Kolonaki
Encyclopedia
Kolonaki literally "Little Column" is a neighborhood in central Athens
, Greece
. It is located on the southwestern slopes of Lycabettus hill.
Kolonaki is a wealthy, chic and upmarket district, and a fashionable meeting area. As one of the capital's leading shopping areas, it includes a number of high-end boutiques from young adult to casual fashion to prestigious haute couture
from Greek and international designers. One of its main shopping streets, Voukourestiou Street
, is now known for its jewellery.
Museums and galleries also abound in Kolonaki. The Benaki Museum
, inside a preserved neoclassical
manor house, and the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art
and are two of the finest private collections in the country. Two smaller museums to be found in Kolonaki are the Museum of the History of Greek Costume and the Theater Museum, both highly specialized in their respective areas. A walk across the street from Vasilissis Sofias Avenue are the Byzantine Museum, and the War Museum of Athens.
There are a plethora of available options for nightlife, including bars, ouzeries, and tavernas. Outdoor seating on pedestrian walks is typical, creating a lively atmosphere at night. The main Kolonaki Square
is where the little column which the neighborhood was named for is located. It is surrounded by cafes and restaurants.
The Lycabettus Funicular, a funicular railway
, links Kolonaki to the summit of Lycabettus hill.
Kolonaki also hosts 2 metro stations, Evengelismos and Megaro Mousikis.
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is located on the southwestern slopes of Lycabettus hill.
Kolonaki is a wealthy, chic and upmarket district, and a fashionable meeting area. As one of the capital's leading shopping areas, it includes a number of high-end boutiques from young adult to casual fashion to prestigious haute couture
Haute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
from Greek and international designers. One of its main shopping streets, Voukourestiou Street
Voukourestiou Street
Voukourestiou Street named after the Treaty of Bucharest, which in 1913 ended the second Balkan War, is a rather narrow street in the Kolonaki district of Athens known for its high-end boutiques...
, is now known for its jewellery.
Museums and galleries also abound in Kolonaki. The Benaki Museum
Benaki Museum
The Benaki Museum, established and endowed in 1930 by Antonis Benakis in memory of his father Emmanuel Benakis, is housed in the Benakis family mansion in downtown Athens, Greece...
, inside a preserved neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
manor house, and the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art
Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art
The Nicholas P. Goulandris Foundation - Museum of Cycladic Art is one of the great museums of Athens. It houses a magnificent collection of artifacts of Cycladic art....
and are two of the finest private collections in the country. Two smaller museums to be found in Kolonaki are the Museum of the History of Greek Costume and the Theater Museum, both highly specialized in their respective areas. A walk across the street from Vasilissis Sofias Avenue are the Byzantine Museum, and the War Museum of Athens.
There are a plethora of available options for nightlife, including bars, ouzeries, and tavernas. Outdoor seating on pedestrian walks is typical, creating a lively atmosphere at night. The main Kolonaki Square
Kolonaki Square
Kolonaki Square , is located in central Athens, Greece. The Square is named after small ancient column in the center of the square and has given its informal name to the surrounding district Kolonaki...
is where the little column which the neighborhood was named for is located. It is surrounded by cafes and restaurants.
The Lycabettus Funicular, a funicular railway
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
, links Kolonaki to the summit of Lycabettus hill.
Kolonaki also hosts 2 metro stations, Evengelismos and Megaro Mousikis.
| North: Exarcheia Exarcheia Exarcheia, alternatively spelled as Exarchia, Exarheia and Exarhia , is the name of a neighborhood in downtown Athens, Greece close to the historical building of the National Technical University of Athens. The Exarcheia region is famous as a stomping ground for Greek anarchists... , Neapoli Neapoli, Athens Neapoli is a neighborhood of Athens, Greece. It is located at the centre of Athens, close to Exarcheia and Kolonaki... and Omonoia Square Omonoia Square Omonoia Square is a central square in Athens. It marks the northern corner of the downtown area defined by the city plans of the 19th century, and is one of the city's principal traffic hubs... | ||
| West: Psirri Psiri Psiri ; formerly known as Ψύρα, Psyra or Ψυρίη, Psyrii) is a gentrified neighbourhood in Athens, Greece, today known for its restaurants, bars, live music tavernas, and small number of hotels.... and Plaka Plaka Pláka is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens... | Kolonaki | East: Pangrati Pangrati Pangrati or Pagkrati is a neighborhood in the Municipality of Athens, Greece. It is bordered by the Kolonaki neighborhood to the north, the Kaisariani Municipality to the east, the Vyronas Municipality to the south, and the Mets neighborhood to the west. It is not to be confused as a separate... |
| South: National Gardens of Athens National Gardens of Athens The National Garden is a public park of in the center of the Greek capital, Athens. It is located directly behind the Greek Parliament building and continues to the South to the area where the Zappeion is located, across from the Panathenaiko or Kalimarmaro Olympic Stadium of the 1896 Olympic... , SE |
Notable people
- Costas SimitisCostas SimitisKonstantinos Simitis , usually referred to as Costas Simitis or Kostas Simitis, was Prime Minister of Greece and leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement from 1996 to 2004.- Biography :...
, former Prime Minister of GreecePrime Minister of GreeceThe Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following... - Tania TsanaklidouTania TsanaklidouSoultana Tsanaklidou is a Greek artist, both singer and actress, who represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978.-Biography:...
, singer