A Patriarchal Divine Liturgy is being celebrated at the Metropolitan Church of Agia Fotini in Nea Smyrni Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived shortly before 9:00 a.m. accompanied by Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna He was welcomed by Metropolitan Symeon of Nea Smyrni and a large crowd of faithful The Ecumenical Patriarch is visiting Nea Smyrni for the naming of a city square and the unveiling of a monument dedicated to Imbros and Tenedos The event is broadcast live by Orthodox TV’s Foreign Broadcast Unit 1 the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew unveiled a commemorative monument honoring the islands of Imbros and Tenedos and participated in the naming ceremony of Imbros and Tenedos Square in the municipality of Nea Smyrni he attended a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Fotini Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his joy and gratitude stating he felt “happy and excited” by the dedication of the square you have inscribed your names on the hearts of Imbrians and Tenedians everywhere The warmth and love of the Municipality warmed our hearts We feel as if we are returning to a hidden source of light the light that emanates from the true light.” Mayor George Koutelakis of Nea Smyrni welcomed the Ecumenical Patriarch with warm words describing it as a great honor for the municipality to host the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Fotini for the first time He deemed Patriarch Bartholomew as “a strong and influential guardian of the Church’s values” and highlighted his deep enduring love for the islands of Imbros and Tenedos “The Imbrians and Tenedians are our brothers and sisters who found a warm embrace in our municipality forming a unifying core alongside the Asia Minor refugees and Constantinopolitans of our city,” Mayor Koutelakis emphasized He added that the creation of the monument was the culmination of mutual love and respect serving as a symbolic recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s work featuring metal elements crafted by renowned sculptor Theodoros Papagiannis was constructed under the supervision of architect Despina Faridou The ceremony was attended by Metropolitan Symeon of Nea Smyrni Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos Archons of the Great Church of Christ and other dignitaries Source and photos: neasmyrni.gr / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas The Fire Service has launched an investigation into the causes of a fire that destroyed a restaurant in the Nea Smyrni district of Athens Firefighter sources told Kathimerini that although some eyewitnesses claim the fire resulted from arson they are keeping an open mind about what could have caused the blaze a restaurant cleaning worker said he saw 2-3 people approach the shop in the early hours of Friday morning smash a window and throw an explosive device inside A contingent of 20 firefighters and 9 tenders police forces and ambulances attended the blaze One person who was found in the stairwell of the first floor of the building was taken to Evangelismos Hospital with breathing problems An infant who was on the third floor of the building when the fire broke out was taken to the Children’s Hospital as a precaution Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox Greece: Short-term rental properties acquired through the Golden Visa program could be restricted in a bid to tackle the shortage of properties for long-term rental in Athens and elsewhere The Golden Visa program guarantees its holder no restrictions on the minimum length of stay in the country and free movement without a travel visa to all Schengen countries It has proved very popular with applications up from 1,997 in 2021 to 8,516 in 2023 The proposal envisages the “eviction” from the centre of the Greek capital of those who invest in real estate through the Golden Visa with the aim of short-term leasing The plan may become a provision of a bill that will soon be tabled in the Greek parliament It will also include overall changes in the limits of the Golden Visa program The changes promoted are aimed at dealing with housing supply issues in several areas of Greece The new bill will establish three Golden Visa acquisition limits depending on the location of the investment the limit increases from €500,000 to €800,000 for the areas The limit increases from €250,000 to €400,000 in the rest of Attica Foreign investors could acquire the golden visa for €250,000 if they invest in properties in the rest of Greece or on older properties that need major refurbishment Investors showing the greatest demand for a Golden Visa are the Chinese Six out of ten applications come from China the other countries with the most demand are Turkey Find your way with 262 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters The Whiskey collection is large - including several rare labels They run a busy schedule of publication-related talks and exhibitions in their project space every year This is more than an ordinary open market for me I love to visit the market every Saturday morning and buy flowers for my friends and me Dimitris (the owner) and Stella (the bartender) are great at mixing flavors and serving special tropical cocktails and spirits from all over the world as an all-night bakery that sells fresh koulouri with sesame bread rings with sesame A few minutes away from the Music Hall of Athens the small truck has always queued to serve the famished people who pass from Mavili Square and books with interesting visuals and content every season Famous for its vegan options and Ukrainian dishes like piroshki and borscht soup 67 is also a very relaxed and friendly spot for studying or working welcomes everyone with a smile and perfect suggestions always eager to express his encyclopedic knowledge of comic books "Lacandona" Athens is fair trade cafe/grocery store It's one of my favorite places for a coffee - don't miss their exciting mojito parties "By the Glass" in the center of Athens is in one of the most 'secret' urban arcades and offers you more than 200 different wines.. ✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters Europe Americas Asia Africa San Francisco About Spotted by Locals Become a Spotter Collaborations Terms of Service Privacy Policy Cookies statement Become a Spotter 💚 Privacy Policy Cookies statement great-value restaurants and lesser-known museums rewarded our tipsters who wandered out of touristy city centres from Dublin to Budapest Winning tip: Nowa Huta, KrakówA 20-minute tram ride from imperial Kraków glides you increasingly smoothly out of town to the former “workers’ paradise” of Nowa Huta. You swap gilded spires, cobbled backstreets and tourists for peaceful tree-lined avenues and a masterclass in socialist realism. The Nowa Huta museum in the monumental former theatre documents the area’s short action-packed history: “a job for everyone” in 1954 through the rise of Solidarity in the Lenin steelworks to the downfall of communism but thanks for the parks and affordable housing!Martin Charlesworth surrounded by one of the finest urban green spaces in Poland But what really makes the area a cut above the bars and architecture elsewhere in the city (and Świdnickie is a really honourable mention for its nightlife) are the cycle paths along the River Oder Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage Take a winding climb up to one of the peaks and be rewarded with the best vistas in Madrid and sunset over the city centre.Claire in postwar years a dumping ground for bombing debris offers plenty of green space alongside mini-golf which hosted football in the 1936 Olympic Games where Germany was defeated by Norway in a match witnessed by Nazi leaders who were not best-pleased.Paul menu chalked on a blackboard as you enter.Bill Cox Photograph: Getty ImagesA charming, working fishing port on a peninsula north-east of Dublin Howth is easily accessible from the city centre by taking the frequent Dart train from Connolly station (30 minute-ride) You can stroll along the harbour and the pretty streets lined with pubs and restaurants all serving the freshest of the local catch or rummage through the market for a range of artisanal goods and crafts If you really want to blow the cobwebs away spend an hour or two walking on Howth Head a green and wild outcrop with stunning views and salty air and watch the seabirds and sailing boats.Berni an appealing open- air pool complex with huge lawns among the oldest applied arts institutions in the world Midway between central Athens and the