An professional information to a weekend in Athens | EUROtoday

Anafiotika, a Cycladic village clinging to the northern slopes of the Acropolis, is a stunning place for an aimless wander. Cats snooze among the many potted geraniums lined up outdoors crooked whitewashed cottages. These humble, however vastly fascinating, dwellings have been initially constructed by stonemasons from the island of Anafi, shipped to Athens by King Otto to knock up his palace (now the Parliament constructing) within the mid-Nineteenth century.

The Anafiotes additionally constructed the fancier mansions that line Plaka, the self-consciously quaint outdated city of Athens, the place Lord Byron as soon as penned odes to underage maids. Beyond the identikit memento retailers, you’ll come across Byzantine chapels (often open, so you may gentle a candle and admire the fading frescoes); quirky museums devoted to every little thing from folks music to trendy Greek artwork; and the intriguing Benizelos Mansion, a uncommon instance of Ottoman structure.

Dig deep and also you’ll even discover treasure among the many vacationer tat: vintage textiles and ceramics at Amorgos; marble busts, ceramics and covetable curiosities at Eclectica and Soul & Matter, timeless and easy clothes, hats, and jewelry by a world roster of area of interest designers at Mouki Mou (make sure to try the key roof backyard, if you are there).