Church of Agios Eleftherios, Athens

Yes, there's a big cathedral in this square - Plateia Mitropleos, but, "hidden in the shadow" of this small Byzantine gem who will notice it?

Built on the ruins of a still older temple (with stones dating from the 4th century) this church from the 12th century is something you have to visit and read about.

If you are coming from Syntagma you will be walking down Metropolitan street, past the Cathedral and the square of shiny marble. There is a small Byzantine church in the shadow of the catheral that you should take a look at called Agios Eleftherios. There are some cafes in the square and this is where Pondrosou street begins.

This church is dwarfed by the much larger Mitropoli (Cathedral) next to which it stands. Nevertheless, this church, also known as the Little Mitropoli, is much older than its larger counterpart and is much more interesting. It was built in the 12th century and is constructed of Pentelic marble with freizes of animals done as bas relief on the outer walls.

Right next to the Mitropolis, there is a tiny little church, also called the Little Mitropolis. It´s a nice and pitturesque chapel, built in the 12th century out of the rests of other buildings.

Above the entrance there is an old frieze, made in the 4th century B.C. It used to show the Panathinaic Games, but because christians later places crosses over this frieze, there isn´t hardly anything left of this sculpture.

The only remaining sculpture is a scene showing a boat that is being carried, during the procession. In this boat the dress, that was offered to the goddess Athena, was kept. Although there is a part visible, also here is placed a cross over the biggest part of the image.