Who knew in the middle of Athens in Greece, right next to the Acropolis there’s a hidden village that makes you think you just step foot in one of the Greek islands.
Island Vibes in the City
Built in 1800s by the construction workers from the Greek island of Anafi. They built their own village to reflect their style of architecture on the island.
“Whitewashed walls, bright colored paint work, small narrow streets, steep steps that ends up at terraces”
When you walk through the village, you feel as if you walk on a cliff on a Greek island with whitewashed walls contrasted with bright colored doors and shutters. You often see the bougainvillea flowers on the small narrow streets which also steep steps that keep going up and up. Don’t be surprised if some of these streets end up at someone’s terraces.
To The Top
But if you manage to find a way to the very top – warning the steps are very steep and narrow. You end up at someone’s roof at the foot hill of Acropolis and be rewarded by the view of Athens
Getting there is tricky but here’s how
The village is on the northern slope of the Acropollis, top of Plaka neighborhood. There are three ways to get to Anafiotika, from the West (#1) and from the East (#2) of the Acropolis, and from Plaka (#3)
Route #1 – From the West of Acropolis. From the Westen entrance if you continue walking up as if you want to go to Plaka, before you go down hill, keep walking around the fence of the Acropolis, you will end up at the top of Anafiotika. Then you’ll have to work your way down to see the houses and end up in Plaka. This is an easy walk because you’re already up the hill and plan to visit Plaka after visiting the Acropolis.
Route #2 – From the East of Acropolis. From the Eastern entrance if you continue walking along the fence, you end up on Stratonos street. Once you reach the corner of the fence, you’ll see white steps on the left that will lead up passing throgh houses you into the village. Or you can keep walking to the left at the fork , you’ll reach the main entrance to the village.
Route #3 – From Plaka. If you start from Plaka, look for Erechtheos where there are bunch of cute cafes and restaurants on the steps. When you get to the top on Prytaneious street, turn right, and you see a small opening with steps on your left (star mark).
Keep walking around curves and bends (red star), passing very cool graffitis on the wall ( as I call it the Graffiti Street) and you end up at the entrance of the village in no time. I use this route to visit the village after tasting the most delicious Balkava in Palka (find out where here 10 Must Try Food in Greece )It was quite a steep calm from Plaka but it’s the shortest . aWhen I got to the top, I came down on the Eastern side and end up at #2 on the map.
Anatifoitka is a surprisingly cool place to visit apart from so many already interesting things in Athens. It’s worth a visit for sure.
Anafiotika
Have you visited Anafiotika? How do you like it? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Happy Travelling
Patt W
Visited August 2018