coast is the lush family-friendly neighbourhood of Nea Smyrni (tram from Syntagma to Aghia Fotinis Its many squares are host to an interesting history: the neighbourhood gained its name from the former Greek city of Smyrna from where refugees settled the area in the 1920s Car-free Nea Smyrni Square is at the neighbourhood’s heart and is spectacular With a plethora of outdoor entertainment during the summer it’s a real find not on the typical tourist route Venture beyond the square and you’ll find Nea Smyrni Alsos park cypress and stone pines and good for strolling Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays to see a range of fantastic trips the renowned interwar photographer Nelly’s who captured highlights of the Greek capital like few others lived two lives and the second began with a piece in Kathimerini nearly 50 years ago It was titled “Classifieds” and spoke about “looking for traces of the renowned photographer Nelly’s.” It was written by Rena Angouridou in “Notebook,” a daily column in Kathimerini which she wrote along with Maria Karavia and Eleni Bistika “She called the newspaper straight away and I happened to answer the phone myself,” Karavia recalls It was the winter of 1975 and Sougioultzoglou-Seraidari – who was born in Asia Minor studied in Germany and was a defining force on the Greek photography scene – was living at her ancestral home in the Athens suburb of Nea Smyrni with her husband Angelos Seraidis She was 76 years old at the time and had hung up her cameras a decade earlier when she and her family returned from New York to settle in Greece It is likely that few people thought of her at this point but one of them was Kathimerini’s director who asked her three columnists: “That photographer does anyone know what’s become of her?” None of them did “Eleni Vlachou always had her old Leica at the ready in the top drawer of her desk,” writes Maria Karavia in her introductory note for a new publication on Nelly’s by the Benaki Museum which goes with an ongoing retrospective exhibition on the great Greek photographer A lot of samples of Nelly’s brilliant career were destroyed during the German Occupation and the Civil War that followed Vlachou had shown a piece on the Parthenon at the International Exhibition in New York in 1939 and been distinguished for it Nelly’s had traveled to the United States with her husband for that very same exhibition which was optimistically titled “The World of Tomorrow,” after securing a 23-day residence permit The Greek pavilion had been designed by a student of famed architect Dimitris Pikionis and Nelly’s had teamed up with painter Gerasimos Steris to do a part of its decoration Several Greek artists showed work at the exhibition – among them Konstantinos Parthenis Giorgos Zongolopoulos and Voula Papaioannou – while Nelly’s participated with five pieces from the black-and-white collage “Parallels,” earning one of the top prizes for the composition about Santorini She used the prize money to purchase new photographic equipment and once the successful exhibition ended she organized with the help of the Greek community in New York a series of presentations and lectures about her work over the course of the ensuing months When she had left Athens for what was originally meant to be a short visit to the United States she left her brother in charge of her studio at downtown 18 Ermou Street Then World War II broke out and her trip was extended tried to put down roots and struggled to make a living with her husband as both faced financial difficulties But she also tried her hand at color photography and learned all sorts of new techniques and trends It ultimately took 27 years before she returned to Greece in 1966 by which time she was largely unknown to the Greek public She later admitted in her autobiography that she had also kept herself in the shadows – until she saw the note in Kathimerini and Maria Karavia rang her doorbell I was let in by her husband and it was like stepping into a different age,” Karavia recalls “The lighting was muted and she had traditional Skryian furniture of the kind I hadn’t seen for many years as well as some beautiful kilims and ceramics She was standing up at the back of the living room when I walked in.” the quiet woman slowly gave way to the powerful artist whose work had made international history to the pioneering photographer who changed the esthetics and techniques governing Greek photography in the 1920s and 30s without airs and without nostalgia for her previous life,” says Karavia There were no photographs on display at the Nea Smyrni apartment so Karavia asked whether she could be shown a few of her historic images like the portraits that captured the zeitgeist of Athens’ high society in the interwar years the neighborhood she had explored with city historian Dimitrios Kambouroglou and the Delphi Festival she had photographed at the express request of the influential writer Penelope Delta “My husband would have to climb up to the overhead storage unit,” Sougioultzoglou-Seraidari said adding that there wasn’t much to be found there anyway a lot of samples of Nelly’s brilliant career were destroyed during the German Occupation and the Civil War that followed More was lost from a crate of belongings that was being shipped to Greece from the United States and was opened during a stop in Canada a part of the archive from the Ermou Street studio was destroyed during a downpour in Attica The studio flooded and the negatives got wet and were ruined,” Nelly’s told Karavia “I still haven’t mustered up the courage to find out what happened to the rest,” she added she said she believed she had “thousands of negatives” in the apartment’s storage cupboard The article that emerged from that interview – and was one of several to follow after the pair became friends – was published in Kathimerini on November 30 and titled “If photographs could talk.” The next one “Scandal at the Parthenon 48 years ago,” was about the iconic series of nude dancers shot by Nelly’s on the Acropolis and shown in Athens between 1925 and 1930 It was that article which reignited interest in the photographer in other newspapers and magazines publications and exhibitions in Greece and abroad The Greek public in the post-dictatorship era was eager to rediscover her oeuvre while the state honored her for her contribution to the country’s cultural life Nelly’s was much talked about and much admired all the way until her death in 1998 while the fresh interest in her work was pivotal in sparking an interest in the history of Greek photography as a whole she donated her entire body of work to the Benaki Museum which is now hosting the retrospective “Nelly’s.” Comprehensive elegantly put together and well-researched which is curated by the head of the museum’s Photography Archive is the best way to reconnect the artist to the new generation “Nelly’s” is on show at the Benaki Museum’s Pireos Street Annex (138 Pireos & Andronikou The Holy Skulls were carried by Hieromonk Nikolaos and were welcomed at Agioi Anargyroi Church It should be noted that the Sacred Skulls of Agioi Anargyroi and shall remain in the Holy Church until Monday presided by Metropolitan Symeon of Nea Smyrni Metropolitan Symeon thanked the Primate of the Holy St Panteleimon Monastery for allowing the transfer of the Holy Skulls to St and the Hieromonks Nikolaos and Zosimas for carrying them This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page It looks like people just hate the soil,” says Mrs Ourania as she sweeps the yard at what is one of the last surviving detached houses in the Athens suburb of Nea Smyrni I ask how she feels about the transformation of her tiny street which has seen apartment blocks replace the older houses – most pre-war – with increasing rapidity in the past couple of years “We lost hundreds of houses with small gardens and yards; it was madness,” she says of the big construction boom of that era are right on the front line of what may be called the third wave of Athens’ suburban expansion The first big urbanization boom took place in the 1970s – when thousands of houses and their plots were signed over to developers in exchange for an apartment or a few apartments in the new block a system known as “antiparochi.” The proliferation of mixed-use apartment blocks from that boom also cemented the Attica basin’s urban identity The last wave before the present one was during the economic boom of 1995-2005 and it was even more prolific than the present one buoyant sentiment from the prospect of the 2004 Olympic Games and other factors drove the