{"id":24132,"date":"2023-07-02T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-02T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=24132"},"modified":"2023-07-02T10:00:06","modified_gmt":"2023-07-02T08:00:06","slug":"pedion-areos-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/greece\/athens\/pedion-areos-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Green oasis in the middle of Athens: Pedion tou Areos Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nothing is nicer than enjoying some relaxation in one of Athens’ green oases after a stroll past the city’s numerous archaeological sites. We were drawn to Pedion Areos Park, one of the largest public parks in Athens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Pedion tou Areos or just Pedion Areos is located about 1 km northeast of Omonoia Square and is enclosed by the streets Mavromateon, Evelpidon, Pringiponisson and Alexandras Avenue. With 27.7 hectares in size, it takes a while to walk the countless well-maintained paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A park is created<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the reign of King Otto, the first king of modern Greece, the site of the present Pedion Areos was the main meeting place for Athenians. In 1927, the site was given to the newly formed Athens Public Gardens and Trees Commission with the intention of transforming it into a park similar to the National Garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Marmorbuesten\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, the commission first decided to beautify the Thiseion and the National Garden. It was not until six years later, in 1933, financed by the remaining funds, that work began on the transformation of the park. However, due to administrative problems and a significant lack of financial resources, the work had to be stopped rather quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that time, the newly created Special Fund for Durable Pavements in Athens decided to cover the costs. The then director of the Ministry of Communications was commissioned to draw up a new plan for the Pedion Areos, based on the English and French park styles popular at the time. Special care was to be taken to ensure that the view of the Acropolis from central points in the park was not obstructed. We were particularly impressed by the view in the opposite direction to the Lykavittos viewpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Blick<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1935, the planting and beautification works began, which lasted until 1940, the time when Greece entered the Second World War. Within these five years, the gardeners planted 46,000 trees and shrubs. The planners paid special attention to the planting of deciduous trees, in order to give shade to the park in summer and let sunlight through in winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In April 2008, work began on a major renovation of the park. The transformation was completed in December 2010. It covered an area of 25 hectares and cost a total of 9,663,990 euros, financed by the third EU Community Support Framework and national funds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Pedion<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Now in the park there are 1200 trees, 50000 flowers, 7500 topiary plants and 2500 roses. Previously, there were about 22,650 square meters of asphalt in Pedion Areos. This area has become smaller after the transformation, they planted about one hectare of grass and another hectare of flowers and removed the asphalt. Most of the changes were related to the park’s infrastructure, including the underground network for water supply, drainage, rainwater collection and electricity. At the same time, the lighting of the site was improved and modernized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walk through the Pedion Areos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We enter the premises of Pedion Areos through a large and wide “side entrance” on Alexandras Avenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pedion<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At this entrance stands an imposing memorial to the English, Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought in the Battle of Greece during World War II. The memorial is topped by a statue of the goddess Athena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The large monument, built in 1952, is a replica of a monumental sculpture honoring the Greek goddess of wisdom. It is one of the tallest sculptures in Athens and consists of a tall triangular column (about 6 meters high) on a three-tiered pedestal on which stands the statue of the goddess Athena. In front of the column, on the upper level of the pedestal, is the sculpture of a lion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"L\u00f6wenfigur<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Visit to a grotto and a tomb<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From there we begin our walk under the shade of trees along the winding paths of the park. Until we reach the Grotto of Pan. This is an artificial grotto made of stone, built in 1962. In mythology, Pan is the Greek deity who was intertwined with nature in a reciprocal protective relationship. The son of Hermes and the nymph Penelope was depicted as a god with an animal underbelly (with goat feet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pedion<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I did not find the small grotto particularly beautiful. Rather small and inconspicuous, somewhat overgrown and forgotten rock stands there. Who nevertheless goes by there, should look at the rock a little closer. We recognized two “faces” in the stone. Who these probably represent?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gesicht<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next, the path led us to a small church, the Holy Temple of Taxiarches, in the middle of the park. It dates back to the 17th century and it is worth taking a look inside the cool church building. Beautiful wall and ceiling paintings decorate the nave. The entrance was free of charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n