I’d heard many opinions on Athens prior to visiting, few of them complimentary. Dirty, dusty, run-down, rough… although there were those who spoke glowingly of its friendly inhabitants and of course, its incredible ancient buildings. So what did I think? Well… I really liked Athens! Sure, it wasn’t as polished as your typical European capital, but it made up for it with its history, smiles, and an interesting buzz, a feeling of energy striving to break its bonds. In a country that has experienced economic collapse and is now attempting to change its future, this is not a surprise. Part of what gave me this impression was the incredible street art we saw all over the city – there were whole streets devoted to it, and I was fascinated by the breadth of subject matter and styles.
The chandeliers were from the second-hand stall next-door – but I think they make a great part of it too
Do you think I could resist?
While some graffiti in Athens is pure tagging of the artist’s name, much more of it has a deeper social or political message. In the galleries dedicated to the art, you can wander along and attempt to interpret, or simply soak in the vibrant styles.
Much of the art I saw was within a few minutes walk of our hostel, City Circus Athens, which I really recommend – it was modern, really well set up, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Plus there was a roof-top terrace and a yummy breakfast – what more could you want?! It is located in the Psirri neighbourhood which was a great spot. It’s not right in amongst the tourist hordes, but near good restaurants and bars, and within good walking distance of areas like the Parthenon and Monastriaki.
I loved these flower pillars
My Dad used to have a Ninja just like this – love the bright green!
If you’d like to find out more about the street art of Athens, Fatcap has a great page showing more of the artists’ works as well as interviews. I’ve also written about the street art of Italy here.
Where’s the best street art you’ve seen?