acceleration of construction activity That wave not only washed away hundreds more houses in the space of a few years it replaced them with even taller apartment blocks of seven or eight stories having a profound impact on the microclimate of the city’s mostly narrow streets by blocking the natural sunlight and air circulation as well as razing what greenery there was along sidewalks to make way for parking garages for the city’s burgeoning fleet of cars “Nea Smyrni’s greatest downfall was the destruction of its front gardens which had been mandatory when the neighborhood was first built as a ‘green suburb’ before World War II unhealthy patches of greenery that allowed the construction of parking garages,” says civil engineer and local resident Angelos Papaioannou an archaeologist and coordinator at Monumenta a nongovernmental organization dedicated to recording the country’s 19th and 20th century building stock and spearheading efforts to save it “I think we’re experiencing a repeat of the 1970s – and that is no exaggeration We can’t keep up at Monumenta with the emails and messages coming in every day about buildings being demolished in many parts of Athens but also in other cities like Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli Most concern buildings from the 1920s and 30s but there are also post-war ones from the 50s This wave of demolitions increased in 2022 and continues unabated in 2023,” she says What we’re actually seeing is the coiled-spring stemming from a decade of economic crisis and the significant contraction of construction activity Most of the licenses for buildings constructed from 2018 onward were issued during the difficult years of the recession as a result of a surge in sales of land and property – on very favorable terms for the buyers Most of the houses being demolished are not architecturally noteworthy which is why they have never been listed for preservation by the ministries of Environment or Culture While they may not have the aesthetic caliber of loftier townhouses built by renowned architects or under different economic circumstances they do nevertheless possess an aesthetic and environmental qualities that grow increasingly valuable with time and should not be dismissed As for the institutional framework governing them local architectural boards are responsible for giving the green light for the demolition of any building erected before 1955; only rarely do they reject an application for a non-listed building Buildings that are over 100 years old (unlisted ones) have an additional layer of protection as their demolition must pass the much stricter Ministry of Culture This means that many owners of inter-war era buildings are now scrambling to get a demolition license before the property turns 100 the main reason why buildings are coming down is the profit-damages ratio The cost of maintaining and upgrading an old house is unbearable for most owners modern apartment in its place is as powerful as it was a century ago “We know from civil engineers that antiparochi never really stopped except in the last economic crisis,” says Gratsia “We genuinely ask ourselves how we can help stem this phenomenon which will lead to enormous losses of our architectural legacy Now that the registry for 1830-1940 has been completed it emerges that Athens has 11,500 buildings from that period Many of them may not be listed but they are noteworthy and it is important that they are saved sent a letter to the prime minister asking to accelerate the implementation of the Diatiro program that has been announced providing funding for structural and restoration work Only political willpower and public pressure can stop this evil tide.” Athens’ first private settlement was established exactly 100 years ago It was called Psychiko and designed by architect and urban planner Alexandros Nikoloudis on the model of English 19th century garden cities It was one of a handful of zoning programs that was implemented to the letter in Greece and continues to stand out for its planning with streets radiating off a succession of roundabouts and elegant houses or small apartment complexes set back from the roads in gardens The municipal authority representing Filothei and Psychiko is determined to celebrate the centennial with a victory in saving the character of the most coveted suburb in the Greek capital Applications for construction licenses for the area started pouring into the zoning department in nearby Agia Paraskevi (which had jurisdiction at the time) in 2017 and the first sizable projects appeared shortly after alarming the local authority and residents After being elected mayor of Filothei-Psychiko in 2019 Dimitris Galanis realized that he was facing an unprecedented challenge ‘I think we’re experiencing a repeat of the 1970s – and that is no exaggeration’ “What had changed was that the new building regulation that had come out in 2012 started being implemented after a construction hiatus during the recession catching many municipal authorities off guard,” he says The new regulation may have been dressed up as promoting greater energy efficiency but a closer look revealed that it allowed a 5% bigger building ratio and an “energy-saving” structure on top of the roof which in “modern Greek” terms has basically meant an additional floor in places like Psychiko and Filothei is not a negligible change It certainly would not be accepted without challenge because it directly threatens their architectural character and their arrangement,” says Galanis Much to the joy of construction companies and contractors the new regulations tend to favor more ambitious projects putting dozens of detached houses in the suburbs at risk “We took immediate action and told the government that these building regulations could not be allowed to override the special presidential decrees protecting the status of Athens’ three garden towns: Psychiko We also established a zoning office in our own municipality so we can have more control over the files that pertain to our neighborhoods,” adds the mayor Even though the question of precedence has not been settled yet the municipal authority has managed to freeze several building permits and But why is an apartment in the suburbs still so coveted I ask my Kathimerini colleague and expert in all things Athens to the suburbs is the poor quality of most buildings in central Athens and the fact that schools are Those reasons alone give us a picture of this imbalance It is also clear that the ‘modern’ apartments that started appearing in the 1970s offered a sense of luxury and comfort that the older buildings could not in that the situation has not changed significantly Many of the new apartment blocks going up across the city are evidence of this new residential model which is based more on the notion of a compound (with services) than on the typical apartment building Harris Savvidis is an architect and a resident of the southern Athens suburb of Voula “We have been experiencing widespread reconstruction in the southern suburbs over the past few years which is due to the interest of foreign investors in the local property market as much as the interest of people who want to live in Greece for the benefits of Schengen as well as the freedom this provides to travel and work anywhere in Europe after securing a Golden Visa,” he says The key trait of this new wave of construction is the demolition of individual houses dating from 1930 to 1980 and their replacement with apartment blocks that meet the terms of the new regulation gives all sorts of incentives for constructing new buildings in the place of old ones and provides less plot coverage and a higher energy class meaning mandatory upgrades to the specification of heat insulations heating systems and other mechanical installations meaning that the new apartment blocks are three or even four meters or even floors higher than the older ones around them This has created a situation in the market which is no longer reversible.” you could still see unbuilt plots of land in Glyfada “This is one of the key differences with the previous construction waves; there are no more empty plots A similar image is transmitted from the northern suburb of Halandri by Panayotis Tournikiotis city planner and until recently a professor at the National Technical University of Athens and the head of its School of Architecture “I have noticed it these past couple of years We lost a lot of decent inter-war buildings in Halandri at the time,” he says noting that it is also unreasonable to expect all the houses to be saved “The economy