Athens Greece – Then and Now
Athens and the Acropolis, Greece. Photo; National Geographic
Everybody just loves poring over old photographs, well, I know I do and
even more so when I actually know the places depicted in the pictures.
After spending time this afternoon, looking at beautiful old pictures of Athens, I decided to share them with you.
It was difficult choosing from so many, I hope you like what I finally came up with.
They are all: “Before and after”
Scroll away to your heart’s content and enjoy!
Acropolis, Athens, Greece. Then and now
Athens has become so built up, I don’t think you would find sheep grazing there now.
This is Greece though, you never know!
Monasterka, Athens, Greece. Then and Now
Monastiraki looks much larger now but still has a lot of open space.
Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, Syntagma Square, Athens
Digging underneath the parliament building in Syntagma square during the construction of «The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier”
Plaka District. Athens, Greece. Then and now
Anyone who has toured around Athens, will recognise the second picture,
would they have known that the first is Plaka?
Plaka District. Athens, Greece. Then and now
Zonars, founded in 1939 by the Zonar family, one of the most sophisticated coffee houses in Athens.
Kiosk, the ‘peroptero’. Athens, Greece. Then and now
The ubiquitous kiosk, a little more variety today, sadly, they do seem to be disappearing,
“sell everything” shops are popping up all over.
Amalias Street, Athens. Greece. Then and now
Amelias street in the centre of Athens, much more traffic today but not many horses and carts!
Emporikon Hotel Athens. Greece. Then and now
The Emporikon Hotel, Aiolou street.
“Urban decay”
What a shame that it has been left to rot.
First Basilopoulos Supermarket. Athens, Greece. Then and now
AB Basilopoulos, the first supermarket in Greece, taking over from the local «Bakaliko” (grocers shop).
Elliniko, Athens International Airport.
Athens International Airport, the first picture is 1957.
When I first arrived in 1977 it was much the same!
The Ellinikon airport, was replaced by Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos,
at Spata, Athens, in readiness for the 2004 Olympic Games, held that year, in Athens.
Panapistimio Street, Athens. Greece. Then and now
Panapistimio Street, a very busy street, then with pedestrians now with buses and taxis.
Ploutarchou Street, Kolonaki, Athens. Greece. Then and now
Ploutarchou Street, Kolonaki, the exclusive area of Athens.
The British Embassy is situated on this street.
The Grand Bretagne Hotel, Syntagma Square, Athens. Greece. Then and now
The Grand Bretagne Hotel, Syntagma Square.
Not much change here, still the “Grand Old Dame” of Athens.
Psiri, Athens. Greece. Then and now
The trendy Psiri area of Athens.
Very popular with young people now for its lively night life.
Thission, Athens. Greece. Then and now
The area of Thission, just below the Acropolis, again, very built up now.
Theatre of Dionyssus
1903 Aerial view of the ” Theatre of Dionyssus “
Areopagitou street.
Under the Acropolis.
Syntagma Square (Constitution) Athens. Greece. Then and now
Syngrou Athens. Greece. Then and now
Syngrou Avenue, a very busy road today, I bet all drivers wish that it was more like the before picture!
Polytechnion, Athens. Greece. Then and now
Athens Polytechnic, the trees have grown!
Lekavittos Street, Kolonaki, Athens. Greece. Then and now
Above, Lekavittos Street, Kolonaki
Hadrians Arch, Athens. Greece. Then and now
The Arch of Hadrian, in the very center of Athens.
Ermou Street. Athens. Greece. Then and now
Ermou Street, the busiest shopping street in Athens.
Corner of Ermou & Kapnikareas, Athens. Greece. Then and now
Above, Corner of Ermou & Kapnikareas, Athens
Caryatids house, Keramikos, Athens
A house in Keramikos decorated with Caryatids.
The first picture is by Henri Cartier Bresson, a great photographer.
Drachma and Euros
Ah, the Drachma, I think most Greeks wish that we had it back!
I hope you all enjoyed this trip back in time, the years may take their toll but Athens will always be Athens.
“Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts and eloquence.”
So said, John Milton (1608 – 1674) , English poet and intellectual.
