Monument Hotel Athens- History of Psyrri ΑΤΗΕNS - As early as the 19th century, the Psyrri Neighborhood was one of the most vibrant of Athens. Its streets were frequented by craftsmen who worked in the workshops of the area, bourgeois who had their residences in the neighborhood, European visitors who stayed in the inns of the area, 1821 Revolution fighters and residents of the province who came to Athens. The constant changes in the urban planning of the capital and the creation of new districts led to the gradual decline of the neighborhood. Thus, at the end of the 19th century, Psirri became the base of the well-known "koutsavakides" who, acting illegally, with threats, violence and blackmail, caused many problems in the social life of the city. The end of their activities came at the end of the century so that Athens would be ready to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Despite the major interventions that took place in Athens during the 20th century, the district of Psirri retained its character as a neighborhood of the city centre, very close to the squares of Monastiraki and Agia Irini. The central square of the district, Plateia Iroon, takes its name from the two main streets leading to it, Miaouli Street and Karaiskakis Street. In the square is the church of Agioi Anargyroi. The original building was of the 11th century but at the beginning of the 20th century some extensions were made in order to meet the new needs of the parish. The temple has been linked to the Revolution as it was a meeting point for the fighters, became a storage place for ammunition and the fortress commander of the Acropolis, Panagiotis Ktenas, is buried there. In the courtyard of the temple there is still the chamber where Alexandros Papadiamantis, who used to chant in the temple, stayed for a long time. Another Byzantine church in the area was the church of Agia Eleoussa. However, after the liberation, it was decided to be replaced by the new capital's courthouse, based on plans by the architect Christian Hansen. The church was not completely demolished and remains to this day "hidden" on the ground floor of the neoclassical building that now houses the Library of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens. Among the many nightclubs, restaurants and accommodation, history continues to be present in the neoclassical buildings and old small houses of Psyrri.