Glyfada
Encyclopedia
Glyfada is a suburb
of Athens, situated in the southern parts of the Athens
Metropolitan Area. The area, which is home to many of Greece's millionaires, ministers and celebrities, stretches out from the foot of the Hymettus
mountain and reaches out to embrace the Saronic Gulf
. It is the largest of Athens
' southern suburbs. This fashion-conscious suburb is known in Greece
for its upmarket cafes, well-known restaurants, boutique
s and cosmopolitan summer clubs; Glyfada has also been called "Knightsbridge-on-Sea", "Hellenic Hamptons", or the "Beverly Hills of Greece".
known as Aixone (Αιξωνή). Today, Glyfada is packed with some of the capital's best-known nightclubs, upscale restaurants and shops. It could be argued to be one of the most "Americanized" of Athenian municipalities, since an American airbase was located nearby until the early 1990s. The base's population contributed in part to Glyfada's character, leading to a unique blend of Greek and American atmosphere and cuisine. Although the base is now gone and the school relocated, Glyfada still retains part of its American flavour while continuing to offer distinctly Greek cuisine, entertainment and nightlife.
Glyfada was established as the heart of Athens' southern suburbs, because of its prime waterfront location, rich commercial centre, and modern business district. It has been described as the headpoint of the 'Athens Riviera' and features some of Europe's most opulent seafront residences, gardens and extensive beachfront property, with a modern marina.
The town hall is located at the center of the municipality; nearby, Glyfada’s shopping district has one of the most vibrant and diversified commercial centres of Athens' neighbourhoods, with a collection ranging across specialist and designer boutiques. Its proximity to a succession of beaches and a concentrated seaside club scene also greatly increases the number of visitors during the summer months. The area’s shopping district runs across Metaxa Avenue and Grigoriou Labraki Street while both the offices of major businesses and shopping areas also dot the Avenues Voyliagmenis, Goynari and Gennitika.
Northwest is the forested wooded golf course of Athens
, the Glyfada Golf Club, located south of the old Airport of Athens
. To the east and northeast is an urban sprawl which spreads over the southwest shoulder of Mt. Hymettus
and its rocky landscape. The roads are lined and curved to nearly NW at a 90 degree angle, and it also encompasses a marina and a popular beach, while its beaches are located in the western part of the municipality. Half of the municipality is located on rocky landscape of Mount Hymettus. The urban sprawl of Athens began in the 1950s and 1960s and continued into the 1990s, when housing development continued in that part of Hymettus.
line which goes across the seaside next to Posidonos Avenue. On the quay at Glyfada is a rescue and rehabilitation centre for sea turtles, run by ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
. The staff there provide free educational tours of the facilities and treatments for visitors.
Kostantinos Kokoris was just elected Mayor.
is located at the Municipality, formerly a major indoor sport venue of local Athens teams.
, Serbia
Gżira
, Malta
Vidnoye
, Russia
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Athens, situated in the southern parts of the Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
Metropolitan Area. The area, which is home to many of Greece's millionaires, ministers and celebrities, stretches out from the foot of the Hymettus
Hymettus
Hymettus, also Hymettos is a mountain range in the Athens area, East Central Greece. It is also colloquially known as Trellos or Trellovouno , a name of uncertain origin...
mountain and reaches out to embrace the Saronic Gulf
Saronic Gulf
The Saronic Gulf or Gulf of Aegina in Greece forms part of the Aegean Sea and defines the eastern side of the isthmus of Corinth. It is the eastern terminus of the Corinth Canal, which cuts across the isthmus.-Geography:The gulf includes the islands of; Aegina, Salamis, and Poros along with...
. It is the largest of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
' southern suburbs. This fashion-conscious suburb is known in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for its upmarket cafes, well-known restaurants, boutique
Boutique
A boutique is a small shopping outlet, especially one that specializes in elite and fashionable items such as clothing and jewelry. The word is French for "shop", via Latin from Greek ἀποθήκη , "storehouse"....
s and cosmopolitan summer clubs; Glyfada has also been called "Knightsbridge-on-Sea", "Hellenic Hamptons", or the "Beverly Hills of Greece".
History
In the ancient period, the area was a demeDeme
In Ancient Greece, a deme or demos was a subdivision of Attica, the region of Greece surrounding Athens. Demes as simple subdivisions of land in the countryside seem to have existed in the 6th century BC and earlier, but did not acquire particular significance until the reforms of Cleisthenes in...
known as Aixone (Αιξωνή). Today, Glyfada is packed with some of the capital's best-known nightclubs, upscale restaurants and shops. It could be argued to be one of the most "Americanized" of Athenian municipalities, since an American airbase was located nearby until the early 1990s. The base's population contributed in part to Glyfada's character, leading to a unique blend of Greek and American atmosphere and cuisine. Although the base is now gone and the school relocated, Glyfada still retains part of its American flavour while continuing to offer distinctly Greek cuisine, entertainment and nightlife.
Glyfada was established as the heart of Athens' southern suburbs, because of its prime waterfront location, rich commercial centre, and modern business district. It has been described as the headpoint of the 'Athens Riviera' and features some of Europe's most opulent seafront residences, gardens and extensive beachfront property, with a modern marina.