and social necessity are the driving forces behind construction Expanding protection to include the more noteworthy among the remaining houses would be one option and reducing the benefits of replacing them would be the other,” he says “Cultivating an interest in these houses and showing their value in terms of quality of life memory etc could also contribute to their protection and improvement And this is something that social media could contribute to A policy of incentives to maintain and restore houses would also be important in selected neighborhoods where these houses were built under special circumstances or those blocks in Halandri designed with such social ecological or urban balance,” adds Tournikiotis as architect Harris Savvidis describes?” I ask the usually optimistic Nikos Vatopoulos but there are definitely a lot of tools we could use Imagine how different so many neighborhoods and suburbs would be if the state had set certain guidelines: giving opportunities for architecture of a higher quality setting a limit on four or five floors and definitely ensuring more greenery,” he says Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira served the Divine Liturgy and ordained to the Diaconate George Tsouros at the Church of the Holy Unmercenaries in the Metropolis of Nea Smyrni in Athens Protests sparked by video clips of police officer beating man with iron baton for breaking Covid restrictions put on the defensive by mounting allegations of police brutality has appealed for calm following clashes on the streets of Athens mass protests and growing anger over the country’s prolonged lockdown The prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for restraint after an initially peaceful demonstration against police aggression turned violent late on Tuesday Three policemen were injured in the street battles that ensued as law enforcers attempted to repel youths lobbing rocks and firebombs with teargas The protest had been prompted by outrage over video clips depicting a police officer brutally beating a man with an iron baton for reportedly breaking lockdown measures who are destined to create and not to destroy,” said Mitsotakis in an impromptu televised address after it emerged that one of the policemen had been seriously injured when he was dragged off a motorcycle and repeatedly kicked It should serve as a wake-up call that the life of a young policeman was endangered At this point everyone must display restraint and calm.” thousands of students took to the streets denouncing the centre-right government’s plans to install unarmed police units on university campuses “Rage is building up,” said Panagotis Katis a political science undergraduate at the University of the Peloponnese as he marched on the Athens parliament “It’s not just the campus police which goes against every notion of universities being places that ensure freedom of expression People are incensed that their basic rights are being attacked by police who should be protecting us and that’s why so many are out here today.” Tuesday’s clashes erupted after more than 5,000 people gathered in the southern suburb of Nea Smyrni an area better known for its aura of law-abiding respectability to protest against increasingly heavy-handed police tactics Some held banners emblazoned with the words “Cops out of our neighbourhoods” The march was organised after anger built over video clips showing a police officer beating a 29-year-old student in Nea Smyrni’s central square on Sunday The man had been sitting on a bench enjoying the fresh air apparently in the belief that he had breached stringent curbs restricting freedom of movement “He pushed me and then the other officers kicked me all over my body,” the student subsequently told the leftwing newspaper Efsyn explaining he had been trying to reason with the squad who had been levelling €300 fines on people deemed to be breaking the law the officer was relieved of his duties on Wednesday following an internal investigation conceded that the video footage shared on social media was “disturbing to everyone” The incident has highlighted the often violent tactics of a police force that in both manpower and material reinforcements has been greatly reinvigorated by the Mitsotakis administration The ruling New Democracy party assumed office in July 2019 promising to be tough on law and order after blaming its leftist predecessor But complaints of police brutality have soared particularly since the start of the pandemic according to the ombudsman tasked with looking into the latest incident Human rights groups and the Athens bar association have also criticised the excessive use of force both attributing police actions to a culture of endemic impunity that has allowed the infractions to continue Among the alleged abuses are reports of people being strip-searched in broad daylight Last year the government was criticised for legislation banning protests that it argued were dangerous to public safety Amnesty International’s Greek branch held it accountable for the rise in violent incidents Much of Greece has been in lockdown since November fuelling frustration and deepening fatigue in a nation that on Tuesday saw its worst ever surge in infection rates “The country has a government that has totally lost control of the pandemic and the only thing it knows how to do … is use a heavy hand,” said Syriza’s leader and former prime minister Pressure has grown in recent weeks as demonstrators have openly defied the ban on protests to hold marches in solidarity with Dimitris Koufondinas the chief hitman of the now defunct 17 November who has been on hunger strike for the past two months including a former British embassy military attache were among those who took to the streets of Athens on Wednesday including his son over there,” said one protester pointing to a young man wearing a red bandanna mask Capital’s southern suburb offers special charm and good food Nea Smyrni is an Athens district particularly adored by its locals located about 4km southwest of central Athens has also become an attraction for people based in other parts of the wider Athens area The main square has been a focal point of Nea Smyrni for decades making it one of Athens’ best-known spots The square has always stood as an attraction for locals but gained far wider appeal since it was pedestrianised in 2004 An underground parking lot in Nea Smyrni was launched in 2009 catching the tram – if convenient – into the area is advisable on weekends the safe and open space at the square is ideal for play People of ages are to be seen on the streets of Nea Smyrni from hipsters and many teenagers to elderly citizens who can usually offer some insight into the area’s past and present as is made evident by the regular exchange of greetings between people sitting for coffee and passersby stray cats and dogs appear to have been adopted The best way to enjoy all the local activity is by grabbing a take-away coffee from the local Everest coffee and snack store for a walk and look around the area donut or any of the shop’s other delicious selections and head to the Nea Smyrni park offering ample space for jogging or walking It also features one of the most impressive children’s playgrounds to be seen in Athens Plays and concerts are often staged at the park during the summer months If you’ve worked up an appetite after a good day out here offers a charming environment and very good food are the trademark offering of this well-known restaurant chain La Pasteria’s menu range includes classic recipes such as the spot’s special Carbonara as well as more specialised selections derived from the depths of Italian culinary tradition Whatever you try here is Italian food at its best the Ravioli alla Fiorentina (ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach milk cream sauce and truffle; the light Risotto Milanese; as well as the Italian Burger including smoked mozzarella and potato gnocchi are just some of the many other dishes we recommend at La Pasteria Its menu also includes a wide range of desserts made with dough left to ferment for 72 hours The spot also has a children’s menu offering a pasta dish and soft drink or juice for just 8 euros you may want to head to the local football stadium a Nea Smyrni landmark hosting the historic Panionios football club if you happen to be in the area on match day The match experience still makes for a great outing you will enjoy the vibrant atmosphere in the area surrounding the stadium on match day the Milon sports club facilities feature an indoor gym and outdoor swimming pool It is popular amongst younger people who may be seen coming and going in their sports gear any day of the week Nea Smyrni is one of the wider Athens area’s few suburbs with impressive and historic buildings an imposing 2,000 m2 property close to the square hosts three museums – the Art Museum; Asia Minor Art Museum; and the Asia Minor Campaign Museum was named after the former Greek city Smyrna on the Asian Minor coast Many refugees arrived and settled in this part of Athens following the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922 was built in the 1920s courtesy of a grant offered by Asia Minor Greek entrepreneur Haralambos Iosifoglou The Agia Fotini church is another city landmark is a faithful reconstruction of the bell tower at Smyrna’s Agia Fotini church survive in the Ano (Upper) Nea Smyrni area.  