Page 30 - iGREECE_EATA MARCH 2025

price of a craft cocktail. looms like an architectural dream of an
The Varvakeios Market, a labyrinthine idealised Athens. Designed by Theophil
homage to Athens’ culinary heritage, re- Hansen, these grand buildings are a re-
mains one of the city’s last great mar- flection of Greece’s aspirations during its

kets—a testament to the city’s relentless period of modernisation, with their ma-
energy. Here, the clamor of haggling ven- jestic façades standing as symbols of the
dors and the tang of fresh produce take country’s rebirth following its indepen-
you back to a simpler Athens, while in the dence. They serve as open doors to the
surrounding tavernas, locals sit shoulder public, offering a glimpse into the minds
to shoulder, their conversations a mix of that shaped Greece’s modern identity.
politics and gossip, offering a living por-
trait of everyday life in the heart of the Omonoia Square, once the epicentre of
city. Athens’ cosmopolitan life, now serves as a
reminder of the city’s constant flux. Once
A stone’s throw from these lively the meeting point for the city’s intellectu-
streets, the Neoclassical Trilogy— als, it now hosts modern sculptures like
comprising the Athens Academy, the the Pentacycle and a fountain, echoing the
University, and the National Library— rapid changes that Athens continues to

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