About Syntagma Square

Start Here! The center of the center

Syntagma Sq should serve as your reference point in discovering and exploring the city of Athens past and present.

Its is the most important square in Greece and certainly in Athens.

Syntagma Sq (which translates to Constitution Sq in English) is also close (walking distance) to the major attraction like the Acropolis, National Gardens, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Choreographic monument of Lysicrates, the Plaka, and the ancient Roman and Greek Agoras.

Syntagma Square is the administrative heart of Greece and the symbolic center of Athens. The big building that you see taking up a corner of the National Gardens is the Parliament or Vouli Building. Just below the Vouli building and part of it is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Every Sunday at 11 am the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier changes and its a free show worth seeing. Arrive 20 minutes early to get a standing room only place from which to view the proceedings. Pet the inevitable pack of Athenian dogs that arrive right on time to see the show. If you cant make the Sunday show, lesser guard changing takes place regularly on the hour, 24/7/365.

Here, on September 3d, 1843, and at odds with the wishes of the current sovereigns, Otto and Amelia, the Constitution or Syntagma was proclaimed (bloodlessly) from the balcony of the Vouli Building by General Kallergis and his adherents.  

Up until that point the square was known as the Garden of the Muses. The beautiful period designed Gardens still remain, flourish and should be walked without fail.

Visitors have to come to Syntagma Sq at least once if they want to say that they have seen Athens. There are many conveniences to be found here such as banks, stores and restaurants.

The current Vouli, formerly the Palace du Roi or Royal Palace, is a large building built in the years 1834-38 and faced with Pendelic marble and limestone and was designed by Gartner of Munich.

Just behind the Vouli or Parliament Building (photo) are the barracks of the Presidential guard and you'll see an occasional commando, all done up in camouflage but casually smoking, peeping at you through the bushes and iron bars along Vasilissis Sofia's Avenue as you pass by. (Incidentally 50% of all Greeks, women included, smoke cigarettes.)

Syntagma Sq's main arteries are primarily named for function and after Bavarian royalty dating from the city planning stages during the 1830's by the Bavarians hired architects - many of which city plans and schemata, unfortunately did not come to fruition.

This particular plan right looks like its more for a walled castle see more Athens plans. I have to admit the topography is difficult centered as Athens is around the Acropolis or 'Holy Rock' (as some patriots still call it).

The Squares Metro Entrances & Main Arteries

There are 3 Syntagma Metro entrances and a Tram Terminus as well as several bus routes meeting here. Syntagma is an easy to get to spot. Click for official Transport route map of Athens? .pdf map of Athens bus, tram and everything routes?

Below left is just one of the 3 metro entrances to the Syntagma Sq. Metro Station. This particular one is at the bottom of the stone stairs. There is a handicapped elevator as well. Below center is the tram platform terminus which is on the high ground kitty corner to the Tomb. The tram, will take you to Glyfada or to Phaliron, Athens closest beaches. Across from the tram is another stairwell to take you down to the metro station. Its between the Tomb and the National Gardens. There is another metro stairwell further on towards the famous Grande Bretagne Hotel as well.

Major Streets of Syntagma Square

• Queen Amalia's Ave.  which fronts the Parliament building
  and where lies the tram line's platform.
• Queen Sophia Ave. (hugging the Parliament building on its left in the map)
which allows cars and buses to enter the square from the north and then to wriggle onto
• King George Street used by vehicles to turn left on to Phillhellinon St. and also address of three of Athens Best 5 star hotels The Grande Bretagne, King George II and Athens Plaza.
• Stadiou or Stadium Street also intersects the square and connects it with Athens second most important Square, Omonia, just a 10-15 minute walk away.
• Phillhellinon St (aka friends of Greece street) which is one way and heads towards the sea among other places.
• Othonos Street which is only a block long and a crumb thrown in memory to deposed King Otto who lasted 25 years and was overthrown in October 1862 whilst he and the Queen were visiting the Mani. They got the word and never returned. The "Greek" monarchy doesn't end there however.

And all these streets are so centrally located that they are hard to avoid, you will probably pass thru one of the squares main streets whether you know it or not on your arrival to Athens.

