Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square (Greek Πλατεία Συντάγματος platia Syndagmatos, " Constitution Square ") is a square in the center of Athens.

History

The place was built in 1837 as a muse space and was the center of the new city center. 1849 proclaimed King Otto from a balcony of the Royal Palace his consent to constitutional monarchy. Thus, the Syntagma Square got its present name. During the 20th century it was dominated by coffee houses in the surrounding buildings, which featured on the square tables and chairs. 1927 was purchased and installed by the City of a sculpture by artist John Poole, but this was offset in 1938 for lack of space at the Victoria Square.

In the 1960s and 1970s, many airlines had their offices on the square, at that time led the periptera a wide selection of international newspapers. On 10 May 1974, Günter Wallraff chained as a delegate of the " Committee for Greece Solidarity " in place of a lamppost and distributed leaflets against the Greek junta. The subsequent experience in detention he described in Greece yesterday - a lesson for tomorrow.

During the subway construction in the 1990s, ancient buildings were discovered, the glazed part were visualized on a corner of the square. Another part is in the hub opened in 2003, " Syntagma " of the Athens Metro to see. Since 2004 there is a tram terminus Athens on the edge of the square. In the same year, the previously large neon signs were banned and removed from the buildings.

Location

On the square, the historic Hotel Grande Bretagne and the Parliament buildings are located to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The shopping street Odos Ermou ( " Hermes road " ) begins here. Just off the square borders the streets Odos Othonos ("George Street " ) from the south, west and Fillelinon of Vasileos Georgiou A ' of the north. Not far from the square there are the districts of Kolonaki, Plaka and Psirri. Southeast of the square is the National Garden.

Events

Throughout the year, events are often found on the square instead, such as the Athens Christmas market. Every Sunday at 11 clock march the Evzonen, the former royal guard, in a grand parade. The place Recently received by reporting on demonstrations and riots in connection with the Greek financial crisis celebrity.