Areos Street: Twenty Centuries in 200 Meters

Within the bustling flea market on Ifestou Road, guests can discover black-and-white images and classic postcards capturing Monastiraki Sq. within the early twentieth century. One such {photograph}, which captures Areos Road and a portion of the Roman Library of Hadrian, was taken from a window of the Ottoman mosque within the sq.. This iconic constructing, previously the Tzistarakis Mosque, a remnant of the Ottoman period, is my first cease.

Crossing the cobblestones of Monastiraki Sq., I step inside this historic construction which, after Greece’s independence, served as a barracks, a jail and a storage facility earlier than being restored in 1915 by archaeologist Anastasios Orlandos to accommodate the then newly established Museum of Trendy Greek Tradition. I discover the displays, pausing by the window overlooking Areos Road. Whereas the view has modified over time, the street itself stays, inviting guests to uncover the layers of Athens’ historical past.

Again exterior, I go vacationer outlets on the precise and the Roman Library of Hadrian on the left. This magnificent web site, established by Emperor Hadrian between 130 and 132 AD, was opened to the general public in 2004 after in depth excavations and restorations. Its grand scope makes it a favourite amongst guests. I proceed uphill to No. 10 Areos Road, the place 18 meticulously restored Nineteenth-century buildings spanning 4,000 sq. meters now make up but extra of the newly expanded Museum of Trendy Greek Tradition. This distinctive establishment is devoted to preserving and celebrating Greece’s tangible and intangible cultural treasures.

The neighborhood, bordered by Adrianou, Areos and Kladou Streets, is a tapestry of varied eras and types. Amongst its highlights are remnants of a Late Roman wall; the Byzantine Church of Aghios Thomas; and the gate and staircase of the Chomatianos-Logothetis mansion. As soon as the house of a British consul throughout Ottoman rule, the mansion is rumored to have been the location the place Elgin ready the Parthenon Sculptures for transport. The close by Church of Aghios Elissaios holds a particular place in Greek literary historical past; it was right here that Alexandros Papadiamantis, typically known as the “Saint of Greek Literature,” chanted throughout all-night vigils. Surrounding these landmarks are later buildings that includes parts of Bavarian-Ottoman design and conventional people structure, offering additional glimpses into Greece’s layered historical past.

The museum

The museum’s human-centered method invitations guests to step into the residing historical past of recent Greece, providing a window into the identities and every day lives of its individuals. I wander by the interconnected buildings, guided by my curiosity, however for many who favor a extra structured expertise, an in depth map guides guests by the museum’s fastidiously curated areas. Every show seems like a time capsule, showcasing a vibrant mixture of artifacts – journey mementos, cultural touchstones and heirlooms that appear to whisper tales of the lives that when surrounded them. Interactive digital installations and visible aids enrich the expertise, reworking every exhibit right into a residing narrative.

From full of life festivals and shadow puppet performances to the nice and cozy hum of conventional coffeehouses, the rhythm of communal life is captured right here within the museum. Handcrafted looms, intricate embroidery, jewellery and even classic cooking instruments carry the essence of Greek properties to life. Vogue equipment and conventional costumes from numerous eras spherical out this tapestry of cultural heritage. Quite than a static assortment, the museum feels alive, a spot the place the extraordinary has been reworked into the extraordinary and the place historical past feels private, tangible and deeply human.

This journey by time could be rounded off with a go to to the museum’s café, set in an interior courtyard surrounded by the buildings housing its collections. I take a second there to catch my breath earlier than stepping again into the current day.

Nonetheless in a temper for exploration, I zigzag my option to Dioskouron Road, subsequent to the archaeological web site of the Roman Agora. Constructed by the Romans within the 1st century BCE, this market was strategically situated between the Acropolis – Athens’ most important non secular and symbolic landmark – and the Historic Agora, the center of the town’s industrial and political life.

A couple of steps additional, on the intersection of Dioskouron and Polygnotou streets, a brand new museum, devoted to the life and work of the Greek Nobel laureate poet Odysseas Elytis, opened its doorways a number of months in the past. The Elytis House Museum permits guests to have interaction with the poet’s easy way of life and his notion of artwork. His literary works – each poetry and prose, his translations, his visible art work and his quite a few musical compositions supply wealthy materials for exploration. On the identical time, the poet’s private life is vividly offered by images, texts, and audiovisual materials. 

At first look, I’m struck by the intimate picture I get of Elytis’ workspace: a slender desk together with his typewriter and glasses beside it, a darkish picket bookshelf overflowing with books, and a small picket two-seater couch of distinctly Skyrian design, the final draped in a white crocheted throw. Subsequent to the sofa, a single armchair stands beside a small desk. The partitions above the couch are adorned with work gifted by artists similar to Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika, Yannis Tsarouchis and Nikos Nikolaou, lending heat to the area and evoking the ambiance of Elytis’ Skoufa Road house, the place he lived and labored for 3 many years till his loss of life.

Though the “Elytis Home” in Plaka is small, it exudes a quiet dignity, drawing guests into the essence of his poetry. On this humble setting, one can actually really feel the complete energy of his artwork and perceive its connection to his life.