Plaka, Historic neighborhood under Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Plaka is a central neighborhood of Athens with narrow, stone-paved streets and two-story neoclassical buildings dating from the 19th century. The entire district is car-free and characterized by small squares, staircases, and hidden passages that give it a maze-like quality.
The area shows signs of habitation since ancient times, but most buildings visible today were built in the 19th century when Athens was rebuilt under Western influence. In the 1970s it was protected from demolition and transformed from an entertainment district into a residential neighborhood with cultural focus.
Taverns, shops, and street musicians shape daily life in the narrow lanes, where locals and visitors gather at small squares and cafés. The museums here tell stories about Greek traditions, Jewish heritage, and folk crafts that remain important to the neighborhood's identity.
The neighborhood is easily reached via three metro stations - Acropolis, Monastiraki, and Syntagma - all within short walking distance. Wear comfortable walking shoes since the streets are steep and uneven with many staircases running through the hilly lanes.
The Anafiotika section is unexpected: white Cycladic-style houses with flat roofs were built by settlers from Anafi island and create a small island landscape in the middle of the city. These white houses feel like another world and offer a surprising contrast to the neoclassical buildings around them.
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