Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
aero
e-tour Create your tour
    • Cities
    • City
    • Days of tour
    • Hours of tour
    • How much do you like

Varvakios Market

Varvakios Market is Athens Municipal Market and is a rectangular building with a central atrium on the ceiling.

  1. Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )


    1878 Making of the first architectural designs by the architect Ιoannis Koumelis and beginning of the construction works.

    1880 Significant changes to the architectural designs.

    1884 A fire in the then market, the adjacent Hadrian Library caused the acceleration of the works.

    1886 Construction completion.

    1979 The renovation of the building was effected at intervals from 1979 until 1996.

  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 Varvakios Market, or Athens Municipal Market, is a rectangular building with a central atrium on the ceiling. It is divided into a meat and a fish market. On its four corners, there are stone turrets, while the exterior walls are made with stone. The zinc roofs were constructed in such a way as to achieve better ventilation and use of light. It is an important historical monument for the life and culture of the city. In the surrounding area, there are food stores, which all together compose a picture of the daily culinary habits of Athenians.

What I can't see

One of few buildings in Athens, that have not changed use. Due to its uninterrupted operation, the building suffered damage over time, with the most significant being the breaking of its glass dome in the early 20th century. Its deterioration had created an urgent need to restore it (supervising architect: Merkia Anagnostou). During the military dictatorship (1967-1974), it was also threatened with demolition in order to build a multi-storey building in its place. Beyond being an area where one can learn about Greek cuisine, the Varvakios market is reminiscent of old Athens and adds a romantic tone to the city centre.

Info

  • Address: 42 Athinas St.

Bibliography

Archaeology of the city of Athens, (d.u.), Βαρβάκειος Αγορά, [Varvakios Market] ΕΙΕ.

http://www.eie.gr/archaeologia/gr/arxeio_more.aspx?id=62

Last visit 2/9/2012

Yohalas T., Kafetzaki Τ., (2013), Αθήνα, Ιχνηλατώντας την πόλη με οδηγό την ιστορία και τη λογοτεχνία [Athens, Tracing the city guided by history and literature], ESTIA Bookstore

ΤΕΕ(2000), Κεντρική, Δημοτική Αγορά Αθηνών, [ Central, Municipal Market of Athens], culture 2000,

http://www.culture2000.tee.gr/ATHENS/GREEK/main2.html

Last visit 2/9/2012