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Gkazi- Keramikos

Gkazi and Keramikos are two of the greatest entertainment hubs in the city.

  1. Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )


    In the 19th century, the area was very sparsely populated. The high building density of the region started after the Second World War, while during the decades of ‘80s and ‘90s, the area was degradated because of the closure of the Gas Factory.

  2. Ottoman era (1453- 1821)


  3. Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)


  4. Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)


  5. Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)


  6. Classical era (478-323 BC)


  7. Archaic era (800-479 BC)


  8. Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)


  9. Prehistory (-1100 BC)


What I can see

The areas of Keramikos and Gkazi can satisfy a wide range of interests. They are home to archaeological sites like Dimosio Sima, Keramikos and Iera Odos, (i.e. Sacred Way), they combine folk and modern architecture and are full of cultural and LGBTQI spaces and various venues for entertainment and dining. On Pireos Street, near the Technopolis and the former trolleybus depot, one can see the most impressive graffiti. Keramikos (beyond Iera Odos) has relatively quiet alternative bars, cafes and ouzeri restaurants. On Iera Odos and the southern part of Gkazi (Orpheos to Petrou Ralli Streets), there are clubs and bars with live Greek music. Most LGBTQI venues are located between Persephonis and Artemissiou Streets, while some are scattered in the surrounding area. The most characteristic murals of the area are those of the world-famous street artist INO, but there is a wide variety from other artists as well.


What I can't see

During the 19th century, working class homes were not separated from the mansions built by elite residents who settled here because of early plans to build the palace on today’s Omonia Square or Thissio. The members of each social class did not interact with one another. A similar situation can be observed today between Athens-born locals and foreigners, although things seem to be changing for the better. The area of Gkazi especially, is home to many Muslim internal migrants who migrated mainly from Thrace to find work here when the gas factory was still in operation, as well as to descendants of the so-called Turkish Roma (Tourkoyiftoi) of the 19th century. The areas of Keramikos and Gkazi are among the fastest evolving areas in the Greek capital, with a character that has changed significantly over the decades. The area is frequented mostly by students and young people. Within the context of “urban gentrification”, an effort has been made to persuade Athenians to return to the so-called “solid” city centre, which risks the gradual displacement of lower income residents due to the inevitable rise in property prices. 

Bibliography

Agriantoni C. (d.u.), Η Αθήνα τον 19ο αιώνα. Συνοικία Μεταξουργείο, [Athens in the 19th century. Metaxoyrgio neighbourhood], in Archaeology of the city of Athens,

http://www.eie.gr/archaeologia/gr/chapter_more_10.aspx

Last visit 28/8/2011

Agriantoni H., (1995), Σηρική εταιρεία της Ελλάδος: πρόσαρμογή και αφομοίωση μιας μεγάλης βιομηχανικής επιχείρησης, [Silk company of Greece: adaptation and assimilation of a big indrustrial enterprise] in Agriantoni C.- Hatzioannou M.H.. (eds), (1995), το Μεταξουργείο της Αθήνας, [Metaxourgio of Athens], Centre of Hellenic Research, National Research Foundation, Athens

Agriantoni C., (1995), Συνοικία Μεταξουργείο, [Metaxourgio Neighbourhood], in Agriantoni C.- Hatzioannou M.H.. (eds), (1995), το Μεταξουργείο της Αθήνας, [Metaxourgio of Athens], Centre of Hellenic Research, National Research Foundation, Athens

Agriantoni C.- Hatzioannou M.H.. (eds), (1995), το Μεταξουργείο της Αθήνας, [Metaxourgio of Athens], Centre of Hellenic Research, National Research Foundation, Athens

Lefas P. (1985), Αθήνα, μια πρωτεύουσα της Ευρώπης, μια σύντομη εξιστόρηση της εξέλιξης της Αθήνας από την ανακήρυξή της σε πρωτεύουσα του Ελληνικού κράτους έως σήμερα, [ Athens, a european capital, a brief narration of Athens since its declaration as the capital of the greek state until today], Athens- Ioannina, Dodoni

Micheli L., (1990), Η Αθήνα των ανωνύμων, περιήγηση στα πλατώματα, τους μαχαλάδες και τις γειτονιές της παλιάς Αθήνας, [Athens of the anonymous, tours around tha plateaus, the mahalas and the neighbourhoods of old Athens], Dromena

Biris K. H. (1966), Αι Αθήναι από του 19ου εις τον 20ον αιώνα, [Athens from the 19th up to the 20th century], 5th edition 2005, Athens, Melissa

Papanikolaou- Christensen Α., (1995), το Μεταξουργείο της Αθήνας: από το εμπορικό κέντρο στο εργοστάσιο, [Metaxourgio of Athens: from the shopping mall to the factory], in Agriantoni C.- Hatzioannou M.H.. (eds), (1995), το Μεταξουργείο της Αθήνας, [Metaxourgio of Athens], Centre of Hellenic Research, National Research Foundation, Athens

Ropaitou- Tsapareli Z., (2004), Ρουφ- Βοτανικός, Γκαζοχώρι, [Rouf- Votanikos, Gazohori], Athens, Filippoti

Taxiarchi P., (d.u.), Το Μεταξουργείο, Ιστορική και Πολεοδομική εξέλιξη από την αρχαιότητα ως σήμερα [Metaxourgio, Historical and Urban evolution from the antiquity until today].

Travlos I., (1993), Η πολεοδομική εξέλιξις των Αθηνών, από των προϊστορικών χρόνων μέχρι των αρχών του 19ου αιώνος, [The urban evolution of Athens, from prehistoric era until the beginning of the 19th century], Athens, 2nd ed.

SavageM., Warde A., (2005), Αστική κοινωνιολογία, καπιταλισμός και νεωτερικότητα [Urban Sociology, Capitalism and Modernity], rev. Psimmenos, Athens: I. Papazisi