Vassilissis Sofias Avenue
Encyclopedia
Vasilissis Sofias Avenue is a major avenue in the east side of Athens
, the Greek
capital. The avenue was originally part of the Kifisias Avenue. The part from Syntagma Square
to the intersection with Alexandras Avenue
was renamed after Queen Sophia
the consort of King Constantine I
. The avenue begins at the intersections of Amalias Avenue
and Panepistimiou Street
and ends by Alexandras
, Kifissias
and Mesogeion Avenue
s as well as Feidippou Street, continuing a length of approximately 3 km. A section of the avenue is part of the old GR-1
, and a branch of GR-54.
As many historical buildings and landmarks are located on the avenue, such as the Old Royal Palace (today housing the Greek Parliament) and the National Gardens of Athens
, the mansions of very important Greeks and foreigners (today most of them housing embassies and museums) (e.g. the residence of the Greek Prime minister Eleutherios Venizelos-now part of the British embassy, the mansion of Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, Duchess of Plaisance
-now the Byzantine Museum, the mansion of business magnate and tycoon Othon Stathatos-today part of the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art
), Vasilissis Sofias Avenue is one of the most chic and prestigious streets in the Greek capital. Because of the very high price of land on this street, most of the buildings seen on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue were mainly built in the 1950's-1960's, but others built in the beginnings of the 20th century are also commonly seen. Except from residences, medical doctors' private practices, banks, museums, embassies and high-end hotels are common on thishistorical street.
The westbound lanes turn into Amalias Avenue and Panepistimiou Street, and the northbound of Amalias turns into Vasileias Sofias Avenue and Panepistimiou Street ; there is no traffic flow from the eastbound of Panepistimiou Street as it forms a one-way route westbound, and since the 2000s transit traffic has been excluded.Three Athens Metro
stations (Line 3) are on, or near, Vassilissis Sofias Avenue: Syntagma
, Evangelismos
, Megaro Moussikis
.
and the Greek Civil War
, it added modern eight-to-ten storey buildings in most of the intersection (mainly to the north) with traffic and street lights installed. Today's Vassilissis Sofias Avenue has, on its west side, four lanes westbound and two lanes eastbound, while beyond, the rest of the avenue takes in three lanes, including a bus lane and intersection by Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue and Vasileos Alexandrou Street.
Culture
Education
Institutions
Hospitals
Hotels
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...
, the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
capital. The avenue was originally part of the Kifisias Avenue. The part from Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square , is located in central Athens, Greece. The Square is named after the Constitution that King Otto was forced to grant the people after a popular and military uprising, on September 3, 1843....
to the intersection with Alexandras Avenue
Alexandras Avenue
Alexandra's Avenue is a main east-west thoroughfare running from Patission Street/28th of October Street and Kifissias Avenue in the northern part of the city of Athens, Greece. It is named after Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, later Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna of Russia...
was renamed after Queen Sophia
Sophia of Prussia
Princess Sophie of Prussia was Queen of the Hellenes as the wife of King Constantine I.-Princess of Prussia:...
the consort of King Constantine I
Constantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
. The avenue begins at the intersections of Amalias Avenue
Amalias Avenue
Vasilissis Amalias Avenue is a major avenue linking Andrea Syngrou Avenue along with Athanasiou Diakou Street, a small artery to Vouliagmenis Avenue and Panepistimiou Street along with Vassilissis Sofias Avenue...
and Panepistimiou Street
Panepistimiou Street
Panepistimiou Street is a major street in Athens that runs one way for non-transit vehicles since 2002 from Amalias Avenue, Syntagma Square and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue to Omonoia Square in which is now a pedestrian crossing and before an intersection...
and ends by Alexandras
Alexandras Avenue
Alexandra's Avenue is a main east-west thoroughfare running from Patission Street/28th of October Street and Kifissias Avenue in the northern part of the city of Athens, Greece. It is named after Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, later Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna of Russia...
