Blind Man with white cane - Origins of Modern Athens
Blind Man with white cane - Origins of Modern Athens

Origins of Modern Athens

Photo: Thomas Gravanis

Origins of Modern Athens

 

Photo: Thomas Gravanis

Table of Contents

National Archaeological Museum

Itinerary Overview

The historic centre of Athens isn’t just about ruins. It also contains the beating heart of modern Greece – and this itinerary traces its most central artery, Panepistimiou Street. On Panepistimiou, we’ll find the grand ambitions of Athens’ ‘modern’ urban planners captured in three fine monuments known as the Neoclassical Trilogy. Starting out from the “Panepistimio” metro station, we will admire the most imposing of the trio, the central building of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, then turn our attention to the Academia and old National Library.

We’ll continue along the street towards eclectic Omonia to encounter the emblematic Rex Theatre, which hosts brilliant works by our National Theatre. Close to this area, we will pass the highly symbolic “Polytechnio” (National Technical University of Athens) to visit the Archaeological Museum which houses the ancient history of Greece.

Our journey ends at the urban landmark of Omonia Square and its cooling fountain. Here, we begin to travel back to an older Athens. This nostalgic square is a locus of the most important streets of the capital. Our last stop is the “Omonia” metro station. 

General Accessibility

    • The itinerary is mostly flat with a total distance of 2,1 km.
  •  
    • It traverses one of the biggest highways in Athens, constructed with wide pavements.
  •  
    • The second part of the itinerary features tactile paving with colour contrast on a wide pavement.
  •  
    • In the area of the National Archaeological Museum, the tactile paving no longer uses colour contrast and is made of the same material and colour as the rest of the floor.
  •  
    • The area is very well illuminated at night.
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    • At each point of interest, accessibility is indicated according to the information available on each corresponding website.
  •  
    • The itinerary commences from “Panepistimio” metro station (line 2-red, “Anthoupoli – Elliniko”) and ends at“Omonia” metro station, which also belongs to line 1 (green line, “Piraeus – Kifissia”).
  •  
    • All of the above stations provide adapted WCs -open upon request- and elevators with voice output.
  •  
    • The “Omonia” metro station provides access to its interior via tactile paving.
Athens Academy
Exarchia
Omonoia Square

Route Description

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Step 1

Our itinerary begins with the “Panepistimio” metro station of the red line 2 “Anthoupoli – Elliniko”.

 

Point of Interest: “Panepistimio” metro station – Line 2

 

Step 2

We exit from the “Akadimia” exit of the “Panepistimio” metro station using the stairs. We turn right and get off the pavement.

 

We now step onto the protected area for the pedestrians that forms part of the “Great Athens Walk”. We turn right once again, so that we move in parallel with the street and in the same direction as the cars, having the pavement on our right.

 

On our right, while we remain on the pavement, we have 3 emblematic edifices of the city centre, appearing from right to left: the Academy of Athens, the central building of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and the National Library. The buildings are not open to the general public.

 

 

Point of Interest: Academy of Athens

Step 3

 

Point of Interest: National Kapodistrian University of Athens – Central building

Step 4

We continue straight ahead, on Panepistimiou Street (which is actually an avenue, also called Eleftheriou Venizelou), bypassing metal benches on our right every once in a while. On our left, there is a continuous fencing with jardinieres as a form of demarcation, dividing the pedestrian area from the street.

 

In front of us, we find Riga Fereou Street, which we vertically cross. We continue straight, using the curbside of the right pavement to guide ourselves. On the pavement is the historical building of the National Library.

 

 

 

Point of Interest: National Library

Step 5

In front of us, is Ippokratous Street which we will vertically cross. We continue straight, still using the curbside of the right pavement for orientation.

 

In front of us we now find and vertically cross Charilaou Trikoupi Street. We continue straight, with the assistance of the curbside. A little bit further down the road, on our right, the entrance of the National Theatre – Rex can be located on the pavement (48 Panepistimiou Street).

 

 

Point of Interest: National Theatre – Rex

Step 6

Continuing straight ahead, we find Emmanouil Benaki Street in front of us and we vertically cross it. We proceed straight, still using the curbside of the right pavement for orientation.

 

While we continue straight, we bypass the end of the Themistokleous pedestrian street on our right. In a few metres, the Great Walk ends, so we step upon the right pavement of Panepistimiou Street before finding the next perpendicular street in front of us.

 

We locate the wall on the interior side of the pavement, position it on our right hand and turn right onto Patission Street (which is actually an avenue, also called 28 Oktovriou Street). On 28 Oktovriou Street, we locate and follow the tactile paving. We remain on the right pavement of the street. It is a wide pavement that ensures comfortable movement.

 

On the junction of the tactile paving, with an option to the right towards the Gladstonos pedestrian street, we continue straight on Patission Street.

 

As we continue, we find in front of us Veranzerou Street and we vertically cross it. If we follow Veranzerou Street to the right, it leads us to Kaniggos Square. On our left, while remaining on Veranzerou Street, number 31, we can find the head office of the Panhellenic Association of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind.

 

Walking on Patission Street, we find Chalkokondili Street in front of us and we vertically cross it. Straight ahead, Kapodistriou Street is in front of us and we vertically cross it. Proceeding straight, we find and vertically cross Solomou Street.

 

Straight ahead we find the perpendicular Stournari Street. If we turn right, it will lead us to Exarchia Square, which has many places for coffee, food and entertainment.

 

 

Point of Interest: Exarchia

Step 7

Back to our itinerary, we vertically cross Stournari Street and we keep straight on Patission Street. Extending along our right, we now have the facilities of the National Technical University of Athens and the monument in honour of the victims of the Athens Polytechnic uprising.

 

 

Point of Interest: National Technical University of Athens (“Polytechnio”)

Step 8

Continuing straight, we bypass Tositsa Street on our right, which is a street of light traffic.

 

We now have the fencing wall of the National Archaeological Museum on our right.

 

We follow the tactile paving straight ahead, until we meet a junction with the option to continue straight or turn to the right. We take the right branch and we now move in the direction of the National Archaeological Museum.

 

The tactile paving no longer has colour contrast

 

Continuing straight, we find a junction on the tactile paving with the option to continue straight or turn to the right. If we continue straight, we will reach the cafeteria of the museum in front of us. We turn to the right following the tactile paving towards the museum.

 

 

At some point, the tactile paving is interrupted by 7 steps which we climb. We find the tactile paving once again and we follow it until the next steps. There is a handrail on our left which we use for support, as we step up 15 more steps. We leave the wall on our left and follow it as it goes. It leads us to the main entrance of the National Archaeological Museum.

 

 

Point of Interest: National Archaeological Museum

Step 9

After our visit to the museum, we retrace the itinerary backwards, until we reach the junction of the two avenues, Patission and Panepistimiou. At this point we locate the pedestrian crossing and we turn right, crossing Patission Ave. and proceeding on the opposite pavement of Patission. We leave the buildings on the interior side of the pavement on our right and we continue straight, being on the pavement of Panepistimiou Ave. now, having the street on our left.

 

We continue straight and we seek outthe tactile paving. We follow it towards the right to reach the “Panepistimiou” entrance of the “Omonia” metro station of lines 1 and 2.

 

 

Point of Interest: Omonia Square

Step 10

Point of Interest: “Omonia” metro station – Line 1&2

 

This is where our itinerary ends.

Map

Historic Heart to Urban Soul of Athens

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