The Great Athenian Avenues

Besides the small town with its old quarters situated on the northern slopes of the Acropolis made up of an exquisite labyrinth of quaint little streets and steps, the historical city centre has an overall modern structure with wide orthogonal avenues that date back to the 19th century (see Athenian Neoclassicism). As the city developed in the last century, for practical reasons linked to travelling by car, the town was planned with long wide roads starting at the two main squares of the capital (Omonoia and Sindagma) and going in all directions. These avenues are often dozens of kilometres long and have 3 lanes per traffic direction. Travelling along them is one of the best ways to get a quick view of the part of the city that has developed close by.