The Nea Smyrni-Faliro border area along Eleftheriou Velizelou St is an outlet store mecca Devoting a few morning or afternoon hours here is recommended You may need a little time to spot big bargains usually on offer Nea Smyrni is nowadays also a good place for drinks at bars the district’s many bar choices satisfying all preferences the best way to end the night in the area is with a sandwich at the Everest store on the square.  Segments of Athens’ tram Line 6 (Pikrodafni-Syntagma) will not operate for three hours on Saturday night to facilitate a running event in the suburb of Nea Smyrni the Athens Urban Rail Transport Company (STASY) announced on Friday trams on the Pikrodafni-Syntagma line will only run between Syntagma-Neos Kosmos and Pikrodafni-Panagitsa The following stops will be out of service during those hours as the 1st Nea Smyrni Night Run takes place: Baknana Metropolitan Symeon of Nea Smyrni presided over the Archieratical Divine Liturgy accompanied by Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna and Bishop Amvrosios of Evdokia at the historic Church of Saints Voukolos and Polycarpos the President of the Asia Minor Association of Aigaleo professors and students who participated in the international conference on Saint Polykarpos attended the Divine Liturgy Metropolitan Symeon Nea Smyrni proclaimed the Divine Word “The local Church and the city of Nea Smyrni represented by its humble bishop and mayor meet and mingle with the Church of the unforgettable and lamented Smyrna represented by its new bishop and its blessed flock,” he stressed Metropolitan Bartholomew warmly thanked Metropolitan Symeon who traveled from Athens to honor the patron saint of Smyrna He also pointed out that the concelebration of the Divine Liturgy in which Metropolitan Symeon of Nea Smyrni presided over the present and the future of the Church of Smyrna The president and the members of the Board of Directors of ESTIA attended the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Fotini in Nea Smyrni and then the President of ESTIA laid a wreath at the statue of Saint Chrysostomos of Smyrna Authorities in the southern Nea Smyrni district in Attica apprehended two 16-year-olds riding a stolen motorcycle on Wednesday Despite attempts to evade arrest by speeding and running red lights One minor was found with a small amount of cannabis The two 16-year-olds are in police custody facing charges of theft reckless driving and drug law violations and will appear before a prosecutor In an article published in the online edition of British newspaper The Guardian titled “10 of the best city neighbourhoods in Europe: readers’ tips” readers wrote about their favourite neighbourhoods in Europe From the Guardian: Midway between central Athens and the coast is the lush family-friendly neighbourhood of Nea Smyrni (tram from Syntagma to Aghia Fotinis Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Badseed Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes Chania: The next actions of the “Tourism Partnership” Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Three Greek beaches among the world’s 50 best – Triumph for the Ionian The “Typhoon” that saves the Greek coasts from garbage EOT at the “Arabian Travel Market” | Interest from Gulf countries, India, and Australia CERT to manage Vasilitsa Ski Resort – Investment of over 20 million euros Is American tourism in Europe “slowing down”? What do professionals see for 2025 and 2026 This is Athens & Partners | The 7 partners renew their collaboration - the joint actions FedHATTA: Dynamic presence of Greek travel agencies at the international Dubai exhibition ATM 2025 Ryanair announces new offer for Prime members on June flights Thomas Ellerbeck | “Rhodes can become a model of sustainable tourism internationally” The Times | The perfect time to experience the authentic side of Santorini Chania: The Alternative Tourism Festival returns to the Venetian Port Angela Gerekou: "Tourism is a force for good and Greece can play a leading role" New flights to Greece in 2025 from 4 airlines Crete welcomes Reveil 12 – Festival of Sounds and Ecology Greek tourism - 3rd quarter | 97% of arrivals in Athens and Thessaloniki Modernization aid for the marinas of Symi and Messolonghi HOTREC Assembly: Focus on challenges and reforms in European tourism AEGEAN 2025: Passenger growth and fleet expansion with an eye on the international market FedHATTA Cooperation with Shaanxi Province, China Greek academic in finalists of European Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 Thessaloniki museums join forces to promote the city GNTO introduces “Sustainable Greece” to British Agents Strategic meeting for cruises in Santorini A message of friendship and cooperation at the friendly Greek-Turkish football match in Chios Municipality of Xiromero | Diving tourism: Request for sinking of a decommissioned warship The first La Quinta by Wyndham in Batumi, Georgia Double racing event in Megalopolis on May 11: Festival Enduro and Theater Run 2025 Explora Journeys: Start of the summer season with the luxurious EXPLORA I from Piraeus Strong start in 2025 for Aegean and SKY Express Xanthi Tastes: A Gastronomy Festival with a Cultural Flavor Rhodes: These are the five-star hotels with the highest revenue – Which ones “fill up” first Greek Tourism/Webhotelier: The Winners and Losers in Online Bookings for 2025 GNTO | Promotion of Santorini in target markets Unprecedented blackout in Spain, Portugal, France Greece can play a leading role in the global sports tourism scene Rhodes | Event for the protection of biodiversity Attica, the …Caribbean of the Germans Agios Nikolaos | Cruise season kicks off with arrival of luxury Silver Spirit Operational Plan: “Cretan Food Culture 2026-2030” Destination Management and Promotion Organization in Thessaloniki Kefalonia: The authentic character of the island through the “Travel Reimagined” project Hoteliers vs. Booking.com: The European uprising has begun Tourism | Greece 4th choice for Europeans' holidays in 2025 - what the ETC survey shows New high-standard heated swimming pool in Chania, aimed at sports tourism Greeks Traveled (A Lot!) in 2024 – Where They Went, How Much They Spent Greek-American Dean Spanos brings the NFL to Greece – Opportunities for promotion in the USA Lesvos: The season begins with birdwatching tourists MSC Cruises: Strengthens its presence in Greece with 6 cruise ships New Luxury Arrival in Crete | JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa Opens on June 2 "Peloponnese Trails" inaugurated today: New network of trails for sustainable tourism Knossos: 125 years since the excavations of Arthur Evans The Spanish TV show “Viajeros Cuatro” in Corfu Wyndham - Soliteight | 40 Super 8 hotels in Spain and Portugal Airbnb: Final price now displayed in accommodation searches Investments in the beaches of the Attica Riviera The Municipality of Chania at the “From Crete to Side” Festival in Turkey Region of Central Macedonia: Tourism Promotion Activities in Poland and the Middle East Region of Crete | Connecting Minoan Palatial Centers with Archaeological Sites Biodiversity protection plan is in full swing in Elafonisi Record participation in the ATHENA International Olive Oil Competition | Chania 8 - 10 May Communities at the heart of tourism development Booking.com | No to limiting tourists, yes to infrastructure investments Thessaloniki’s dynamic presence at the World Tourism Summit in Hong Kong easyJet | Summer 2026 sales open Cruise | Turkey doubles its share, new opportunities for Greek ports Aid for the upgrade of the tourist shelter of Astakos and the Marina of Alimos Preparing the settlement of Kionia for the tourist season: An example to follow The action of the region of Crete "Let's go