Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages

Little Paris

Little Paris is unofficially called the neighbourhood of Vathis Square, with roads and architecture that once resembled Paris.

  1. Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )


  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 area of ​​Vathis Square was once the ‘face of Athens’, but today it is left to its fate. There are many neoclassical, eclectic, art nouveau and modern buildings of the interwar period, which are lost in the later apartment blocks. Pleasant surprises are scattered on Liosion, Marni, Karolou, Palaiologou and Sonierou Streets. The National Printing House, the Mikhail Vodas Mansion, the folk architecture of Akominatou Street and Sans Rival Hotel are worth noticing. Some small pedestrian streets make the neighbourhoods peaceful. Today, most of these important buildings are either ruined or not properly preserved.

What I can't see

In the 19th century, buildings were sparse and mostly neoclassical and eclectic, suggesting the presence of residents with higher incomes. In the 1950s, the building regulations were changed, the buildings became multi-storey, and the stoas were imposed, with the middle class prevailing in the area. Today, low-income residents and immigrants prevail, and their entrepreneurship is dominant in the region. The area is informally called “Little Paris” thanks to all these interesting buildings of the past and the radial layout with the wide sidewalks. In recent years, an arts festival called “Little Paris of Athens” has been held in an attempt to revitalize the neighbourhood and alter negative representations of it.

Bibliography

Archaeology of the city of Athens, (d.u.), Αρχείο Νεοτέρων Μνημείων, [Archive of modern monuments], NHRF

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

Last visit 29/10/2018

Vatopoulos N., (2018), Περπατώντας στην Αθήνα, [Walking in Athens], Metaichmio

Skiadas E., (2018), Οι συνοικίες των Αθηνών, [The districts of Athens] Athens: Menandros Publication