Plaka - Neighbourhood of the Gods

When in Athens, one of my most favourite places to visit is the area of Plaka. Only a short walk away from the buzzing city centre, Plaka is a haven of peace amid the usual hustle and bustle of the city.Winding roads, neoclassical mansions, houses with red-tile roofs, balconies with bougaivileas, jasmin or geraniums compose "the neighbourhood of the gods" dominated by the Acropolis - the sacred rock that makes us Greeks so very proud of our illustrious ancestors and our greek heritage - the most advanced civilization the world has ever known..

The Parthenon

It's no wonder Plaka  takes pride of place in the Greeks' hearts, especially in the hearts of the older Athenians who would have a glass of Retsina in one of the typical Plaka tavernas. In those days, every taverna had  a guitarist playing old Greek songs such as the old Plaka "kantades". Later in the 60s, Plaka became the birthplace of the Greek "new wave" music inspired by the mainstream of the 60s in Italy and France. Many famous Greek artists first performed in one of those clubs, called "boites". What's more, one of the most well-known Greek films - Stella starring Melina Mercouri - was filmed at Plaka.

Plaka

It was under the ministry of Melina Mercouri, in the 70s, that Plaka, which had turned into a night life spot, was upgraded nd declared a solely pedestrian area. All the nightlife havoc moved to the areas of Psiri and Thisio. Thanks to Melina, Plaka found its real identity as the "neighbourhood of the gods." even though it has now become a main tourist attraction. Yet, Plaka hasn't been spoilt by tourism. It still preserves the aura of the past in the modern city of Athens.

Is there a special place you really enjoy visiting?

Photos by Anastasia Marou

Comments

[Constantinos]

When I was a child, all the family would go for a walk at Plaka on Sundays, after church. My brother and I were always amazed at seeing so many visitors of the Acropolis. Then my father would give us a history lesson thus making us aware of our glorious heritage. Now, when I have some time off work, I go to Galaxidi. It's my ideal place to go fishing or sailing and relax.

[Sophia]

As a student in Athens, Plaka was a favorite meeting-place. we usually gathered all the friends there for a beer or coffee and sometimes we had dinner at one of the small taverns when we could afford it. Of course it was much cheaper in the early 90s than it is today. I have still many friends in Athens from my university years and every summer, we arrange a meeting in Plaka.

[Haruko N]

I visited Athens 10 years ago with my parents. It was the best vacation ever despite the long trip and the heat in Athens. Of course I visited the Parthenon and was very impressed! I still remember Plaka and a small restaurant there where we had lunch evry day of our stay in Athens but I forgot the name. My favorite place to visit is not far from home. It's the lake Ashi which is known for its great views of Mount Fuji and its many hot springs. It's a place of great natural beauty.

[Alexia M]

I have been to Greece many times both for work and holidays. When I can, I always spend a day or two in Athens. When I first visited the Acropolis I was so impressed by the amazing beauty of the site and the perfection of every single detail. My favorite places to visit are the greek islands,esp Paros, Kefalonia and Santorini, Cyprus which I never forget, but also la Provence in the south of France.

[Lisa A]

Greece is my favorite place to visit, especially in the summer. We usually go to the islands near Italy, like Corfu, Zante and Cephalonia. But I hear so much about Athens and the Acropolis that I hope to visit it one day. I also heared that there are is a great art museum in Athens which I would like also to visit it.

[Andreas]

Athens is the city where I was born and grew up and will always have a special place in my heart even if I've been living and working abroad for 40 years now. I remember Plaka of the 60s when its narrow, winding roads were just earth and got quite muddy in the winter. Right, we called it the neighborhood of the gods because of the awe and pride we felt at the sight of the Acropolis. Living away from home for so many years, Athens is by far my most favorite place to visit.

[Christina]

I'm afraid that us younger Athenians take Plaka for granted or consider it yet another tourist attraction. It's no longer a meeting place for the 30+ who would rather meet at Kolonaki and squeeze in trendy cafes. We are very proud of our heritage but hardly any of us goes up to the Parthenon - this awesome building which most of us catch a glimpse of while going to work and if we take the subway, we even forget about it. Having read your post just now, I promised myself that on my next day off, I'll pay a visit to the neighborhood of the gods. Thank you for reminding the younger generation how important it is to keep our culture alive. That's where we can seek our real identity.

[Jim]

I've been to Athens once only, yet I don't think I'll ever forget my visit to the Parthenon which I consider to be one of the finest buildings in the world.

[Lakis Ioannou]

The golden age of Pericles and , in general, the ancient greek civilization has had a tremedous impact in the western world. In politics first of all since the first known democracy was born in Athens at about 500 BC but also in philosophies and the fine arts. I always enjoy a visit to Athens -there's so much to see and so much to do there - but my favourite place is a small village in the mountains of Troodos where I can really relax and enjoy superb views in magical surroundings built by mother Nature.

[Karolina]

Athens is definitely the center of our culture and civilization, yet I believe that Thessaloniki has also a lot to offer in preserving our cultural heritage. Although I fly to Athens quite often on business trips, I've only been there twice for a vacation. The first time was with my parents when I was only 8 and later on a school trip. The problem is when I trevel for business, I don't have any time at all for sightseeing. For me, the Acropolis is not only one of the greatest miracles in achitecture worlwide, but also the heart of my heritage as a Greek.

[Anastasia]

Athens is the cradle of the fine arts. I'm sure you'll love a visit to the National Art Gallery but also, since you love the greek islands, I also recommend the Museum of Cycladic Art which is dedicated to the study and promotion of ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus, with special emphasis on Cycladic Art of the 3rd millennium BC.