Aerides, Athens

Aerides Αέρηδες
Neighborhood
The Tower of the Winds
Location within municipality of Athens
Coordinates: 37°58′28″N 23°43′37″E
Country	Greece
Region	Attica
City	Athens
Postal code	105 55, 105 56
Area code	210
Website	www.cityofathens.gr

Aerides (Greek: Αέρηδες pronounced [aˈe.ɾi.ðes]) is a small neighborhood of the center of Athens, Greece surrounding the Tower of the Winds, from where it takes its name. It is a subdivision of Plaka.

History

Aerides was considered the centre of Athens during the reign of King Otto (1832-62). A market was located here and the so-called 'Plane Tree Square' (πλατεία του πλατάνου) which was a barracks in which the Bavarian Army camped. Aiolou Street starts at the small park in which the Tower of the Winds is located and at the crossroads with Ermou Street was where most of the city's commercial traffic gathered. To the north, a market called Abatzidika opened, dealing in coarse fabrics.

The Madrasa of Athens (Μεντρεσές Αθηνών) is found on the north side of the park in which the Tower is located. This Islamic holy school became a prison during Otto's reign. Those who were being executed used to greet the plane tree in the adjacent square named after it. This is the origin of the Greek phrase "Greet the plane tree for us" (χαιρέτα μας τον πλάτανο), said when someone doesn't believe what the speaker has said will happen.

With the move of military quarters elsewhere, over time this once busy neighbourhood became quiet. On 1 May 1965, Aerides became part of Plaka, which it remains to the present day.

Aerides Bath

The Aerides Bath (Λουτρό των Αέρηδων) is a Turkish bath left over from the Ottoman rule. The bath remained opened until 1965.

Transport

Monastiraki metro station on Line 1 and Line 3 is the nearest station of the Athens Metro.