Gazi (meaning “Gas”) is a city center neighborhood that has become widely known for three things. The first is the Industrial Museum, which today operates as a multi-purpose cultural center called “Technopolis,” and covers 30,000 sq.m.. The next aspect that Gazi is famous for is its vibrant atmosphere and nightlife that lasts until the early morning hours. Gazi has become a major entertainment hub with a restaurant, bar, club and “bouzoukia” (Live Greek music performances by popular Greek singers in venues with seated tables, that typically includes the throwing of many flowers) scene that is limitless. The third aspect to Gazi is that though Athens does not have an identified gay district, most gay life can be found in and around the Gazi neighborhood.
Gazi actually surrounds the Technopolis, which was the focus of the town’s trade and economy years ago when it was a gasworks. The factory was instrumental in the development of this relatively poor, yet dynamic working-class neighborhood. A backstreet culture transformed the area around the factory with a mixture of brothels and small family homes, when workers and Muslims from Northern Greece arrived seeking jobs in the factory. It was very interesting how people from varying backgrounds found a way to peacefully co-exist in Gazi. Soon, this was followed by many garages, paint shops and spare parts stores, crammed right next to each other along the narrow streets of the area. The gas factory commenced its operations in the year 1862 and shut its engines down in 1984. In 1986, the facility was declared to be a protected historical monument by the Ministry of Culture. In 1999, the first art/ cultural events were hosted on the factory’s premises, which was now referred to as “Technopolis,” and it has remained a well-known cultural site in Athens.
Today in this neighborhood, one can experience the authentic character and traditional way of life of the locals, who formed an independent community using all of the facilities of that time. However, our advice is to visit Gazi once the sun goes down, as this is when the towering pylons of the gasworks glow red to signal that it is time to party! Hundreds and hundreds of people head to Gazi on the weekends, where a young crowd heads to spend their evenings reveling and meeting up with friends. In the summertime, the Technopolis area booms with many live concerts and performances taking place. Then, the whole area is overtaken with music, laughter and happy voices.
Gazi excites us because it has something for everyone; some people choose to visit Gazi to enjoy the theaters, while others go for the crazy nightlife and dance until dawn, while still others go to have a nice dinner. On a visit to Gazi, you are certain to find places, tastes, music and trends that will suit your style. Many popular spots in Gazi can be found along the streets of Persefonis, Voutadon, Triptolemou, Dekeleon, as well as along the narrow streets that veer off from them.
Technopolis
Make sure you visit Technopolis, which nowadays hosts amazing events, concerts, art exhibitions and much more! Check out its website to see what it is happening around during your stay in Athens. Currently, for example, there is a jazz festival just before summer in May for usually seven days.
From May to September, beloved Greek and foreign artists, surprise names and up-and-coming acts from all musical genres, from rock and pop to jazz, hip hop and rebetiko, take to the Technopolis stage. Concerts, unexpected musical meetings, unplugged sessions, nostalgic evenings, tributes, favorite festivals with sounds from the entire musical spectrum, make Technopolis the ultimate summer music destination for everyone.
https://www.athens-technopolis.gr/index.php/en/
OLD OSY (Tram) Depot
We are mentioning this former tram depot mainly for 2 reasons. 1) Its exterior is the canvas for some of the city’s best pieces of street art including, along the wall on Pireos avenue, a homage to famous Leonardo da Vinci images by INO ( http://ino.net/ ) an internationally famous Greek street artist who, like Banksy, keeps his real identity secret. INO’s works can be recognized by his trademark monotone designs enlivened by bold splashes of vivid light blue. They usually make subtle political messages – take note of the rioter and policeman reflected in the Mona Lisa’s eyes.
2) This space is used for various events throughout the year and our favorite so far is the Athens Street Food Festival that is usually taking place all weekends during May. https://athensstreetfoodfestival.gr/en/
Since 2016, each May Athens Street Food Festival is one of the leading cultural events of Athens, with over half a million visitors. Since its beginning, the festival has presented countless ideas on versions of street food, constantly showing and creating new trends in the field of food and beverage. The festival brings together a global community of street food from all corners of the globe including Asia, Africa, Northern Europe, Latin America and of course, Greece.
The venue, about 4.700 sq. metres of historic as well as architectural significance, is especially set for visitors to discover street editions of dozens of cuisines, enjoy the Bars & Beverages Area, DJ sets by famous radio producers and live gigs featuring popular artists.
