The cobblestone streets and hills give you a sense of inner elevation, with the beautiful neoclassical buildings to travel your mind to past, magical, times.
Plaka, the oldest district of Athens and perhaps Europe, lies in the shadow of the Holy Rock of the Acropolis. The grandeur of its history is deeply engraved in the glorious ancient remains, in the Byzantine temples and in the imposing restored neoclassical buildings.
Though its history exceeds 3,500 years, it remains one of the few quaint neighborhoods and perhaps the only one that manages to evoke the Athens of the last 100 years and more. From the moment you start wandering its narrow, cobbled streets, you'll feel like you've traveled back in time.
The "sacred" district of Athens has been sung about, loved and revered more than any other part of the Athenian land. Today, Plaka is one of the districts, perhaps the only one, that, although located in the heart of Athens, is not accessible by car. This fact probably played a crucial role in preserving the picturesqueness and atmosphere of the neighborhood in the area.
Although without cars, Plaka is full of life as it is filled with numerous tavernas, colorful shops and attractions during the day and quiet bars at night. Many small churches, as well as a mosque, a hammam and the first university in Greece and the Roman market, make up the city's cultural mosaic. In Plaka, even the air is different: brighter, cleaner and fragrant like a gift from the gods.
Every year millions of tourists from all over the world walk through the cobbled streets, whitewashed staircases and narrow alleys. Especially in spring, when the jasmine musk and the bougainvilleas take on the wonderful purple-fuchsia color, Plaka becomes the most popular walk in the city.
