the diaspora Greeks of Russia and the Danubian Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. The lord of Moldavia Michael Soutzos himself, became a member, massive initiations began only in 1818 and by early 1821, when the Society had expanded to almost all regions of Greece and throughout Greek communities abroad, the membership numbered in thousands. Members included primary instigators of the Greek revolution, notably Theodoros Kolokotronis, Odysseas Androutsos, Dimitris Plapoutas, Filiki Eteria was strongly influenced by Carbonarism and Freemasonry. The team of leaders was called the Invisible Authority and from the start it was shrouded in mystery, secrecy and it was generally believed that a lot of important personalities were members, not only eminent Greeks, but also notable foreigners such as the Tsar of Russia Alexander I. The reality was that initially, the Invisible Authority comprised only the three founders, from 1815 until 1818, five more were added to the Invisible Authority, and after the death of Skoufas another three more. In 1818, the Invisible Authority was renamed to the Authority of Twelve Apostles, the organisational structure was pyramid-like with the Invisible Authority coordinating from the top. No one knew or had the right to ask who created the organisation, commands were unquestionably carried out and members did not have the right to make decisions. Members of the society together in what was called a Temple with four levels of initiation, a) Brothers or Vlamides, b) the Recommended, γ) the Priests. The Priests were charged with the duty of initiation, the Priest immediately had the obligation to reveal all the marks of recognition between the Vlamides or Brothers. Vlamides and Recommended were unaware of the aims of the organisation. They only knew that existed a society that tried hard for the general good of the nation. This myth was propagated deliberately, in order to stimulate the morale of members, in 1818, the seat of Filiki Eteria had migrated from Odessa to Constantinople, and Skoufas death had been a serious loss
4.
Vasilissis Sofias Avenue
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Vasilissis Sofias Avenue is a major avenue in the east side of Athens, the Greek capital. The avenue was originally part of the Kifisias Avenue, the part from Syntagma Square to the intersection with Alexandras Avenue was renamed after Queen Sophia, the consort of King Constantine I. A section of the avenue is part of the old GR-1, except from residences, medical doctors private practices, banks, museums, embassies and high-end hotels are common on this historical street. Three Athens Metro stations are on, or near, Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, Syntagma, Evangelismos, the avenue was first paved in the 20th century and added trolley lanes by the ends of the avenue, with neo-classical buildings also taking shape by the avenue. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, it added modern eight-to-ten storey buildings in most of the intersection with traffic and street lights installed
5.
Panepistimiou Street
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Its total length is about 1.2 km. The street was renamed as Eleftherios Venizelos Avenue in the 1980s but is still usually known by its historical name. It has six lanes, of five are for traffic. Most of the street runs almost diagonally from southeast to northwest, many buildings as high as ten to fifteen stories line this street. Old neoclassical buildings of no higher than two to three used to exist until the 1950s, when a construction spree, which lasted several decades, demolished all. Originally a two-way street until after the Greek Civil War with bus lanes, several classic films were shot in this street. The Athens Metro Red Line runs underneath with stations linking with this including the Panepistimiou station. Workers filled the hole with concrete so that traffic can resume, in the 2000s, the transit buses which can run eastbound can now run two way and is at the lower end of the street. The idea is part of a project held by the Onassis Foundation under the name Rethink Athens in an effort for a more allure, the project is scheduled to be completed in the next few years. Scholars are critical of the implications of the project. This will especially be the further down from the corner with Syntagma Square. Traffic congestion will also increase in all surrounding roads as it will be diverted from Panepistimiou, which will also be closed to buses
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Monastiraki
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Monastiraki is a flea market neighborhood in the old town of Athens, Greece, and is one of the principal shopping districts in Athens. The area is home to clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, and specialty stores, the area is named after Monastiraki Square, which in turn is named for the Church of the Pantanassa that is located within the square. The main streets of this area are Pandrossou Street and Adrianou Street, the Monastiraki Metro Station, located on the square, serves both Line 1 and Line 3 of the Athens Metro. Photo Album of Monastiraki Monastiraki Photo Guide
7.
