Filellinon Street in Athens

This historic street in Athens takes its name from the Philhellene volunteers who fought alongside the Greeks during the Greek War of Independence in 1821. Filellinon Street begins at the southwest corner of Syntagma Square and ends at Amalias Avenue. It was laid out between 1858 and 1860, soon becoming adorned with some of the most beautiful buildings in the city, many of which still stand today. Over the years, it has also served as the residence of several prominent Greek writers, among them Emmanouil Roidis (1836–1904). Roidis lived at the corner of 16 Filellinon Street and Navarchou Nikodimou, just across from the Russian Church, also known as the Sotira of Lykodimos or Holy Trinity, the largest surviving Byzantine church in Athens, dating back to the 11th century. In 1958, the neoclassical three-story house where Roidis had lived was replaced by the Olympic Palace Hotel, designed by architect Iason Rizos. The building still operates today in renovated form as the New Hotel. Pictured: Postcard showing horse-drawn trams and carriages on Filellinon Street in Athens, likely from the late 19th century. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.