Anafiotika - A Village Within A City

There’s a part of Athens that had always eluded me.  I had never been able to find it!  Anafiotika is the neighbourhood, located under the northeastern side of the Acropolis Hill, part of historical Plaka.

History

The neighbourhood came into being in the reign of Otto of Greece – the Bavarian prince who in 1832, became the first modern King of Greece.  Construction workers were needed to work on the King’s Palace, and they came from the island of Anafi, a tiny island in the Cyclades chain and with a population in 2011 of 271.

Up until 1922, inhabitants of Anafiotika were from Anafi island, then this tiny neighbourhood saw immigrants from Asia Minor start to arrive.

For archeological reasons, in 1950 many of the little houses were destroyed, and in 1970 the Greek state started to buy them.

Modern times

Today there are only 45 houses remaining. However, wandering through the alleyways and seeing this unique neighbourhood – planned so that it resembled a Greek island – really does make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.  Away from the noise and hustle bustle, I loved it there – and am glad I finally found it!

"Up, keep walking up"

I was instructed.  Yes, more than once locals would wave their arm in a vague motion that is so typical to the Greeks, in the direction of the Acropolis Hill.  This time – my third attempt I might add – I did just that, I found ways to keep walking ‘up.’  Not knowing if I should be walking through certain streets, I stumbled across more street art.

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By Rebecca Hall