Psyri or Psiri or Psyrri or Psirri ( el, Ψυρή or Ψυρρή,
[Probably derived from Ψυρής "inhabitant of ]Psara
Psara ( el, Ψαρά, , ; known in ancient times as /, /) is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. Together with the small island of Antipsara (Population 4) it forms the municipality of Psara. It is part of the Chios regional unit, which is part of ...
" (formerly known as Psyra or Psyrii). ) is a
gentrified
Gentrification is the process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. It is a common and controversial topic in urban politics and planning. Gentrification often increases the ec ...
neighbourhood in
Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
, today known for its restaurants, bars, live music tavernas, and small number of hotels.
Description
Until the early 1990s, Psyri, one of the oldest quarters of Athens, had an ill reputation, but it has now become one of the most fashionable and trendy choices in the centre of Athens for
accommodation,
entertainment
Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousa ...
and food hospitality.
The central square of Psyri is called "Heroes square" (πλατεία Ηρώων, ''plateia Iroon''), because the streets leading to it carry names of heroes of the
Greek War of Independence (e.g.
Karaiskakis,
Miaoulis). In the era of the '
old Athens' (namely, during the last quarter of the 19th century), the nickname "plateia of Heroes" was a derisive reference to
koutsavakides (κουτσαβάκηδες), who used it as their hangout.
History
Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and has been regarded as among the ...
was accommodated in the neighbourhood during his stay in Athens and here is where he wrote the poem "Maid of Athens". The most famous Greek inhabitant of Psyri was
Alexandros Papadiamantis
Alexandros Papadiamantis ( el, Ἀλέξανδρος Παπαδιαμάντης; 4 March 1851 – 3 January 1911) was an influential Greek novelist, short-story writer and poet.
Biography
Papadiamantis was born in Greece, on the island of Skiatho ...
who lived in the area for more than two decades.
Notes
References
* Καιροφύλας, Γιάννης. ''Η ιστορία της συνοικίας του Ψυρή'', ed. Φιλιππότη, Athens, 2000
* Στασινόπουλος, Επαμεινώνδας. ''Η Αθήνα του περασμένου αιώνα (1830-1900)'', Athens, 1963
* Μπίρης, Κωνσταντίνος. ''Αι τοπωνυμίαι της πόλεως και των περιχώρων των Αθηνών'', ed. Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού:Ταμείο Αρχαιολογικών Πόρων και Απαλλοτριώσεων, 2006
(reprint of the 1971 edition)
Tourist attractions in Athens
Neighbourhoods in Athens
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