, Kifissias
Kifissias Avenue
Kifissias Avenue is one of the longest avenues in the Greater Athens area. Its total length is about 20 km, beginning 4 km northeast of downtown Athens and ending by the municipal boundary of Nea Erythraia north of Kifissia...
and Mesogeion Avenue
Mesogeion Avenue
Mesogeion Avenue, also is an avenue connecting to Feidippou Street with service access with Kifissias, Vassilissis Sofias and Alexandras Avenue and with Marathonos Avenue at the Gerakas Street/GR-81 junction between Glyka Nera and Gerakas with an overpass. It is rarely a part of Greek National...
s as well as Feidippou Street, continuing a length of approximately 3 km. A section of the avenue is part of the old GR-1
Greek National Road 1
The Greek Motorway 1 is a motorway, partly under construction, and the 2nd longest in Greece. It is the principal north-south road connection in Greece, connecting the country's capital Athens with the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia, as well as the country's second largest city,...
, and a branch of GR-54.
As many historical buildings and landmarks are located on the avenue, such as the Old Royal Palace (today housing the Greek Parliament) and the 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...
, the mansions of very important Greeks and foreigners (today most of them housing embassies and museums) (e.g. the residence of the Greek Prime minister Eleutherios Venizelos-now part of the British embassy, the mansion of Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, Duchess of Plaisance
Duchess of Plaisance
Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, Duchess of Plaisance was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where her father, François Barbé-Marbois, was serving as French Consul-General in the United States....
-now the Byzantine Museum, the mansion of business magnate and tycoon Othon Stathatos-today part of 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....
), Vasilissis Sofias Avenue is one of the most chic and prestigious streets in the Greek capital. Because of the very high price of land on this street, most of the buildings seen on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue were mainly built in the 1950's-1960's, but others built in the beginnings of the 20th century are also commonly seen. Except from residences, medical doctors' private practices, banks, museums, embassies and high-end hotels are common on thishistorical street.
The westbound lanes turn into Amalias Avenue and Panepistimiou Street, and the northbound of Amalias turns into Vasileias Sofias Avenue and Panepistimiou Street ; there is no traffic flow from the eastbound of Panepistimiou Street as it forms a one-way route westbound, and since the 2000s transit traffic has been excluded.Three Athens Metro
Athens Metro
The Athens Metro is an underground rapid transit system serving Athens, the capital city of Greece. It was constructed and owned by Attiko Metro S.A. and operated until 2011 by Attiko Metro Etaireia Leitourgias S.A....
stations (Line 3) are on, or near, Vassilissis Sofias Avenue: Syntagma
Syntagma station
The Syntagma station of Attiko Metro is located at Syntagma Square in the center of Athens, Greece. It serves as a transfer point to the Blue Line with the Red Line . It also serves as a connection point to the Athens Tram. When the Metro first opened, the station was the terminal station for both...
, Evangelismos
Evangelismos station
Evangelismos station is located on Vassilissis Sophias Avenue. It is close to the "Evangelismos" General Hospital, the National Gallery of Athens, the Athens War Museum, the Byzantine & Christian Museum and the Athens Hilton. Close to this station is the famous area of Kolonaki, known for its...
, Megaro Moussikis
Megaro Moussikis station
The Megaro Moussikis Attiko Metro station is located just outside the Athens Concert Hall on Vassilissis Sophias Ave. The U.S. Embassy, as well as the hospitals "Alexandra" and "Areteion", are close to the station....
.
History
The avenue was first paved in the 20th century and added trolley lanes by the ends of the avenue, with neo-classical buildings also taking shape by the avenue. After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, it added modern eight-to-ten storey buildings in most of the intersection (mainly to the north) with traffic and street lights installed. Today's Vassilissis Sofias Avenue has, on its west side, four lanes westbound and two lanes eastbound, while beyond, the rest of the avenue takes in three lanes, including a bus lane and intersection by Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue and Vasileos Alexandrou Street.
