Viktoria Square

Viktoria Square
Πλατεία Βικτωρίας
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Former names	Kyriakou Square
General information
Type	Open square
Architectural style	Neoclassicism
Town or city	Athens
Country	Greece

Coordinates: 37°59′35″N 23°43′46″E / 37.99306°N 23.72944°E / 37.99306; 23.72944

Victoria Square (formerly Kyriakou Square) is a large square located in the Municipality of Athens between 3 September and Aristotelous streets. The square's original name was Kyriakou. It was renamed Viktoria in honor of the Queen of the United Kingdom on the occasion of the annexation of the Ionian Islands to Greece in 1864, as a gift to the enthronement of the Queen's nephew, Prince Christian William Ferdinand Adolf George of Denmark, later George I of Greece. Underneath the square passes the Athens Electric Railway at the homonymous stop. The square crosses the streets of Hayden, 3 September and Aristotelous, and in the center of the square is the sculptural complex of Johannes Pfuhl (1846–1914) of Theseus saves Hippodamia.

Around the square, the homonymous district has been developed. Since the 1940s the district has been one of Athens' best and most sought after, comparable to Kolonaki. On its streets you will find important examples of classical modernism, such as the Spathari block (Mavrommatia street), the Sarantopoulos block (27 Derigni street), as well as the buildings on Heiden 1 and 2. The luxurious apartments of these buildings were addressed to the bourgeoisie of Athens at the time, since they provided a variety of amenities and had high quality architectural elements.

Gradually, the area began to decline, largely due to its abandonment by its original inhabitants. The neighborhood today is generally regarded as degraded and facing problems of crime.^[1]

Of course, in recent years there has been an improvement in the situation around the square, which is also linked to the general upgrading of downtown Athens. Gradually the district regains the glory of the past.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

Gallery[]

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  The entrance to Metro station

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  The Metro station

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  A view of the square

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  The sculptural complex at the center of the square

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