Five City Walking Routes to Unveil History and Culture ‘Secrets’ of Athens

The Greek capital’s history and culture will be unveiled through five exciting walking routes to be organized this month by the municipality’s Athens Culture Net.

Set to run between May 8-29, the routes include a journey to the modern history of the Greek capital through its landmark buildings; an artistic experience in the neighborhood of Kypseli; and a walk to significant monuments of modern Greece at Athens’ First Cemetery.

“The program aims for its participants to get familiar with the city’s special spots and hidden corners as well as with unknown stories from the past and the present,” the Athens municipality said in an announcement.

Some of the routes will run in English in order to provide both Athens’ residents and visitors the opportunity to explore the city.

The schedule of the municipality’s “Athenian Itineraries” program is as follows:

– Sunday, May 5

“Athenian Itineraries” – Nadia Georgakopoulou – Return to new Athens

11am – Greek – for info press here

1.30pm – English – for info press here.

Writer Nadia Georgakopoulou invites participants to a historical and experiential journey in the first 100 years of modern Athens. Starting from Hadrian’s Arch, the route will stop at emblematic buildings and public spaces of the 19th century.

Reservations must be made online in advance.

– Saturday, May 14

Snehta residency – The Kypseli of artists and painters

10.30am – Greek

This tour promotes the history of the neighborhood of Kypseli by focusing on its cultural evolution through the years. The program includes a stop at Snehta, a cultural hub, where artists will open their studios to the public.

Reservations must be made online from May 9, here.

– Saturday, May 21

First Cemetery of Athens. Outdoor sculpture museum

11.00am – Greek

Visitors will learn about the history of the Athens’s First Cemetery, its sculptors, their work and connection with ancient Greek art.

Reservations must be made online from May 16, here.

– Saturday, May 28

First Cemetery of Athens. In the place where poets sleep.

11.00am – Greek

A tour around the monuments of Greek poets and writers in the First Cemetery of Athens, that remain unknown to the general public. Excerpts from works of Kostis Palamas, Angelos Sikelianos, Odysseas Elytis and more will be read during the walk.

Reservations must be made online from May 23, here.

– Sunday, May 29

“Athenian Itineraries” – Arthur Antonopoulos – Dark Athens

11.00am – Greek – for info press here
1.00pm – English – for info press here.

Writer Arthur Antonopoulos will introduce participants to Athens as the setting of a mystery story. In this story, modern figures of the city unexpectedly meet with heroes of Greek mythology.

Reservations must be made online from May 24.