Spring Walk in Anafiotika

It's March and Spring has arrived in Athens. What better way to spend the day than walk through the streets of old Athens, and more specifically through the streets of Anafiotika. 

Anafiotika is a tiny picturesque neighbourhood, forming part of the greater neighbourhood of Plaka, lying on the northeast side of the Acropolis. 

In 1840 construction workers came to Athens from the island of Anafi in order to help build King Othon's palace (today it is the Greek Parliament building). The construction workers built the first houses in the the neighbourhood according to typical Cycladic architecture, and even today as you walk through the neighbourhood you feel that you are on a Greek island. The houses are typically white with different shades of blue and grey decorating the windows and doors, and bougainvillea flowers are lined around the entrances.

In 1950, archaeological researchers partially destroyed the neighbourhood and in 1970 the Greek state started buying the houses. Today about 45 houses remain unaltered through time, on the unnamed streets. Walking through the neighbourhood you can still see many elements from the past such as ceramic tiles on the steps forming part of the artwork. 

The easiest way to access this unique small neighbourhood situated on the North of the Acropolis, is by the steps right next to "Ai-Giorgis of the Rock". When you start climbing them you will think that they lead to a dead end - keep going up and you will be rewarded with the best view of Athens! 

Photos follow below!

View of Athens and Lycabettus Hill from the top of Anafiotika

Anafiotika #5 - one of my favourite houses in the neighbourhood

The colourful entrance to Anafiotika #4

Walking through the houses

Detail of Marble Drawing

Afternoon siesta by the doorstep

Home entrances...

...and more home entrances

Home garden

And yet another entrance with tiles and plants

Grey vs Terra cotta shades

International Museum Day - May 18th

Since 1977 every year on May 18th International Museum Day is organised worldwide. 

Participating museums usually have free admission on this day, are open until late in the evening and have various tours and activities organized in an effort to raise awareness on the importance of  museums in the development of society.

If you happen to be (or live) in Athens and haven't already visited the Acropolis Museum (www.theacropolismuseum.gr) I highly recommend you take the opportunity to do so.

It will be open from 8 am until 12 midnight with free admission for all visitors and at 9 pm there will be a performance by the Orchestra of the Center of Arts and Culture of Dion in the Museum's courtyard by the entrance.

For more information on the day's events you may visit the museum's website:
http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/content/international-museum-day-acropolis-museum-celebrates

Furthermore you can visit the Museum of Cycladic Art (www.cycladic.gr) which is participating for its 6th consecutive year in International Museum Day and will be open from 10 am until 12 midnight with free admission.

You can find a complete program of the museum's tours and events below:
http://www.cycladic.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=RESOURCE&cresrc=3271&cnode=22&clang=0

Enjoy!!

A walk to the Tatoi Royal Palace - Estate

Last Sunday, while having our morning coffee and reading newspapers one of my friends suggested we walk around the Tatoi Royal Estate - and what a walk it was!  Set in an area of about 11,000 acres, it is the perfect place for biking, jogging, or to simply walk around and enjoy the scenery.  The estate is open to the public from sunrise until sunset and there are two main entrances - either from Varimbobi (by Leonidas tavern) - this is the long route or from Lefka (this entrance is much closer to the main buildings).

The Greek Royal Family obtained the estate during the 1870's with many great historical personalities such as the czar of Russia Nicholas II and Jackie Kennedy having visited during its glorious days. The Tatoi Estate now belongs to the Greek government.

If you want to read further about the history of Tatoi Estate or simply to obtain more information as well as maps of the area you can visit the Tatoi Friends Associaton website at www.tatoi.org.  

Below you will find some pictures from my visit:  

 

Tatoi Estate Map

Pathway to the main buildings

Guard's booth by the entrance

The Palace

Statue of a Kozak hunter in front of the Palace by Yevgeny Lanceray

 

Hidden paths

November foliage

Walking towards the exit