Syntagma Square
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Syntagma Square (Πλατεία Συντάγματος; Constitution Square), is located in central Athens, Greece. The Square was named after the Constitution which King Otto was forced to grant the people after a military uprising began on September 3, 1843.
The main square of Athens, located in front of the Greek Parliament
The square is bordered by Vassileos Georgiou A' Street to the north, Othonos Street to the south, Filellinon Street to the west and Amalias Avenue to the east. The eastern side of the square is higher than the western and is dominated by a set of marble steps that lead to Amalias Avenue. Under these steps lies the Syntagma metro station. The stairs come down between a pair of outdoor cafes, and are a popular gathering place in the city center. The square has two grassy areas to the north and south, planted with shade trees. In the center of the square there is a large water fountain which hosts the occasional Syntagma pigeons along with the occasional heat-tormented Athenian (the latter usually accounted during hot August afternoons).
Syntagma Square is also the frequent site of political demonstrations. The Greek Parliament is just across Amalias Avenue to the East, and is surrounded by the extensive National Gardens, which are open to the public. Every hour, the Changing of the Guard ceremony, performed by Greek army troops is conducted in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
on the area between the Square and Parliament. On Sundays and official holidays the guards wear the traditional Evzones uniform. On these days, the ceremonial changing of the guard takes place with an army band and the majority of the 120 Evzones present at 11am.
Syntagma Square is a hub for many forms of public transportation in Athens; the metro and tram both stop here, and buses or trolley-buses are available to any point in the city. Travel between Syntagma Square and the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport is available via special airport bus and metro lines. Free wireless internet access at high speeds (4 Mbit/s) is offered by the Municipality of Athens at the Square.
The Square is also located near many of Athens' oldest and most famous neighborhoods and tourist attractions. The neighborhoods of Plaka (Πλάκα), Monastiraki (Μοναστηράκι), Psirri (Ψυρρή) and Kolonaki (Κολωνάκι) are all within walking distance, and most of the famous sites of ancient Athens are nearby, including the Acropolis (Ακρόπολις), the Theater of Dionysus, the Areopagus, the Ancient Agora of Athens (Αρχαία Αγορά των Αθηνών) with Hadrian's Library, the Tower of the Winds in the Roman Agora, the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, the Arch of Hadrian (Αψίς του Ανδριανού), the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Ναός του Ολυμπίου Διός), the Pnyx (Πνύκα), the Philopappos Monument (Μνημείο του Φιλοπάππου) on the Hill of the Nymphs, the Kerameikos Cemetery (Νεκροταφείο Κεραμικού), the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Μνημείο του Αγνώστου Στρατιώτη) and Lycabettus Hill. Historic churches also dot the area, some dating from the Middle Ages.
