The Avissinias market
Copper, vinyl and oddities — the patient hunter's trove.
C messier — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Martin Cígler — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Martin Cígler — CC BY-SA 3.0 · George E. Koronaios — CC BY-SA 4.0
Monastiraki is people's Athens itself: the square where everything meets — the Acropolis hung above the roofs, the Ottoman Tzistarakis Mosque (1759) as façade, the Pantanassa church whose "little monastery" named the place, the metro station with its open excavation, and the bazaar running from it like arteries. The Avissinias flea market is its gathering heart: copper, vinyl, furniture and curiosities — Sunday morning its true festival when sellers carpet the pavements. Pandrossou street for gifts, Adrianou for Agora-view cafés. Its café rooftops are, in practice, the free nightly Acropolis balconies (for a coffee's price) — and the quarter at evening is young Athens' standing party. Here gifts are bought, coffee drunk, the living city touched — the necessary balance to marble days.
Copper, vinyl and oddities — the patient hunter's trove.
The lit rock above your evening coffee.
A metro over the exposed Eridanos river.
Monastiraki Square, 10555 Athens
The Ancient Agora & Temple of HephaestusThe Agora is where democracy invented its daily life: Athens' public square wher2 minutes walk4.8
Tzistarakis MosqueIt stands directly on **Monastiraki Square**, and is among the clearest survival3 minutes walk4.5
Hadrian's LibraryIn the middle of **Monastiraki**, steps from the metro station and the flea mark3 minutes walk4.5
The Gate of Athena ArchegetisA marble gate of four Doric columns at the western entrance to the Roman Agora i3 minutes walk4.8
The Roman Agora & Tower of the WindsThe Roman Agora is the market the Caesars built Athens: Socrates' agora grown ol4 minutes walk4.6Two moods: Plaka the tidy romance of steps and bougainvillea — Monastiraki the living chaos of market, youth and roofs. Quiet dinner in Plaka, late night and night shots here — and they touch: a full evening walks both.