Kotzia Square ( el, Πλατεία Κοτζιά) is a square in central

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh List ...

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 wit ...

. The square retains several characteristics of 19th-century local

neoclassical architecture Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing sty ...

, such as the City Hall of the

Municipality of Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh List ...

and the

National Bank of Greece The National Bank of Greece (NBG; el, Εθνική Τράπεζα της Ελλάδος) is a global banking and financial services company with its headquarters in Athens, Greece. 85% of the company's pretax preprovision profits are derived ...

Cultural Center. It is named after

Konstantinos Kotzias Konstantinos "Kostas" Kotzias ( el, Κωνσταντίνος (Κώστας) Κοτζιάς; 17 May 1892 – 8 December 1951) was a Greek fencer. He competed at the 1912 and 1924 Summer Olympics. In 1934 he was elected Mayor of Athens. I ...

, former

Mayor of Athens The Mayor of Athens is the head of the Municipality of Athens, the largest district of Athens. Kingdom of Greece (1832–1924) Second Hellenic Republic (1924–1935) Kingdom of Greece (1935–1941) Hellenic State (1941–1944) Kingdom ...

Location

The square is surrounded by the following streets: Efpolidos Street to the north, Athinas Street to the west, Kratinou to the south, and

Aiolou Street Aiolou Street (also Eolou Street; el, Οδός Αιóλου) is a street in downtown Athens, the Greek capital. It is named after Aeolus, the god of winds in Greek mythology. The street is one-way and originally ran entirely southbound but sinc ...

from the east. The square itself is south of Omonia Square and north of

Monastiraki square Monastiraki ( Greek: Μοναστηράκι, ''Monastiráki'', , literally ''little monastery'') is a flea market A flea market (or swap meet) is a type of street market that provides space for vendors to sell previously-owned (second-han ...

. Kotzia square lies in front of the City Hall of the

,Kotzia Square/City Hall Plaza/National Resistance Square Page.
Greeceathensageaninfo.com. (designed by Panagis Kalkos) and is decorated with busts of famous Athenians such as

Pericles Pericles (; grc-gre, wikt:Περικλῆς, Περικλῆς; c. 495 – 429 BC) was a Greeks, Greek politician and general during the Fifth-century Athens, Golden Age of Athens. He was prominent and influential in Athens, Athenian politi ...

and

Solon Solon ( grc-gre, Σόλων; BC) was an Athenian statesman, constitutional lawmaker and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in Archaic Athens.Aristotle ''Politic ...

History

Built in 1874, the square was formerly known as ''Loudovikou square''. During the 2004 Summer Olympics, it served as the start and finish venue of the Athens historic centre circuit for the men's and women's

road race Road racing, road race of road racer may refer to: * Road racing in motorsport * Road running on foot * Road bicycle racing * ''Road Race'', initial name of 1976 arcade game ''Fonz'' (video game) * Roadracers (1994 film) * Roadracers (1959 fi ...

events, as well as for various artistic events.

Excavations

In the middle of Kotzia square classical antiquities have been uncovered that include a large part of an ancient road, tombs and a small building. The square is situated just outside the ancient Acharnian Gate of

Classical Athens The city of Athens ( grc, Ἀθῆναι, ''Athênai'' .tʰɛ̂ː.nai̯ Modern Greek: Αθήναι, ''Athine'' or, more commonly and in singular, Αθήνα, ''Athina'' .'θi.na during the classical period of ancient Greece (480–323 BC) wa ...

. It was called Acharnian because through it passed the road to the

Acharnai Acharnae or Acharnai (; grc, Ἀχαρναί) was a ''deme'' of ancient Athens. It was part of the phyle Oineis. Acharnae, according to Thucydides, was the largest deme in Attica. In the fourth century BCE, 22 of the 500 members of the At ...

. There are remains of the city wall as well as extended parts of the front

rampart Rampart may refer to: * Rampart (fortification), a defensive wall or bank around a castle, fort or settlement Rampart may also refer to: * "O'er the Ramparts We Watched" is a key line from "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the ...

and the

moat A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...

References

External links

Old photos of Kotzia square.
Venues of the 2004 Summer Olympics Olympic cycling venues Squares in Athens {{Summer-Olympic-venue-stub