for... Greens" concludes this weekend “Art is our Language”: Campaign for the 70th Anniversary of the Athens Epidaurus Festival Tourism | Nostalgia drives Brits’ travel choices ΕΟΤ China | B2B meetings with Chengdu's t.os - Flights to Athens in June State-of-the-art conference center at Theartemis Palace Hotel in Rethymno Zagori: Collaboration with Impact Hub Athens for sustainable tourism and innovation Cooperation Memorandum between Development Athens and Piraeus University on Tourism Kos: New advertising campaigns with Jet2 and National Geographic Traveller UK Five cruise ships in Souda by Saturday Imbros Trail Run & Hike 2025: A sporting tribute to the History of Sfakia Cultural Days and Sea Routes in Piraeus Religious Tourism | The University of Palermo comes to Panagia Nafpaktiotissa Audio Walk in the Sitia Geopark: A Different Exploration Experience in Crete AEGEAN “takes off” Larnaca with a new direct flight to Rome Juneyao Airlines: More direct flights from Shanghai to Athens in 2025 Alltours: Familiarization trip to Greece for 250 travel agents Nations Cup Beach Volleyball is coming to TUI Magic Life Candia Maris on May 16-18 Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Traditional Easter in Naxos: Unique Customs and Local Cuisine Annual revenue of over 43,000 euros for Airbnb in Mykonos and Santorini Destination Management and Promotion Organization established in Heraklion  Lyft steps up European presence with FreeNow acquisition Jet2: Four new Greek destinations from Luton in summer 2026 Athens is the new hotspot in Europe for hotel investments - the 8th most attractive city in 2025 Significant increase of over 18% in direct bookings at Greek hotels for Easter What the Israeli Ambassador discussed at the Chania Chamber ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development PM at 1st Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Monday Greece's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO organizing concert on January 16 Athens to host the European Film Awards in 2027 German tourism: Advance bookings are the new "last-minute" What to expect at this year’s ITB Berlin Exhibition from March 4-6 North Macedonia: Increase in foreign tourists in 2024 The 20 "loudest" luxury hotel arrivals in Greece in 2025 Athens Municipality Festival 2025 | The city's biggest celebration, with more than 200 events Tri-city winter luncheon unites upstate New York Philoptochos chapters ELSTAT: Hospitality enterprises' turnover grows 28.6% in Greece during Q1 Alonissos tops the list of Greek destinations without mass tourism Direct connection of Chania airport to Israel to be strengthened easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes Greek tourism sets new records in 2024: 36 million visitors and €22 billion revenue Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Chania: The next actions of the “Tourism Partnership” Increase in visitor numbers and revenues to museums and archaeological sites in 2024 Passenger traffic in Q1 | +9.1% at CAA airports, +6.5% in all Greek Tourism 2024: Record Performance at a Glance Ryanair: New Brussels – Volos connection in summer 2025 Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Global air passenger traffic hits record high in 2024 with 5.85 billion airline seats Greeks Traveled (A Lot!) in 2024 – Where They Went, How Much They Spent Just over two weeks since Greece passed a bill recognising same-sex marriage LGBTQ+ rights activists Stavros Gavriliadis and Dimitris Elefsiniotis have become the first same-sex couple to legally marry which took place in the City Hall of Nea Smyrni was solemnised by Konstantinos Anagnostopoulos Anagnostopoulos said that the new law covered a legal gap and he believed that other same-sex couples would follow suit Whilst Greece has legally recognised same-sex unions since 2015,  the new legislation which the Greek parliament passed on February 15 gives full marital recognition to same-sex couples making it the first Christian Orthodox country to grant such rights to the LGBTQ+ community Speaking to Bloomberg after the new law was passed who had canvassed for the legislative change “We will finally be a family with two surnames.” He added the law “honors freedom our dignity and ensures the rights of our children.” they could not be recognized as both parents of their children the new marriage law permits same-sex couples to be recognised as the parents of their spouse’s children rights activists within the country say the new law does not go far enough as it excludes provision for same-sex couples to have children through surrogacy According to the Greek Reporter the EU is trying to “harmonize legislation” across its member states to tackle inconsistency in surrogacy laws this is proving challenging due to resistance from conservative countries such as Italy and Hungary Europe is currently seeing a rise in far-right politics the new legislation passed in Greece last month means that now 16 of the 27 EU member states recognise same-sex marriage vital resource for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988 GCN is a trading name of National LGBT Federation CLG, a registered charity - 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You can also log in from here if you already have an account Gay couple makes history with Greece's first same-sex marriage Emerging Stronger – Digital for Good Award / Not for Profit Digital Product of the Year – Consumer Media © GCN (Gay Community News) Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of GCN This project is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Pobal through the Community Services Programme GCN Magazine is proudly printed with the support of Dublin Front Runners Site design and development: Dovetail Consultancy. Hosted in Ireland by Maxer. The average asking price of houses in the districts of Athens with the best evaluation ranges from 2,759 to 5,645 euros per square meter based on a series of criteria that affect accommodation According to a nationwide survey by Spitogatos Insights access to shopping and entertainment options as well as pedestrian and pet friendliness the best areas of Athens to live in are the following: Kato Glyfada the areas of Thessaloniki with the highest evaluations based on all the research criteria are Nea Paralia the historical center of Thessaloniki and Botsari the 10 areas with the highest user ratings are the center of Komotini The sense of security is an important criterion for choosing an area to buy or rent a home the areas of Athens that offer the greatest sense of safety are the center of Pangrati in Thessaloniki the areas with the highest ratings in relation to the feeling of safety are the following: Martiou users looking for housing report that they rate the following areas as safe: The center of Katerini the center of Alexandroupoli and Corfu Town Consultation on the new zoning plan for tourism is expected to begin soon and to serve as the main instrument for imposing restrictions on the number of short-term rental assets the exact content of restrictions is unclear but the inclusion of a number of areas of Attica in the relevant provisions seems to be a harbinger of future developments one of the main elements of the new zoning plan provides for restrictions on the number of accommodations it will be foreseen to set “limitations on the number of sharing tourism spaces and simple rented rooms as a percentage of the beds of the main tourist accommodation” in the “control areas” and in the “developed areas.” The latter concern Attica and Thessaloniki given the shortage of houses to buy or rent and the housing crisis this has created Standing out in Attica among the “developed areas” are downtown Athens However the bulk belongs to the center of Athens with 16,900 accommodations while the other 4,882 assets are located in all other regions in some of them it is not clear where the interventions will be focused How the selection has been made has raised questions both due to the low penetration of short-term rentals and the fact they are not areas with a deficit housing and high demand from long-term tenants the “control areas” include districts that are in very strong demand the phenomenon of shortage in housing for students or public officials is observed every year so the search for solutions is now imperative These are the municipal units Paralia in Pieria 18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Gambleaware.org Often, people exaggerate the ferocity of football rivalries, but the derby matches between the Athens football teams have been passionate affairs for