Kallidromiou Street

What I can see

Kallidromiou Street is approximately 750m long, has a wavy terrain with two steep slopes and is considered the most representative street of the Exarchia district. We come across old houses, interesting graffiti and slogans, good restaurants and taverns, quiet cafes, historical hangouts (e.g. Enikos, Erodios, Kaisa, Bourdon, Paraskinio, Ama Lachi etc.) which have always been visited by intellectuals, artists and youth and there is constant movement throughout the day, but at a gentler pace than the rest of the city. All this, together with the coexistence of newer apartment buildings, interwar and neoclassical buildings and old mansions, create a real Athenian neighbourhood with a diverse architectural style. The building that stands out is the Aeolos mansion, which is located on a rock and has unfortunately been decaying for years. The street’s disadvantages are the pavements’ bad condition and the excessive tagging.

What I can't see

Every Saturday, one of the most famous street markets of the city is held here. It is not famous because it is different from the markets of other areas, but it is one of the most photographed street markets, due to the street’s steep slope, which creates a rare image. It is also the “weekly meeting” of the Exarchia residents and many Kolonaki residents often come as well. The last scene of the movie “Stella” (1955) by Michalis Cacoyiannis, starring Melina Merkouri and Giorgos Foundas, was filmed at the crossroad of Kallidromiou, Ioustinianou, Ikonomou and Diligianni Streets. The correct name of the street would have been Kallidromou, from Mount Kallidromo in central Greece, but in the end, the wrong version of the name prevailed.

Bibliography