Kolonaki, one of the oldest districts in Athens, is an exclusive enclave defined by beautiful buildings, tall trees, and outdoor squares.
An aristocratic Athens neighborhood close to the capital’s center, Kolonaki, which means “little column” in Greek, is named for the Plateia Filikis Etaireias, the small ancient landmark in the center of the city’s main square. The neighborhood is set on the slope of Lycabettus, one of the city’s seven hills and home to the 19th-century Chapel of St. George.
“Kolonaki combines modern urban life with a magical aura of the past Athenian life,” says Savvas Savvaidis, president and CEO of Greece Sotheby’s International Realty. Although it’s a cultural and entertainment mecca, Kolonaki tempers its cosmopolitan air with a decidedly down-to-earth feel.
“The anonymous and well-known live side by side,” Savvaidis says. “Owners of the small shops, like grocery stores and bookstores, smile and say ‘good morning.’ Children play in the squares or enjoy movies in open-air summer cinemas. It attracts people of all ages and personalities, styles, and cultures.”
RESIDENCES WITH CHARM AND CHARACTER
The neighborhood’s apartment buildings and condominiums are in many different architectural styles, ranging from classical to modernist, giving Kolonaki an eclectic look that unfolds, street by street, like a mini-history lesson.
Properties are quoted in euros for the international market, and the average sales price for a standard condo, according to Savvaidis, is €3,300 per square meter. He adds that the average sales price for a luxury unit is about €6,500 per square meter.
“Unique properties with architectural and historical interest, such as those in the 1930s or postwar buildings, are likely to be sold for even more,” he says.