Plaka

The Plaka ( Πλάκα ) is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Athens at the foot of the Acropolis. It is located between the metro stations Acropolis and Monastiraki and borders Psirri and today's city center.

History

The district and its buildings can look back on a continuity to ancient times. Many homes have foundation walls of the ancient world, though the facades mostly date from the 18th century. Until the modern city planning in the early 19th century they formed the nucleus of the city of Athens. 1840 and 19 000 people were still living in the old town. Then the Plaka walked to the tavern Quarter, which was equally popular in all social layers. During the junta - time Buat were political- literary music venues where food, entertainment and political criticism mingled occasionally they were also therefore closed by the security police. After the end of the junta earlier this important Local lost their livelihoods, and the Plaka turned into the tourist area with souvenir shops and taverns serving Greek cuisine and fast food.

Since the 1990s, began a resurgence of the neighborhood, many old houses have been restored through traffic almost the whole district. Property prices now range approached the Athenians most expensive neighborhoods.

Culture

With its small-scale structure, the Plaka is the opposite of the modern Athens in the 19th and 20th centuries. Here is next to the Frissiras Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Folk Art. The painter died in 2004, George Savakis painted the old structures. His paintings still hang in many taverns of the district.

The Monument of Lysicrates and the Tower of the Winds are two landmarks of the Plaka.