Everyone knows that Athens is a place of concentration of the most important monuments of world architecture. But few people know that the famous Ermou street in Athens is one of the most well-known and expensive streets in the world.
Ermou street (Hermes Street) was one of the first roads that were designed in modern Athens, and one of the main axes of the first city plan of Athens, which was formulated by the architects Stamatios Kleantis and Gustav Schober in 1833.
The sources from the early 19th century have described the area between Syntagma and Monastiraki squares as a busy centre of trade. Athenians came here to buy living essentials and something for special occasions: for example, fabrics for new clothes and jewelry.
Gradually, the market for the work class was turning into a place of attraction for the capital's aristocracy and for the growing middle class, which could afford to buy European-made clothes. Since its appearance until today, Ermou street serves as a shopping street and is named after Hermes, the god of trade in Greek mythology.
Ermou street became pedestrian only in the 90ies. Until then, there was car and bus traffic there. Today, you can find some of the most expensive and prestigious stores of international brands in Ermou street, as well as major department stores and designer boutiques. There are various goods here — from souvenirs and sunglasses to exclusive jewelry and clothes.
Ermou street has a number of interesting attractions. One of them is the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Kapnikarea. It was built in the 11th century and is recognized as the oldest church in Athens. The temple stands on the site of an older church, which, in its turn, was built on the ruins of the pagan temple of Demeter or Athena. If you look closely, you can see that during the construction of the church of Kapnikarea the ancient capitals, columns and fragments of sculptures had been used. Inside the temple, you can see a wall painting of the mid-20th century.
One block away from the church Monastiraki square is located. There is the church of Pantanassa — once it was the сatholicon of a monastery that does not exist today. It is notable not only for its ancient architecture, but also for its frescoes. The mosque of Tsistarakis is located on the square as well. Monastiraki is famous for the same-name flea market, where you can buy unique souvenirs with history.
A kind of "attraction" of Ermou street are singsongs and performances that put everyone who is walking along the most famous street in Athens in a better mood.
If you turn off Ermou street, you can discover many more historical treasures of Athens. The Hadrian's library, the Athenian Museum of illusions, the Athenian Agora, the Keramikos archaeological zone, and the Church of the Holy Bodiless powers are all located very close by.
Ermou street stretches for 1.5 km. It serves as an artery, which connects the archaeological site of Keramikos with Syntagma square through the districts of Monastiraki and Tisio. Ermou street in Athens consists of three parts: the eastern part (extending for 700 m) is a busy pedestrian street, the middle part and the western one, which is also organized for pedestrians.
Ermou is located near the "Syntagma" and "Tisio" metro stations. You can get to the street by buses No. 025, 026, 027 (the "Syntagma" or "Monastiraki" bus stops).
