Evil eye illustration

Building a capital, century by century

You’ll spot echoes of Athens’ many post-classical eras as you explore the city.

A marble statue of Athena, lifting an arm and reaching out with her left hand.
An ancient Greek water jar with ornately drawn figures.A marble bust of a woman from behind, showcasing intricately carved cloth and a twisted hair bun.
Evil eye illustration

Byzantine period

Many of the city’s iconic churches were built under Byzantine rule during the 11th and 12th centuries. It was also during this period that Athens went from classical center to small provincial town.

Ottoman rule

When the Ottomans took control of the city in the mid-1400s, they built mosques, fountains, and baths and even converted the Parthenon into a mosque! Some of these sites can still be found in the city center.

Post-independence

After the Greeks won their independence, Syntagma Square became the city’s main meeting point. Bordered on one side by Hotel Grande Bretagne, it’s presided over by the Hellenic Parliament.

1950s reconstruction

To contend with the destruction of World War II and an influx of Greeks from rural areas, many concrete apartment buildings called polykatoikia were built. The city also began restoring ancient sites at this time.

Olympic rebirth

Before hosting the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, Athens made extensive infrastructure changes. The city refurbished waterfront areas and neighborhoods, improved public transportation, and sought to better air and water quality.

Details of the sculptural work along the roof of the Athens Academy.

Athens today

All these eras and more led to the Athens you’ll experience on the 2027 Agent Recognition Trip with EMC. Keep your eye out for completed and ongoing transformations like these:

  • Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center: Formerly a parking lot left over from the 2004 Olympic Games, these facilities consist of the National Library of Greece, the Greek National Opera, and Stavros Niarchos Park.
  • National Museum of Contemporary Art: This former brewery was transformed into an art exhibition space.
  • Ellinikon Metropolitan Park: Due to be completed in 2030, this project is in the process of turning the decommissioned Athens International Airport into Europe’s largest coastal park.
  • Greek Public Tobacco Factory: This building was a prison, government offices, and a warehouse before reopening as a cultural space and arts hub in 2021.
  • Romantso: A former printing plant, this space now functions as both an incubator for start-up companies and a cultural center organizing performances, exhibitions, and workshops.
  • Street art: Athens has also become one of Europe’s most vibrant street art scenes, creating an open-air gallery that tells the story of contemporary Greek society.
The corner of the Modern Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece.