Neighbourhoods of Athens - Fashionable Kolonaki & breathtaking Lykavittos Hill

Kolonaki

It is Athen’s most fashionable neighbourhood and home to much of the country’s aristocracy. Shopping in Kolonaki can be an experience if money is not an issue. The streets are lined with posh designer outlets (of both national and international fame), gourmet delights, and the regular upscale cafes and bars. It is within easy walking distance from the Syntagma Square. From the National Gardens in Syntagma Square, cross Vassilias Sophias street, continue up the hill from Irodou Atikou past the Benaki Museum, to reach Kolonaki Square.

In Kolonaki you will find the Lykavittos Hill from where a funicular takes you up to some spectacular, unparalleled views of the city. For the energetic, walking can be an option; others may find the ride up in the funicular easier, there is also a third option of taking the taxi up. There is a restaurant with an open terrace that offers an excellent view of Athens. On the back side of the mountain is an outdoor amphitheatre. The back page of the Athens News can update you with who's playing. It's reported to be one of the finest places to see a concert and stalwarts from Leonard Cohen to Peter Gabriel seems to have performed here. There is a also a small, simple & whitewashed chapel that also can be explored.


A visit to this part of the city is worth it for the views alone, especially to catch the last rays of the setting sun. Located in the centre of the city the Lykavittos Hill rises to a height of 910 feet. From the summit you will be rewarded with a captivating view that stretches to the ships in Piraeus, the Aegean Sea, and on a clear day the islands beyond, all the way to the mountains of the Peloponnese.

For more information click on: http://www.athensguide.com/kolonaki.htm

Museums & Galleries (in Kolonaki): There are a few galleries and several museums here out of which the following are noteworthy

The Benaki Museum - The country’s oldest privately owned museum showcasing everything Greek, from ancient Paleolithic and Neolithic relics to Roman& Byzantine and Ottoman artefacts. It also showcases Islamic & Folk Art. For more information click: http://www.benaki.gr/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benaki_Museum;

Museum of Cycladic Art – The museum houses approximately 3 000 objects of Cycladic, Ancient Greek and Cypriot art. It is dedicated to the study and promotion of ancient cultures of the Aegean and Cyprus, with special emphasis on Cycladic Art of the 3rd millennium BC. For more information click: http://www.cycladic.gr/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goulandris_Museum_of_Cycladic_Art

The Byzantine Museum - The 25,000 collections trace the course of Greek art from the 4th to the 19th century. They comprise collections of Byzantine and post-Byzantine ikons, Sculptures, Manuscripts, Wall paintings, Mosaics, Small objects (cloth, coins, pottery, metal objects, silver), Wood carvings, Patterns (anthibola), Bronze Engravings, Lithographs, Old Prints (incunabula). It is one of the most notable musuems in the world for Byzantine Art. For more information click: http://www.byzantinemuseum.gr/

The History Museum of Greek Costume - It houses over 25,000 items featuring displays of Greek regional costumes, ornaments, copies of Minoan, Classical and Byzantine costumes, as well as china dolls dressed in Greek costume. For more information click: http://www.athensinfoguide.com/greekcostume.htm

Accommodation: Kolonaki offers excellent options for luxury hotels often accompanied by views of the Acropolis or Lykavittos Hill. For a more affordable lodging option, renting a studio or apartment in the neighbourhood can be worthwhile, as these are fairly priced and are comfortable enough.