Syntagma Square
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Syntagma Square, is the central square of Athens. The Square is named after the Constitution that the first King of Greece Otto was obliged to grant, after a popular and it is located in front of the 19th century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. Syntagma Square is the most important square of modern Athens from both a historical and social point of view, at the epicentre of activity and Greek politics. The square is bordered by Amalia Avenue to the east, Otto Street to the south, the street bordering the square to the west, connecting Stadiou Street with Fillelinon Street, is simply named Syntagma Square. The eastern side of the square is higher than the western, the stairs emerge below between a pair of outdoor cafes, and are a popular city-centre gathering place. Syntagma also includes two areas to the north and south, planted with shade trees, while in the centre of the square there is a large mid-19th century water fountain. On certain days, a changing of the guard occurs with an army band. The Square was designed and constructed in the early 19th century and it was designed as one of the two central squares of modern Athens, situated to what were then the eastern boundaries of the city. The second square was Omonoia Square, to the north of the city, even though King Ottos Royal Palace was at first planned to be erected on Omonia Square, a location overlooking the eastern square was deemed a better option. Thus, the squares first name was Palace Square, work for the construction of the Old Palace to the north of the Square, started in 1836 and lasted until 1843. About a month after the installation of King Otto and his wife Amalia in late July 1843, soldiers under Dimitrios Kallergis gathered in front of the Palace and demanded the granting of constitution. King Otto was then obliged to grant the first Constitution of Greece, in memory of the event, the Palace square was renamed to Constitution Square or Syntagma Square in Greek. Some of the demonstrations amassed crowds of the order of 10,000 people, according to police reports, since the inception of the Unity Government, the occupation has been removed from the Square and demonstrations are less frequent. Travel between Syntagma Square and the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport is available via special airport bus and metro lines, free wireless Internet access at high speeds is offered by the Municipality of Athens at the Square. The square is also a hub for buses to the northern suburbs, in 2015, the fifth of the film The Bourne Identity was filmed in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. To do this, the city was set to simulate the Greek cities of Athens. The Plaza de España of Santa Cruz was set to represent Syntagma Square of Athens, Syntagma Square Public Wireless Internet service Syntagma Square Public Wireless Internet service
8.
Attiki Odos
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Attiki Odos is a privately owned toll motorway system in Greece. The Attiki Odos motorways form the outer beltways of the Greater Athens metropolitan area, the total length of the motorways is 65 kilometres. Part of it was opened, along with the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport to which it connects, in early 2003, the A6 was opened from Kifisias Avenue Interchange to Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, the Ymittos Ring was almost paved by this time, and tunnels were already complete. On 3 September 2003, the Ymittos Ring opened, in November 2003, the western part opened from the junction with Motorway 8 to Kifisias Avenue. In April 2004, a small 2.5 km section opened, Attiki Odos is considered one of the safest motorways in Europe. Its design used strict safety-related technical specifications, including updated hard shoulders in both directions and high quality skid-resistant asphalt pavement, dense lighting and fencing, the toll is the same regardless of the length of journey, but depends on vehicle category. Drivers can pay by cash, e-pass or a special account card, for motorbikes and cars the standard toll fares are, as of September 2016, €1.40. On October 21,2005 a new plan was proposed. 76 km of motorway was to be constructed, bringing the length to 141 km. Extensions were to be constructed towards Rafina, Lavrio and Vouliagmeni, the Hymettus Beltway was also to be extended southwards to Vouliagmeni. As of 2016, this project did not even start, the official website of Attiki Odos S. A
9.