decades. Since 1927, 80 of the 87 Greek First Division titles have come from Athens. ‘The Big Three’ consists of AEK Athens who have an intense rivalry on and off the pitch that has spanned decades Athens is a historic and passionate football city with a variety of teams to watch This article will serve as your guide to Athens football teams in the Greek capital Panionios were founded in 1890 in Smyrna within the Ottoman Empire making them the oldest club out of all the Athens football teams They were eventually moved to the Athenian suburb of New Smyrna in the early 1920s Their most notable achievements include winning two Greek Cups in 1979 and 1998 as well as being victorious in the 1971 Balkans Cup Panionios also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999 They recently gained promotion to the second tier of Greek football — Hellas Football (@HellasFooty) April 7, 2024 having opened in 1939 and has an old-fashioned feel even with the recent renovations to the main stand and hospitality facilities It is an all-seated stadium that can hold nearly 12,000 spectators and has no stand at the northern end of the ground groundhoppers should try and take in a game at the Nea Smyrni Stadium for the upcoming season Atromitos have become a regular in the Greek Super League since their first promotion to the top flight in 2006 In line with the club’s recent success there have been improvements to the stadium when new seats were installed when they qualified for European football along with electronically controlled entrance gates The stadium is located in the suburb of Athens and is just over 5 kilometers north-west of the historic Athens city centre Although there is a running track around the pitch the ground maintains an intense feel for Atromitos home matches meaning Peristeri Stadium is definitely worth a visit for groundhoppers looking to watch one of Athens football teams the Agia Sophia Stadium (also known as the OPAP Arena due to sponsorship reasons) has been the home of AEK Athens the stadium has also been the home venue for Greek national team matches the OPAP Arena will host the UEFA Europa Conference League final AEK Athens are one of the ‘Big Three’ in Greece and have 13 Super League titles which is symbolic of the club’s strong connections with Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire Having won the Greek Super League in the 2022/23 season AEK are looking to secure back-to-back titles for the first time since 1994 If you’re looking for passionate fans state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality football then the OPAP Arena should be on your list of stadiums to visit while in Athens Location: 160 Alexandras Avenue, Ambelokipi, Athens, Greece Named after the former president of the Panathenaic Athletic Club (A.O.) Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium is the home of Panathinaikos the ground is located just 2 kilometres north-east of the Athens city centre Due to uncertainty around the building of a new stadium Panathinaikos played various seasons at the Athens Olympic Stadium from 2005 to 2020 it was confirmed in 2022 that a new Votanikos Stadium will hopefully be completed in 2026 This will be the home stadium for Panathinakos FC and the other teams within the sports club the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium will be demolished If you want to sample the famous Panathinaikos ultras in Gate 13 and experience one of Europe’s most intimidating atmospheres then you should visit the ground as soon as possible before it is potentially demolished in the next few years Located in the Athens suburb of Piraeus is Olympiacos’ home ground it is the largest football-specific venue in Greece and the second-largest stadium in the country behind the Olympic Stadium The stadium was renovated to become an all-seater venue in time for the 2004 Summer Olympics the stadium now has over 40 VIP lounges and suites and a museum showcasing the sporting achievements of teams within the Olympiacos multi-sport club As well as hosting matches in the 2004 Olympics Karaiskakis Stadium was the venue for the 1971 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final and the 2023 UEFA Super Cup Olympiacos are the most successful club in Greece winning 47 league titles and 28 Greek Cups Their most recent league title came in 2022 English fans will recognise the owner and president of the Greek giants who is also the owner of Nottingham Forest The stadium is well-known for its hostile atmosphere which is intimidating for opposition players Fans can also find a monument outside the stadium which commemorates the deaths of 21 Olympiacos fans who tragically died in “Gate 7” following a match against AEK Athens There are also 21 seats painted in black among the red seats inside the ground to pay tribute to the fans who lost their lives FootballGroundGuide » Latest Football Stadium and Fan News » Athens football teams: A guide to groundhopping in the Greek city for homebuyers interested in living in the city’s seaside south is a large coastal area offering special life quality in each of its districts which has increased local demand for property Regional development in recent years has greatly contributed to this overall enhancement initiatives including the emergence of top-class restaurants and serviced beaches as well as improved public transport linking Athens to the city’s south primarily as a result of the introduction of tram lines Its ancient past co-exists with picturesque districts that maintain the charm of bygone days as well as brand new hotels and cosmopolitan spots for coffee Europe’s greatest urban regeneration project the seaside Elliniko district has emerged as one of the most popular residential areas of the capital’s southern suburbs Its many parks and numerous children’s playgrounds combined with the district’s seaside location make the suburb an ideal choice for families and young couples The suburb’s direct link with central Athens Nea Smyrni has established itself as a high-standard suburb offering plenty of life for decades Just minutes away from the centre of Athens Nea Smyrni offers many options for outings The district has an abundance of parks and sports facilities restaurants that have consistently managed to also draw visitors from other parts of town DoValue is offering, through the real estate platform www.altamiraproperties.gr All three properties are investment opportunities for homebuyers wanting to live in Athens’ south The Nea Smyrni property, measuring 93.62 m2 is an apartment on the 2nd floor of a six-storey apartment block The apartment also comes with 1 parking space as well as a 7.8-m2 storage space at the basement It is located just 1 km from Nea Smyrni’s main square and the Megalos Alexandros tram stop The Piraeus property, in Piraeus’ Evaggelistria district, offers 88 m2 of floor space and is on the 3rd floor of a five-storey apartment block It also offers a continual balcony linking the living room with the kitchen and one of the bedrooms while a separate balcony exclusively serves the apartment’s second bedroom This apartment is located just 1.5 km from Piraeus port and 700 metres from the Piraeus train station This Elliniko suburb apartment, measuring 82.19 m2, is on the ground level of a three-storey apartment block that was built in 1990 1 comfortable living room with an adjoining kitchen while its short distance from the local metro station The Greek cuisine at its best with delicious homemade food meat “cooked-to-order” and fresh fish and seafood: After countless tastings we created a list with all the taverns in the southern suburbs of Athens that have preserved their original character and are truly worth going out of the usual tourist ways to discover with its covered courtyard and rustic interior They specialize in juicy grilled meat cooked-to-order which tend to steal the show as they are presented forming a mountain Paired excellently with saganaki (fried cheese) but make sure to reserve some space in your stomach for the final treat loukoumades (fried dough) with honey and cinnamon Babis has been a destination for foodies for many decades; the tavern is famous for its juicy burgers its regular customers show a particular preference to its well-cooked fish it has fast service and a modest environment It opened in the early 1990s in a restored mansion built in 1927 It has an inner courtyard filled with flowers but in the summer most people prefer the outdoor courtyard the perfectly cooked pork tenderloin and the mini cheese pies they will treat you to loukoumades and