This is one of the largest districts of Athens and perhaps one of the last in the Athens Municipality margin that maintains the typical characteristics of a neighborhood. The Panathinaikon Stadium, which was built for the first Olympic Games in 1896, acts as a portal for the old residential neighborhood of Pagrati. The surrounding area of Kallimarmaro was named “frog island” after the small islet created in the riverbed of the Ilissos River. This name derived from the frogs that lived in and around the river. The first time the name Pagrati was mentioned was in various written passages back in 1920, however, no official government documents exist to verify this name.
Prevailing version for the naming of the region is that it was named after the God Iraklis Pagkratis, hence his statue which was found north east of the stadium, on the corner of Vassileos Konstantinou Street and Vassileos Georgiou the 2nd Street. It is really a district of contrasts, with large, crowded urban streets but on the other hand small, picturesque alleys and monotonous apartment buildings of the 50s situated next to exceptional neoclassical mansions. Ordinary, everyday people blend with people of literature and people of cultural nature and the residents of all social classes mingle in balance, you will see proximate cement buildings adjacent to the groves and parks of the area. Pagrati merges all of the above contrasts in harmony and, as a result, manages to maintain its individual character up to date.
Pagrati gives its residents and the regular visitors the ability to perceive the meaning of the Greek neighborhood as such. Pagrati is within walking distance from the city center, but also maintains its own autonomy as regards shopping and entertainment.
Particularity: The low prices, the location right next to the center of the city and the nice urban apartments are one of the many reasons that this area close to the Caravel Hotel, the National Research Foundation and Rizari Street are currently in high demand.
Nature: The Pagrati Forest, the Ardittou Hill and Rizari Park.
Average property purchase and rental rates: Here we notice a big difference in prices, depending on the specific area. It is a quite large district and has many different neighborhoods. The areas near Vassileos Konstantinou Street are more expensive, the areas which offer a view overlooking the area also differ in prices and then there is the quarter of Mets, an area of individual character and specific inhabitants. Here there is very little availability in real estate, consequently placing it in a separate category. The region offers an assortment of residential areas, as well as more crowded and lively areas.
We will see prices ranging from EUROS 500.00 up to 8,000 per square meter for purchase and EUROS 5.00 to 20.00 per square meter for rent.
Transportation: The nearest Metro station is Evangelismos and can be reached within a few minutes of walking. 3 trolley lines and some 10 bus lines serve the area throughout.
Market: Absolutely self-sufficient for the everyday needs of its inhabitants. There is a Mall, small grocery stores, butcher shops and grocers, but also large super markets and a selection of clothing stores.
Culture/Entertainment: Residential movie theaters, multiplex cinemas, the Coronet Theater, many coffee shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, traditional Greek music places and various musical stages.
Spots: The Panathinaikon Stadium (Kalimarmaro), the Pagrati Grove, the Plastira Square, Imittou Street, Aghios Spiridonas, the Piazza di Spanga of Athens. One particularity of Pagrati is that it has many squares. The ones that stand out are Barnabas Square, Plastira Square and the Scouts’ Square. There is also the Museum of Experimentation and the new Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art that will open its doors in a few months.