These major streets can be tricky to cross as a pedestrian too so be careful and cross with the little green men. Many times there will be a traffic policeman going counter to the lights so walk defensively.  In the photo left you will see a busy group crossing Phillhellinon St. One of the busiest of Athens' streets.

As mentioned, the Greek Government operates from the squares Parliament Building which was originally designed to be the Palace of Bavarian import, King Othon and constructed between 1836-42.

Fittingly enough, Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, Othon's father and a Philhelline himself was the real principle supporting his son Otto, and laying out the first stone.

He also funded the project until he ran out of money and left it uncompleted which it remains until this day. Most of it was funded from his own pocket and not the Bavarian Treasury.

I've been inside however and even uncompleted found it impressive!

If you enter the Syntagma Sq. metro station via the entrance at the bottom of the long stone stairs you will encounter the displays and maps (photo left) detailing the ancient use of the area.

The Syntagma area, even as late as 1840 was still rural. It was perfect anyway because in ancient times its idyllic setting was augmented by an underground aqueduct fed by Mt Hymettos its benefits to the area, which would dry out in summer, were considered so beautiful as to have inspired visions of nymphs and dryads.

Difficult as it is to imagine as you stand here today, back then, a temple and an alter or two were dotted along its banks which are now covered by bituminous concrete except for the small vestige still to be see at the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

In commemoration of this aqueduct and primary water source, further down 1/5 km, just past the Temple is a street called Kalirhoe which means good flow. The Illisos river flowed here but unfortunately would dry up during the summer months and needed a little help to keep flowing - thus the aqueduct. This street is named after the ancient spring that used to be here and was augmented by the aqueduct. It was of extreme importance to the ancient inhabitants of the area surrounding the Acropolis. Right: The women at the fountain by Domenicus Papety 1815-49. Also see Hadrian's Resevoir on Kolonaki Sq - Dexamini page.

Thucycydides (460-401 BC) II, 15; The Extended Acropolis relates that the Pelasgians, an ancient people later expelled by the Ionian's, confined their settlement to the Acropolis hill area and that this was their primary source of water.

Later Herodotus (484-425 BC) says that the residents of Mt. Hymettos used the spring and that later the martial bath and holy water was also drawn from here.

Finally Pausanias (2nd C AD) called it 'the only fountain in Athens' and reminds us that it originally was called 'nine pipes or spouts 'ennea-krounos' and entirely beholden to the 'benevolent tyrant' Peisistratos.

Circa 545 BC the Constitution Square area was part of am aqueduct fed park designed by the 'benevolent tyrant' Peisistratos and his sons. For a complete rundown on the archaeological history of Syntagma Sq read the Syntagma Sq metro excavation information.

Parts of the park still exists next door in what is known today as the National Gardens with remains of ancient clay irrigation ducts. These gardens in their present state were set up during King Otto's reign by his wife Queen Amalia for whom the Avenue is named.

There are additional ruins close by the Parliament building but closed to the public for security. The Gardens have a few interesting twists and turns to them historically and figuratively. Inside you'll be insulated from the incessant day time din of the madding crowd.

You can do the same thing to a lesser extent right here in Syntagma Sq. too in the very center of the square surrounding the fountain are many trees and benches which make a good easy to reach spot to meet friends. (photo above right).

Incidentally, the National Gardens entertain a hundred or so ducks in a pond and other smaller animals in a small zoo offering a delightful short cut to the 1896 Olympic Stadium where the re-birth of the games were held - another near by must see!.

Greece Travelers may take a luxury coach tour, rent a car or empower themselves with a private Oracle tour of their own design. Consider these other popular Greece travel destinations. If its on the Greek mainland Oracle can take you there in air conditioned & non-smoking security!

Athens, Cape Sounion, Ancient Corinth, Delphi & Ossios Lukas, Drama, Florina, Greneva, Chalkidiki, Imathia, Kastoria, Kavala, Kozani, Meteora, Mt. Athos, Mycenaea, Naufplion, Olympia, Pella and Vergina, Phillipi & Kavala, Dion & Mt Olympus, Sparta & Mystras, The Mani and Monemvasia, Thessaloniki,
READ TESTIMONIALS
E-mail for prices and availibility