Athens Monastiraki Square

Monastiraki Square is a very central square in Athens city, on the outskirts of the Acropolis. In the heart of the Athenian center, Monastiraki is a unique mix of rhythms, eras and cultures. Lively and always dynamic, constantly dedicated to trade and meeting people. If we stand in the center of Monastiraki Square and look around we see in just a few square meters the very history of Athens. Recently renovated, the Square was paved with mosaic cobblestones of marble, stone and carved cast iron, which symbolize the “flows” and the diversity of the people of the Mediterranean.

Athens Monastiraki Square – Ottoman rule

During the years of Ottoman rule, the area of Monastiraki was the miniature of a typical Ottoman city with the market which was both a commercial and an administrative center. It included the shops, the places of prayer, the seminary, the baths, the cafes, the inns, as well as the residences of the upper class. It is worth noting that from the Roman years to the years of Otto, the commercial and political center of Athens was almost always under the Acropolis and the life of the market was inextricably linked with the life of the city.

The opening of Athens Monastiraki Square

The opening of Monastiraki Square took place in the year 1834 and the streets of Ermou, Athena and Pandrosou were drawn, the steamy Athens-Piraeus railway was extended from Thiseio and in the year 1895 the neoclassical building of the railway station was inaugurated.

The station has been built on the riverbed of the river Eridanus, parts of which are visible above the square but also from the specially designed space inside the station. The station is one of the oldest on the land line, built to connect the city with the port of Piraeus. The new underground line of the Attica Metro connects Monastiraki with the airport El. Venizelos.

Athens Monastiraki Square Flea Market

Next to the station begins Hephaestus Street, where the blacksmith shops used to be.
Today, on Hephaestus Street or Pandrosou Street, there are not the craftsmen or workshops of the past years, except for a few, and in most shops are sold jewelry, souvenirs, folk art items, copies of museum exhibits, clothes, handmade sandals, leather goods, etc.

The “Flea Market” starts from Hephaestus Street and vertically there are alleys full of second-hand shops, second-hand bookstores or record stores with rare books, magazines, posters, and vinyl records, a paradise for fans of the genre, who can spend hours searching frantically for dusty boxes or shelves to clear.

A little further down, Hephaestus Street meets the Abyssinia Square, which was destined to host the first auction house in the new capital of Greece. Today it is known for its second-hand shops and fleece shops that repair old pieces, but also make copies inspired by the old Athenian houses.

What can you eat?

Kebab in Greece, a quintessential dish of Greek Cuisine, is the wrapped souvlaki, and is the most popular snack in the country.

When served at the table it is served in a portion of (open) kebab with baked tomato and onion on a pie, however it is the big attraction and the tzatziki is ordered separately. While in the East “kebab” is the general name for cut meats that is cooked or grilled, in Athens it means the spicy sausage-shaped burger, which is grilled. Of course, in Monastiraki Square you can also order souvlaki with gyros (pork or chicken) with the same choice in the filling.

Popular food hangouts are the taverns among the junk shops, especially for Sunday lunches, where traditional delicacies may be accompanied by the sounds of the amazing wandering Greek folk music.

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