MONASTIRAKI, Monastiraki
Language: English / USA
Hi, my name’s Jill, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the Wonders of the World: Monastiraki Square.
Monastiraki is a favorite shopping haunt with tourists.
The square takes its name from the old Church of the Pantanassa, founded about a thousand years ago and now a small monastery, monastiraki in Greek.
In addition to the church, Monastiraki Square has two other fine monuments. The Tzistarakis Mosque, one of the few examples of Islamic architecture in Athens and today home to a museum of Greek popular art, dates to 1759, and was built during the Turkish occupation.
To the right of the mosque, you can see a row of columns, all that remains of the spectacular Library of Hadrian, another magnificent example of the lavish buildings erected by this Roman emperor to honor the Greek culture he was so fond of.
What makes this square such a delight, however, is the atmosphere created by the street musicians, the mime artists, the impromptu performances of all kinds, as well as the numerous stalls, souvenir and craft shops and street vendors of all nationalities selling their wares on the pavement.
If you’re looking to buy some typical handicraft objects, or a nice souvenir of Athens to take home, or even if you just fancy a relaxing, entertaining stroll, this is the place for you. You’ll find all sorts of objects here, both new and second-hand, even mismatched shoes!
The flea market is especially popular. It’s held every day, but the big day is Sunday, when the square fills up with Athenians drawn here by the huge variety of goods on display.
The square offers plenty of old cafés, pleasant little bars and typical restaurants, making it the ideal place to sit back and watch the busy crowds of bargain hunters of all ages.
Let me leave you with an interesting fact: for the facade of the Mosque, legend has it that the 17th column of the Temple of Olympian Zeus was blown up, and that the explosion and collapse of the column was so loud that it kept the city’s inhabitants awake all night.
