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 eco ...

neighbourhood in

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 ...

, 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 thousan ...

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 The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted ...

(e.g.

Karaiskakis Georgios Karaiskakis ( el, Γεώργιος Καραϊσκάκης), born Georgios Karaiskos ( el, Γεώργιος Καραΐσκος; 1782 – 1827), was a famous Greek military commander and a leader of the Greek War of Independence. Early ...

, 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 Peerage of the United Kingdom, peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and h ...

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 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 {{Athens-geo-stub