Syntagma Square/Parliament, Athens

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The Syntagma Square has a broad sloping area which has in its upper reaches the former Royal Palace, now called the Parliament Building. Below this is a parade ground containing the Unknown Solider. Here a pair of soldiers stand on guard dressed in the typical Evzones dress. These National Guards are changed each hour. On Sunday at 11AM there is a changing of the Guard ceremony as well. The secod part of the square continues below the metro. There is a memorial statue and fountains at the upper edge while the large square is surrounded by staid benches which are minimally used. Before 2000, the area was covered by outdoor cafes with lounge chairs at which to drink and eat.. The good old days are gone. On the north side of the square are the ancient fine hotels, the King George and the Grande Bretagne. The south and east side of the square are occupied by commercial buildings and their busy streets of traffic.

Πλατεία Συντάγματος (the Greek for Syntagma or Constitution square) is the modern very center of Athens. It was dedicated to the first constitution of Greece of the September 3, 1843 during the reign of the first Greek monarch Otto I, though he was Bavarian, indeed.

The Syntagma is an outgoing point for many sightseeings of Athens, including the Cathedral, the Parliament and the Folk gardens. It is also a transportation hub; most of the metro lines, trams and buses start or pass here. Many old Athens neighbourhoods are withing a walking distance.

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Though the change of Gaurd happenes every day, the one on Sunday is special.
The speciality comes from the dress with pleats and the colourful gears.
Take a morning tour of Parthenon (Acropolis) and then come back to witness this change of Gaurd.

Try and be there for the change which happens at 11 O'Clock.
It is a 5 min affair ... so be in time to get your snaps.
:) Cheers !!

This square is considered the center of Athens, but there's not much to do or see here !!!! it's a plain square where people meet and people come to protest against the government.... again no cafe's with outdoor seating, just plain building and hotel surround the square.

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While I'm sure there is more to Syntagma Square and the Parliament Building then just feeding pigeons I just happened to have a lot of fun doing just that. Much like St. Marks Square in Venice there is a mass build up of pigeons due to the fact there are vendors selling bird feed for a euro a bag. But again I digress...as I was saying there is more to Syntagma Square then just pigeons...for example there is the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament Building that always attracts a crowd...and not just the pigeons...unless you happen to have a bag of bird feed. Syntagma Square is also a nice place to sit and people watch as it seems to be a main hub of city life for the locals as well as the tourists. You could also pigeon watch...if you were so inclined.

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Syntagma Square is the heart of of modrn city.it’s the main area in Athens with wireless internet access cover and many shopping streets and centers around(like Ermou st.).The first king’s palace built in 1834,is to the east of the square,which is now the greek parliament.it’s the monument,which remind the 1834’s demonstrations which led to the first constitution from king Otto.in front of the palace,there is the raised desighn and a monument of an unknown soldier.there you can see changing the guard ceremony every 20 minutes too.

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Syntagma Square is the main square of Athens, located in front of the Greek Parliament. The Square is named after the Constitution King Othon was forced to grant the people after a popular and military uprising in 1843.

The eastern side of the square is higher than the western, and dominated by a set of marble steps leading to Amalias Avenue. Syntagma also includes two green areas to the north and south, planted with shade trees, while in the center of the square a large water fountain traditionally hosts the occasionally sighted Syntagma pigeons, along with heat-tormented Athenians during the summer.

You may watch my high resolution photo of Athens on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 37º 58' 31.54" N 23º 44' 9.08" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Syntagma Square .

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The building of Parliament is a neoclassical three-floor structure designed by Friedrich von Gärtner and completed in 1843. Originally it served as a palace for the Greek monarchs. After suffering fire damage in 1909 it entered a long period of renovation.

The building was then used for many different purposes - functioning as a makeshift hospital and a museum among other things until 1929 when the government decided that the building would instead house the Parliament.

You may watch my high resolution photo of Athens on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 37º 58' 31.54" N 23º 44' 9.08" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Parliament .

You may watch my 2 min 58 sec VIDEO-clip Greece Athens with popular Greek music by Demis Roussos.