Psyri or Psiri or Psyrri or Psirri ( or Ψυρρή,Probably derived from Ψυρής "inhabitant of Psara" (formerly known as Psyra or Psyrii). ) is a

gentrified Gentrification is the process whereby the character of a neighborhood changes through the influx of more affluent residents (the "gentry") and investment. There is no agreed-upon definition of gentrification. In public discourse, it has been us ...

neighbourhood in

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

, 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 (emotion), interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but it is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have deve ...

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. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted ...

(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) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...

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)

External links

* * Tourist attractions in Athens Neighbourhoods in Athens {{Athens-geo-stub