Aiolou Street

December today and nothing reminds, the bustling character of Athens as many are those who have left for their summer holidays.

The heart of the city, the main streets such as Panepistimiou, Stadiou, Akademias were empty today.

The camera captured people walking through the deserted streets undisturbed by cars and traffic. It is noted that shops and supermarkets are closed.

Like a cut in the Athenian fabric, there's a narrow street stretching from Syntagma Square to Athinas Street that changes name four times along the way: From Karagiorgi Servias to Perikleous after crossing Lekka, to Athinaidos after Evangelistrias, and then to Agias Irinis on the last leg, after Aiolou Street.

Gradual road closures will come into effect ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising, to be commemorated with a big rally across the city centre on Friday.

Investment fever is spreading on Aiolou Street, Athinas Street and Kotzia Square to Patision Street and the National Archaeological Museum, with investors maintaining high expectations for the return of the area to its bygone glory.

Cars will be banned from the historical center of Athens for three months from mid-June in order to provide more space to pedestrians in view of the need for physical distancing, according to a joint ministerial decision Friday.

Traffic restrictions will come into effect in Athens on New Year's Eve as the capital celebrates the arrival of the new year and new decade.
Syntagma Square and all the roads around it will be closed off from 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening until the end of celebrations late into the night, which include a two-stage musical event and a New Year welcome by Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis.

The stories of "firsts" are testaments to the forward-thinking mind-set and courage of those who decide to try something new, despite the risks. The story of the first supermarket in Athens is no different. The Thanopoulos family business became the catalyst for the modernization of the wholesale and retail trade of food and non-food items in Greece.

Volunteers prepare salads on Saturday as part of a joint campaign between Athens municipal services and Skai's Oloi Mazi Boroume (Together We Can) campaign ahead of World Food Day Monday. The campaign, which aims to discourage the waste of food, involved food handouts on central Vissis and Aiolou streets.

Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis on Monday presented a ?growth program? for the city that aims to gentrify the capital?s commercial center in a bid to capitalize on an upturn in tourism while also attracting investments.

The military parade marking the anniversary of March 25, the Greek Independence Day, started today at 11.00 am in downtown Athens.