Syntagma Square
The Syntagma Square ( Greek Πλατεία Συντάγματος Platia Syndagmatos , "Constitution Square") is a square in the center of Athens .
history
In 1837 the square was laid out as the Musesplatz and was the center of the new city center . As a result of the revolution of September 3, 1843 , King Otto proclaimed his consent to the constitutional monarchy from a balcony of the royal palace. This is how Syntagma Square got its current name. During the 20th century, it was dominated by coffee houses in the surrounding buildings, which placed tables and chairs in the square. In 1927 the city bought a sculpture by the artist Johannes Pfuhl and installed it, but in 1938 it was moved to Viktoria-Platz due to lack of space.
In the 1960s and 1970s, numerous airlines had their offices on the square, at which time the Periptera also carried a large selection of international newspapers. On May 10, 1974, Günter Wallraff, as a delegate of the “Greece Solidarity Committee”, chained himself to a lamppost on the square and distributed leaflets against the Greek junta . He described the subsequent experience in detention in Greece yesterday - a lesson for tomorrow .
During the underground construction in the 1990s, foundations of buildings from antiquity were discovered, although this is not uncommon in Athens, the planners decided to integrate them into the construction of the station, part of which is visible behind glazing the corner of the square, another part of the 2003 opened “Syntagma” junction of the Athens Metro . Since 2004 there is a terminus of the Athens tram on the southern edge of the square. In the same year the previously large neon signs were banned and removed from the buildings.
location
The historic Hotel Grande Bretagne and the parliament building with the tomb of the unknown soldier are located on the square . The Odos Ermou ("Hermesstrasse") shopping street begins here. The streets Odos Othonos ("Ottostraße") border the square from the south, Fillelinon from the west and Vasileos Georgiou A 'from the north. Not far from the square are the districts of Kolonaki , Plaka and Psirri . To the southeast of the square is the National Garden .
Events
Events take place in the square throughout the year, such as the Athens Christmas Market. Every Sunday at 11 a.m., the Evzones , the former royal guards, march in a large parade. From the spring of 2011, the square became famous for reporting on demonstrations and riots in connection with the Greek financial crisis .
Illustrations
Staircases and exits to the street and the subway
Changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier
Demonstration with the Parliament building in the background
Typical street sales at a demonstration
Christmas Market
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Web links
Coordinates: 37 ° 58 '32.3 " N , 23 ° 44' 7.7" E