Monastiraki was the site of one of the largest monasteries in Athens. Most of this 'Great Monastery' was demolished during archaeological excavations in the nineteenth century. So little was left of the complex - only the church remains - that it was ironically named 'monastiráki' or 'little monastery', which eventually gave the neighbourhood its name.
At the south corner of the Monastiraki Square, bordering the Library of Hadrian stands a domed building with a triple-arched loggia. It was built in the eighteenth century, during the Ottoman occupation, by the local governor Tzistarakis as a mosque. In 1759, during the construction, Tzistarakis overstepped his authority by demolishing one of the remaining columns of the Temple of the Olympian Zeus for use as a building material. Athenians believed that the destruction of the column might bring an ancient curse upon them and Tzistarakis was blamed for the plague that broke out that same year. He was soon removed from power and eventually poisoned.
For many tourists Monastiraki Square is the starting point for a visit to the Flea Market, an open air market that is held once a week at the nearby Plateia Avissynias.
Here you can find anything from kitsch and souvenirs to chandeliers and beautifully crafted armoires. The whole area is unique blend of oriental flea markets (souk’s) and almost like Montmartre charm. There are so many restaurants where you can have an excellent lunch accompanied by live music, taste local sweets and finish with a cup of Greek coffee
Monastiraki - Athens, Greece
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Created by Viskostudo - viskostudio@gmail.com - December 2016