Intersections
- Vasilissis Amalias AvenueAmalias AvenueVasilissis Amalias Avenue is a major avenue linking Andrea Syngrou Avenue along with Athanasiou Diakou Street, a small artery to Vouliagmenis Avenue and Panepistimiou Street along with Vassilissis Sofias Avenue...
and Panepistimiou StreetPanepistimiou StreetPanepistimiou Street is a major street in Athens that runs one way for non-transit vehicles since 2002 from Amalias Avenue, Syntagma Square and Vassilissis Sofias Avenue to Omonoia Square in which is now a pedestrian crossing and before an intersection... - Akadimias StreetAkadimias StreetAkadimias Street is a major street in Athens that runs parallel to Panepistimiou Street from Vassilissis Sofias Avenue to Kanningos Square in the area of Exarcheia. Its total length is about 1.2 km. It has three lanes and runs almost diagonally from southeast to northwest...
, north - Solonos Street, north
- Koubari and Herodou Attikou streetHerodou Attikou StreetHerodou Attikou Street or Irodou Attikou Street is located east of downtown Athens and is adjacent to the National Garden of Athens...
s - Ploutarchou and Rizari Streets
- Marasli Street
- Vasileos Konstantinou AvenueVasileos Konstantinou AvenueVasileos Konstantinos Avenue , Leoforos Vasileos Konstantinou, "King Constantine Avenue") is one of Athens' major thoroughfares running from the Panathinaiko Stadium at Herodou Attikou Street to the Athens Hilton on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. It is a divided road with two lanes in each direction...
and Vasileos Alexandrou Street - Papadiamantopoulou Street
- D. Soutsou Street
- Mesogeion AvenueMesogeion AvenueMesogeion Avenue, also is an avenue connecting to Feidippou Street with service access with Kifissias, Vassilissis Sofias and Alexandras Avenue and with Marathonos Avenue at the Gerakas Street/GR-81 junction between Glyka Nera and Gerakas with an overpass. It is rarely a part of Greek National...
- AlexandrasAlexandras AvenueAlexandra's Avenue is a main east-west thoroughfare running from Patission Street/28th of October Street and Kifissias Avenue in the northern part of the city of Athens, Greece. It is named after Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark, later Grand Duchess Alexandra Georgievna of Russia...
and Kifissias AvenueKifissias AvenueKifissias Avenue is one of the longest avenues in the Greater Athens area. Its total length is about 20 km, beginning 4 km northeast of downtown Athens and ending by the municipal boundary of Nea Erythraia north of Kifissia...
Major buildings on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue
- Benaki MuseumBenaki MuseumThe 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...
- National Gardens of AthensNational Gardens of AthensThe 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...
- Athens War Museum
- National Gallery (Athens)National Gallery (Athens)The National Art Gallery and Alexander Soutzos Museum is an art museum in Athens devoted to Greek and European art from the 14th century to the 20th century. It is directed by Marina Lambraki-Plaka.-History:...
- Athens Concert HallAthens Concert HallThe Athens Concert Hall is a concert hall located in Athens, on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue....
- Stathatos MansionStathatos MansionThe Stathatos building is a neoclassical villa on the Vasilissis Sophias Avenue. It was built in 1895 by the Saxon-Greek architect Ernst Ziller for the Stathatos Family.-History:...
, part of the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic ArtGoulandris Museum of Cycladic ArtThe 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....
. - Byzantine and Christian Museum
Education
- Academy of Art (Athens)
Institutions
- Greek Parliament
- Offices of the EU in Athens
- National Research Institute
- Embassy of the United States in AthensEmbassy of the United States in AthensThe Embassy of the United States in Athens is the embassy of the United States in Greece, in the capital city of Athens. The embassy is charged with diplomacy and Greece–United States relations. The United States Ambassador to Greece is the head of the diplomatic mission of the United States to...
- Several other embassies
Hospitals
- Hospital Aretaeion
- Hospital Alexandra
- Hospital Ippokrateion
Hotels
- Hilton Athens