Church of Kapnikarea
For such a small building, this church contains a real wealth
of history. Situated on the ruins of a temple dedicated to
Athena or Demeter, in the middle of Ermou, the modern city’s
busy shopping street, most of the structure dates to the 11th
and 12th centuries. The rest is Byzantine brickwork, topped
with a dome, whilst the colorful frescoes of the interior are
the work of the famous modern artist Fotis Kontoglou. The low
wall surrounding the church makes for a good place to rest up
and take note before hitting the shops.
Ermou
Metro Station: Monastiraki
Church of Agii Theodori
This simple domed church located just west of Plateia
Klathmonos owes much of its present appearance to 19th century
building and renovation work. But the church was most
certainly erected over the ruins of an earlier Byzantine
structure, as an inscribed plaque on the west wall, recording
that Nikolaos Kalomalos undertook renovations in 1065 AD,
attests. A visit inside reveals a delightful painted frieze of
animals and plants from the 19th century.
Aristidou
Metro Station: Panepistimiou
