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The Crowne Plaza area. A Brief history.

Until the middle of the 20th century, the Ilisos, one of the rivers of Athens, originating from the Ymittos, ran through the districts of the city. However, the fear of spreading infectious diseases to the growing population of the capital and the constant reconstruction led to the decision to cover the river.

The place of the Ilissos was taken by the great modern avenues that cross Athens. One of them is Michalakopoulou Street. The street was named after the politician Andreas Michalakopoulos, who had served as Prime Minister in 1924-1925. However, the ancient river continues to flow under the bustling avenue.

Across the street from the hotel is the Meandros Park. A green grove in which the bust of the poet and national hero of Cuba José Martí, the work of sculptor Felix Madrigal, has been placed.

Visitors to the Crowne Plaza will notice that there are several hospitals within walking distance of the hotel. Most of them were founded by donations from benefactors in the late 19th and early 20th century. This was due to the need to treat diseases and the area was chosen because of the donation of land by the Holy Monastery of Petrakis for the creation of hospitals and the excellent, healthy climate.^th και τις αρχές του 20^th αιώνα. Αυτό οφείλεται στην ανάγκη αντιμετώπισης ασθενειών ενώ η περιοχή επιλέχτηκε λόγω της δωρεά γης που έκανε η Ιερά Μονή Πετράκη για τη δημιουργία νοσηλευτικών ιδρυμάτων αλλά και του εξαιρετικού, υγιεινού κλίματος.

One of the nearby hospitals is the Andreas Syngros Hospital which was built in 1910 and was the first specialist hospital for Venereal and Dermatological diseases, the only one in Europe at that time, which mainly treated sex workers.

The nearby Sygrou Park in Ilisia, in an area formerly known as Kouponia, also takes its name from the hospital. The creation of the park is due to Queen Sophia who in 1909 proceeded to plant trees in various parts of Attica. The park today has an area of 150 acres, the building of the National Foundation for Agricultural Research, a primary school and the holy church of Agios Charalambos of Ilisia.

An oasis of greenery for the area and the whole of Athens, is the Eleftherias Park located on nearby Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. A green place for walking, meeting and events. The park is dominated by the sculpture of Eleftherios Venizelos, the work of sculptor Yannis Pappas. The park was named after the fighters who were tortured during the years of the dictatorship in the detention facilities of the Greek Military Police-ESA behind the park. Today the building has been converted into a Museum of Anti-Dictatorship Democratic Resistance. Next to it are the stone buildings that house the Athens Municipality Arts Centre, the Eleftherios K. Venizelos Museum. The Athens Book Space, a modern open-air reading room where visitors have free access to printed and digital books, was recently inaugurated.

Next to the park is one of the most emblematic buildings of Athens, the Athens Concert Hall. It started its operation in 1991 and changed the image of Vasilissis Sofias Avenue and the cultural map of the capital. Important architects such as the Doxiadis-Skepers-Vassiliadis team, Walter Gropius, Heinrich Keilholz and Johannes Burkhardt have contributed to its design. The sculptress Chrysa's "Clytemnestra" has been placed in the surrounding area of the Concert Hall.

In front of the Athens Concert Hall is the homonymous exit of the Blue Line of the Metro, which also serves the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The station is decorated with works by the painter Panos Feidakis.

The most notable buildings in Athens include the American Embassy. It is a building in the Bauhaus architectural style, designed by Walter Gropius. In fact, it is considered one of the most important works of the architect who was inspired by the architecture of the Parthenon.

Crowne Plaza Athens