Description of the attraction
Kifissia is a prestigious and one of the most expensive suburbs of Athens. The history of Kifissia dates back to ancient times. It was here that the home of the famous Greek comedian Menander (342-291 BC) was located. During the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian, after the famous Herod Atticus of Marathon built his villa here, Kifissia became a famous resort for philosophers.
The history of Kifissia in the medieval period is very vague. But there are remains of the Panagia Helidonas monastery, which are associated with the story of the battle of local residents with unknown conquerors. The monastery chapel is a rare example of a temple that originally had a fireplace and chimney.
A Turkish traveler who visited here in 1667 during the Ottoman rule described Kifisyu as a small provincial town with three hundred houses with tiled roofs in a fertile valley of paradise beauty. Half of the inhabitants of the city were Muslims, and the other half were Christians. He noted that there is one mosque without a minaret and many small Christian churches (some of them have survived to this day).
Temperatures in Kifissia are generally lower than in Athens, so after the declaration of Greek independence, it quickly became a summer resort for the ruling class. The popularity of this area declined significantly in the middle of the 19th century due to the danger of predatory raids. However, the suppression of banditry and the opening of the railway in 1885 led to a dramatic development in the area. It became fashionable for wealthy Athenian families to build summer cottages in Kifissia. The construction of villas of a wide variety of styles has led to the creation of a unique architectural ensemble. Many hotels were also built.
Kifissia is a favorite entertainment destination for Athenians of all ages. Here you can visit cinemas, bowling centers, numerous trendy shopping centers and designer boutiques, as well as high-end restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Kifissia is an ecologically clean and very green area with many parks and squares. The forest park area of Singru is the main lungs of Athens. The famous Kefalari Park is also located here - a favorite meeting place for teenagers and students.
