Athens Walks

We had nine days in Athens, split up into three separate visits in September, October, and November. Here’s an assortment of photos from our Athens walks that I didn’t include in earlier posts.

Churches

Every time we walked anywhere in the city center, we stumbled across interesting churches (and a mosque). We were busy visiting ancient Greek temples, and there never seemed to be time to explore the inside of these other places of worship.

Church of Agia Kyriaki

Ottoman-era (early 1600s) Greek Orthodox church on busy Athina Street. St. Kyriaki turned down a marriage proposal and was beheaded, poor thing.

Church of Panagia Chrysospiliotissa (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)

Greek Orthodox Church completed in 1892 in an eclectic style combining neoclassical and Byzantine

Tzistarakis Mosque

Ottoman mosque (1759) in Monistiraki Square, now an art museum

Church of Panagia Kapnikarea

11th Byzantine church on Ermou Street, surrounded by shops

Church of Agioi Apostoloi (Holy Apostles)

10th or 11th century Byzantine church in the Ancient Agora of Athens

Church of Agios Spiridon (St. Spyridon)

Greek Orthodox Church

Landmarks

During our third visit, we walked in parts of central Athens that we hadn’t seen before. Some of the important buildings were quite beautiful, and probably under-appreciated by visitors because of the popularity of the Acropolis.

Monument of National Reconciliation

Vassilis Doropoulos (Greek), 1989 | Bronze

Vallianeio (Old National Library)

Academy of Athens

Presidential Mansion

At the Presidential Mansion, we had another look at the Changing of the Guard. The two Evzones on duty were not wearing the white uniforms that we had seen in the Sunday ceremony at the Parliament building, but they did do the same slow, exaggerated walk. I read that in addition to demonstrating their discipline and fitness, the stylized walk helps them restore proper blood flow to their legs after standing motionless for nearly an hour. Although we had seen it before, it was still fascinating to watch the two guards moving in sync and to hear the distinctive sound of the metal nails in their shoes striking the sidewalk. Each shoe has more than 60 nails and weighs seven pounds!

National Garden

The National Garden didn’t have any flowers or green lawns. But its shaded pathways were a peaceful respite from traffic noise. There was a turtle pond, a small zoo with a random assortment of farm animals, and the patterned mosaic floor of a Roman villa dating back to the 4th or 5th century CE.