Avdi Square
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Avdi Square is a public gathering place located in the Metaxourgeio neighbourhood of Athens, Greece, bounded by Leonidou, Kerameikou, Giatrakou and Germanikou streets. On the edges of the stand the Municipal Gallery of Athens, several cafes, theatres, businesses. The City of Athens renovated the square in 2008, increasing the amount and quality of greenery, the square’s 2008 overhaul was part of the city’s “Were Taking Note and Taking Action program, which aimed to solve everyday problems in Athens neighbourhoods. In Avdi Square, the city added 39 trees,112 bushes,500 flowers,1,000 square metres of grass and this square will become the heart of culture and recreation in your neighbourhood, ” he said during the launch of the revamped space. The square is named for Leon Avdis, a Greek lawyer, in 1994 he was elected Municipal Councillor of Athens as head of the Fighting Cooperation for Athens coalition. Avdis was elected to Parliament in 1996 on the Greek Communist Party ticket and his platform including improving living conditions in run-down areas and creating bicycle lanes in the capital. Map of Avdi Square and adjacent restaurants, theatres and art gallery Map of Athens neighbourhoods
10.
Athens
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Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. In modern times, Athens is a cosmopolitan metropolis and central to economic, financial, industrial, maritime. In 2015, Athens was ranked the worlds 29th richest city by purchasing power, Athens is recognised as a global city because of its location and its importance in shipping, finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, culture, education and tourism. It is one of the biggest economic centres in southeastern Europe, with a financial sector. The municipality of Athens had a population of 664,046 within its limits. The urban area of Athens extends beyond its administrative city limits. According to Eurostat in 2011, the Functional urban areas of Athens was the 9th most populous FUA in the European Union, Athens is also the southernmost capital on the European mainland. The city also retains Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a number of Ottoman monuments. Athens is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Acropolis of Athens and the medieval Daphni Monastery, Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and 108 years later it welcomed home the 2004 Summer Olympics. In Ancient Greek, the name of the city was Ἀθῆναι a plural, in earlier Greek, such as Homeric Greek, the name had been current in the singular form though, as Ἀθήνη. It was possibly rendered in the later on, like those of Θῆβαι and Μυκῆναι. During the medieval period the name of the city was rendered once again in the singular as Ἀθήνα, an etiological myth explaining how Athens has acquired its name was well known among ancient Athenians and even became the theme of the sculpture on the West pediment of the Parthenon. The goddess of wisdom, Athena, and the god of the seas, Poseidon had many disagreements, in an attempt to compel the people, Poseidon created a salt water spring by striking the ground with his trident, symbolizing naval power. However, when Athena created the tree, symbolizing peace and prosperity. Different etymologies, now rejected, were proposed during the 19th century. Christian Lobeck proposed as the root of the name the word ἄθος or ἄνθος meaning flower, ludwig von Döderlein proposed the stem of the verb θάω, stem θη- to denote Athens as having fertile soil. In classical literature, the city was referred to as the City of the Violet Crown, first documented in Pindars ἰοστέφανοι Ἀθᾶναι. In medieval texts, variant names include Setines, Satine, and Astines, today the caption η πρωτεύουσα, the capital, has become somewhat common
11.
Kotzia Square
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Kotzia Square is a square in central Athens, Greece. The square retains several characteristics of 19th century local neoclassical architecture, such as the City Hall of the Municipality of Athens and it is named after Konstantinos Kotzias, former Mayor of Athens. The square is surrounded by the streets, Efpolidos Street to the north, Athinas Street to the west, Kratinou to the south. The square itself is south of Omonia Square and north of Monastiraki square, Kotzia square lies in front of the City Hall of the Municipality of Athens, and is decorated with busts of famous Athenians such as Pericles and Solon. Built in 1874, the square was known as Loudovikou square. During the 2004 Summer Olympics, it served as the start and finish venue of the Athens historic centre circuit for the mens and womens road race events, as well as for various artistic events. In the middle of Kotzia square classical antiquities have been uncovered that include a part of an ancient road, tombs. The square is situated just outside the ancient Acharnian Gate of Classical Athens and it was called Acharnian because through it passed the road to the Acharnai. There are remains of the city wall as well as extended parts of the front rampart and the moat
Media related to Kolonakiou Square, Athens at Wikimedia Commons