Last month I embarked on a different walk around Athens, following Atenistas’ Open Walk. The walk’s purpose is “[…] to help Athenians get to know hidden and unknown parts of the city and its people. The sixth consecutive OWA comprises of locations in the center that we walk by every day but may never have been made aware of the treasures that are hidden within them, in their basements and on their rooftops. The purpose of the OWA is to showcase these points and inform the citizens of Athens of the invisible treasures of the city.”
The Open Walk map contained 17 places of interest and I chose to visit 6 of them that were located near Klathmonos and Omonia Squares. I visited buildings that were created in the 20th century during the interbellum period and the 50s and 60s, which were modern Athens’ golden eras. Today those buildings are half abandoned, but I was kind of curious to explore nooks and crannies of Athens’ that I ignored.
My first stop was Anatoli Arcade (Stoa Anatoli), which rooftop provides absolute urban isolation! Then I popped in an Art Deco building, better known for its unique curved glass atrium, in Praxitelous street and headed to “Parnassos Literary Society” in Karytsi square and checked out it’s lobby which was full of pictures of past kings and queens of Greece.
Walking towards Omonia square I popped in a former eclectic hotel of 1924 which currently serves as offices in Kotzia Square and then walked up 8 stories to admire a different view of Omonia square and all the way to Piraeus! My last stop was an office building exemplifying the 1960’s urbanization in Panepistimiou street, where coincidentally my optician is located!!
Exhausted (it was warm that day and those 8 floors killed me) and hungry I headed home! I still have the map and intend to check out the rest of the spots (those who are open to the public) at some point!
Related: Exploring Pagrati, Exploring the hidden courtyards of Athens
I'm Anna and this is my lifestyle and travel blog! 
love Art Deco houses!:) #monday escapes
they’re really pretty aren’t they?!
Nice post. We never seem to have enough time in Athens when we are there. I might have a go at some tof these next time 🙂 #MondayEscapes
Glad you like my post! Athens has a lot to explore besides the antiquities!
Athens is such a lovely and unique city!!
It is indeed!
I will like to do something like this in Los Angeles. There are so many neighborhoods I do not know well. Great to know there is something like this in Athens.
Los Angeles is so vast, so I really get you! Athens still has places I haven’t (fully) explored!
Όπως πάντα υπέροχες φωτογραφίες! Έχεις ταλέντο! 🙂
Ohhh it’s a shame we couldn’t meet in Athens though!! It would have been awesome to walk around Athens with you. Athens seems to have lots of hidden gems!! Love your pics, as always 😀
Happy to have you on #MondayEscapes!
An interesting perspective of how to explore Athens! Thank you for sharing. I’ve been to Athens twice, but have only seen the Parthenon, the Port of Athens, the Parliament Buildings, and explored the nearby islands. Normally I would have said that Athens is only worthy of a day at best, but alternative travel ideas, such as this one, is making me re-think my view points of this ancient city.
Well most people spend the most 2 days in Athens, visiting all the archaeological sites. That being said, there is much more to see in Athens: lesser known museums, neoclassical architecture and such and then the lifestyle (bars, cafes, restaurants etc)