semolina halva A beautiful neighborhood tavern in Palaio Faliro veal liver and juicy burgers with freshly fried potatoes on the side The impeccable and polite service is another plus One of the best taverns in Athens to eat meat It is a regular destination for juicy kontosouvli (spit roasted meat) We recommended making a reservation if you want to go on the weekend or on Friday night Do not forget to try the pastirma mini pies Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Μπαρμπαμητσος-Λαδοκολλα (@barbamitsos_ladokolla) An old-school neighborhood tavern that has maintained its regular customers for over thirty years Relatively small and decorated with photographs and murals reminiscent of the era of ‘rebetiko’ this tavern almost always has a full house There are three options to choose from: burger The only exception to this logic of simplicity is that the food is served with french fries and that you can accompany it with spicy cheese dip Barba Mitsos-Ladokolla: 11 Ioustinianou St. Lightly roasted on the outside and juicy on the inside because she wanted to take care of a beloved customer They have remained the tavern’s specialty ever since do not hesitate to order the ribs and steak Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Ο ΡΟΥΜΕΛΙΩΤΗΣ (@oroumeliotis) Roumeliotis is famous for its gigantic rib steak juicy kontosouvli and traditional kokoretsi (usually on Friday nights and weekends) as well as its fries with fried eggs and red spicy homemade cheese dip you will always be treated to orange cake and ice cream but still reminiscent of a traditional tavern Drami serves dishes inspired by the cuisine of different Greek regions Try sharing the appetizers and make sure to order the homemade meatballs or the aromatic zucchini balls grilled mushrooms and the chicken stir-fry and it grew in size as it quickly gained loyal customers It has managed to preserve its original identity over time it is a classic destination for kontosouvli The lamb on the spit is also worth ordering one of the most famous Athens districts for meat lovers at the time and since then it has remained open all year round The meat has Greek origin and they use fresh charcoal every day for grilling They are well-known for their traditional kokoretsi named after the owner’s brother who was an Evzonas or Tsolias (military rank in the Greek army) It has built a good reputation and loyal clientele thanks to its steaks (especially the “stable” steak) sausages and its well-done lamb on the spit The service is impeccable even during rush hour Ursula Andress and Brigitte Bardot have all dined here in the past Time stopped at this tavern at some unspecified moment thirty years ago The tavern opened in 1983 and was named after the region where shepherds used to rest with their flocks before going to the mountains The honeyed lamb in the hull accompanied by potatoes with lemon the spicy tzatziki and the well-balanced kokoretsi are some of the menu items that stand out The first thing to make impression after you take a seat at the tavern’s blue tables is that they serve fresh scallops it is an Italian trattoria disguised as a Greek fish tavern that This fish tavern has hosted great Greek musicians and artists who fell in love with its simplicity and delicious dishes Fresh fish is carefully cooked on the grill or in the pan while the Platamonas shrimps are to die for It is a must to order the caramelized octopus with black-eyed beans and cherry tomatoes the homemade taramosalata (fish roe dip) and the delicious fish soup with a tradition in serving good fish since 1950 and it insists on a small but delicious menu After trying the fresh fish from the Cyclades and the fried shrimp from Platamonas they will treat you to homemade halva and traditional Greek spoon sweet which stands out for its fresh fish and delicious seafood It is a six-minute drive from the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio on your way back to Athens after visiting the Temple make a stop in Legraina and you will not regret it A post shared by Ιωλκός – Iolkos (@iolkos.seafood) In this elegant fish tavern that opened in 2013 in a “hidden” neighborhood of Glyfada you will find seafood and fish from Ikaria and Lemnos It combines the culture of the Greek “tsipouradiko” with the quality of a gourmet restaurant fresh sea urchin dishes as well as scallops which are paired incredibly with their homemade dips while enjoying Greek ouzo and tsipouro found here in abundance Another great choice on the way back from the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio to Athens Located in the same spot since 1947 on the seaside the environment is that of a traditional fish tavern with really good fish and a wonderful view out to sea It is also known for its remarkable shrimp pasta Ta Kalamia: 39th km Athinon – Souniou Avenue Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Νίνα (@sokoinsta) Four minutes away from Stamatis and eight in total from the archeological site of Sounio, in “Theodoros & Eleni” you will find the most delicious mussels of Attica. They will be served to you steamed, bathed in a velvety feta and oregano sauce or with garlic and wine, or even plain if you prefer. Just one tip: Be ready to get your hands dirty! Enjoy them with crispy french fries, ouzo and other seafood delicacies that will catch your eye on the menu. Theodoros & Eleni, Legrainon Avenue, Lavreotiki, tel. 2292051936 A traditional cookhouse, Ramona has been open for decades and it is loved by its many loyal customers. Their specialty is stews, especially beef stew with pasta or french fries, cabbage rolls and snail stew. It has a cozy, cramped interior, but what catches the eye are the large wine barrels “dressed” in vine leaves, as well as the black and white photos of the city on the walls. Ramona: 11-13 Minoos St., Kallithea, tel. 210 9515952. Palia Fava: 38 Achaion St., Palaio Faliro, tel. 210 9311994 Here you will find a wide variety of casserole dishes, such as cabbage rolls, Imam Bayildi, oven-roasted lamb and moussaka, while the tavern is also known for its veal steak and grilled chicken burger. There is no lack of fresh fish, depending of course on what they can find, and there is a spit for kontosouvli and kokoretsi in the weekends. At the end of your meal, they will treat you to loukoumades and homemade ravani (sweet semolina cake). Vasilis: 3 Synt. Davaki, Alimos, tel. 210 9839250 a lovely residential neighborhood between Syggrou and Palaio Faliro Loved among locals who head here for a refreshing break in the shade or for a morning or evening jog is known for its monastery and the forest in which it lies It is also home to a small outdoor gym park near the stadium The surrounding setting is also enchanting which makes working out at this fitness station a pleasant experience Conveniently located next to the Zappeion and the National Garden, the Fokianos Sports Center is in central Athens It offers a variety of sports and athletics activities throughout the year and hosts several sports academies thanks to its extensive facilities which include a climbing wall and a calisthenics park Take advantage of the monkey bar and horizontal ladder pull-up and chin-up bars as well as the parallel bars Located right behind the Panathenaic Stadium (also known as the marble stadium) is a fitness park The setup includes pull-up and parallel bars as well as rings work out with a few laps around the stadium on the upper track Doing yoga outdoors | Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash Conveniently located between the Katehaki and Ethniki Amynas Metro Stations the Calisthenics Park is considered one of the best outdoor Crossfit gyms in Athens Work your shoulders at the pull-up and chin-up bars your abs at the abs bench and strengthen your core on the monkey bars or at the ring station Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Outdoor Fitness Station in Palaio Faliro Down south in Palaio Faliro fitness aficionados can find an outdoor fitness station within Flisvos Park The park is popular with joggers and runners and thanks to the installation of a small open-air exercise area next to the extensive playground it is now also a great place to squeeze in a workout session in the outdoors Polyglot (with a Master Degree in Translation) professional shower singer and food enthusiast Ethel enjoys spending quality time with friends and family usually with a certain amount of eating and drinking involved uploading photos on her Instagram feed and daydreaming with a good book in her hands Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd