Kotzia Square

Coordinates: 37°58′54″N 23°43′40″E / 37.98167°N 23.72778°E

Kotzia Square
Πλατεία Κοτζιά
Former names	Ludovic Square
General information
Type	Open square
Architectural style	Neoclassicism
Town or city	Athens
Country	Greece

Kotzia Square (Greek: Πλατεία Κοτζιά) is a square in central Athens, Greece. The square retains several characteristics of 19th century local neoclassical architecture, such as the City Hall of the Municipality of Athens and the National Bank of Greece Cultural Center.^[1] He is named after Konstantinos Kotzias, former Mayor of Athens.

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

Kotzia square lies in front of the City Hall of the Municipality of Athens,^[2] and is decorated with busts of famous Athenians such as Pericles and Solon.^[2]

History

Ludovic Square ca. 1900

Antiquities on display at Kotzia square: Tombs, an ancient street and parts of the city's fortification.

Statue of Pericles.

Built in 1874,^[1] the square was formerly known as Loudovikou square.^[3] 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 events, as well as for various artistic events.^[4]

Excavations

In the middle of Kotzia square classical antiquities have been recently uncovered that include a large part of an ancient road, tombs and a small building.^[1] The square is situated just outside the ancient Acharnian Gate of Classical Athens.^[3]

References

1. Bowman, John S.; Marker, Sherry; Kerasiotis, Peter; Heidi, Sarna (2010). Frommer's Greece (Vol. 742). Frommer's. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-470-52663-7.
2. Kotzia Square/City Hall Plaza/National Resistance Square Page. Greeceathensageaninfo.com.
3. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies. University of London. Institute of Classical Studies. 2000. p. 127.
4. Official Report of the XXVIII Olympiad: The Games (Vol. 2) (PDF). Athens 2004 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games S.A. ISBN 960-88101-8-3. p. 299.

External links

• Old photos of Kotzia square.