The town hall is located at the center of the municipality; nearby, Glyfada’s shopping district has one of the most vibrant and diversified commercial centres of Athens' neighbourhoods, with a collection ranging across specialist and designer boutiques. Its proximity to a succession of beaches and a concentrated seaside club scene also greatly increases the number of visitors during the summer months. The area’s shopping district runs across Metaxa Avenue and Grigoriou Labraki Street while both the offices of major businesses and shopping areas also dot the Avenues Voyliagmenis, Goynari and Gennitika.
Geography
Glyfada Marina includes marine space and coastal land area totaling 3 kilometers, and a concrete land mass between basins A and B with a length of roughly 250 meters, between basins B and G with a length of roughly 150 meters, between basins G and D with a length of roughly 300 meters, and between basin D until the end of the basin of roughly 350 meters, with all harbor facilities and buildings found within this space.Northwest is the forested wooded golf course of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, the Glyfada Golf Club, located south of the old Airport of Athens
Ellinikon International Airport
Ellinikon International Airport , sometimes spelled Hellinikon was the international airport of Athens, Greece for sixty years up until 2001 when it was replaced by the new Athens International Airport. It is located south of Athens, and just west of Glyfada...
. To the east and northeast is an urban sprawl which spreads over the southwest shoulder of Mt. Hymettus
Hymettus
Hymettus, also Hymettos is a mountain range in the Athens area, East Central Greece. It is also colloquially known as Trellos or Trellovouno , a name of uncertain origin...
and its rocky landscape. The roads are lined and curved to nearly NW at a 90 degree angle, and it also encompasses a marina and a popular beach, while its beaches are located in the western part of the municipality. Half of the municipality is located on rocky landscape of Mount Hymettus. The urban sprawl of Athens began in the 1950s and 1960s and continued into the 1990s, when housing development continued in that part of Hymettus.
Transportation
Glyfada is connected to central Athens via two major avenues (Posidonos and Vouliagmenis) and a tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line which goes across the seaside next to Posidonos Avenue. On the quay at Glyfada is a rescue and rehabilitation centre for sea turtles, run by ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece was founded in 1983. It aims to protect sea turtles and their habitats in Greece through research, public awareness campaigns, restoring habitats, and through its rescue centre, built in 1994....
. The staff there provide free educational tours of the facilities and treatments for visitors.
Municipality
32,492 people registered with the Municipality of Glyfada voted during the Municipal Elections of October 2006. At the second round, 54.79% of the votes were for Thanasis Papakostas, who is the mayor of Glyfada for the 2006-2010 period.Kostantinos Kokoris was just elected Mayor.
Sports
The Glyfada Indoor HallGlyfada Indoor Hall
Glyfada Indoor Hall, officially known as Makis Liougas Indoor Hall is an indoor arena in Glyfada, Athens, Greece. It was built in 1970 and is currently being used as the home arena of Panathinaikos VC...
is located at the Municipality, formerly a major indoor sport venue of local Athens teams.
Famous residents and people
- Sophia AlibertiSophia AlibertiSophia Aliberti is a Greek talk show and game show host since 2004, television actress, and former fashion model.-Filmography:*Ta Tsakalia: Ena koinoniko provlima, 1981 .... Athina Fotiadou*Garsoniera gia deka 1981...
, TV personality and actress - Bessy Argyraki, Greek singer, Eurovision contestant and ex member of Glyfada's city council
- Anna DiamantopoulouAnna DiamantopoulouAnna Diamantopoulou , is a Member of Parliament in Greece for the party of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement and the current Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs in Greece...
, former Greek EU representative - Christos DantisChristos DantisChristos Dantis , is a Greek singer, songwriter, and musician best known for his hits such as "To Palio Mou Palto" and "Ena Tragoudi Akoma" and later for composing and co-writing the song "My Number One" for Elena Paparizou, winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 for Greece.- Early music career...
, Greek Rock artist - Predrag Đorđević, Serbian footballer
- EvridikiEvridikiEvridiki Theokleous , known professionally as simply Evridiki, is a Cypriot rock, pop, and electro pop singer. She is best known in Europe for representing her home country, Cyprus, in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, 1994 and 2007 with the songs Teriazoume, Eimai Anthropos Ki Ego and Comme...
, Greek Singer - Takis FyssasTakis FyssasPanagiotis "Takis" Fyssas is a former Greek international footballer. He is currently technical director of the Hellenic Football Federation.-Panionios:...
, Greek footballer - Mihalis Hatzigiannis, Greek Cypriot artist
- Kalomira, Pop singer and Eurovision contestant
- Giorgos KaragounisGiorgos KaragounisGiorgos Karagounis is a Greek footballer who currently plays for Panathinaikos . He is best remembered for scoring the first goal of UEFA Euro 2004, a very long range effort that helped his team to win the opening game of the tournament, in which the Greeks surprisingly emerged as champions.His...
, Greek footballer - Zeta MakripouliaZeta MakripouliaZeta Makrypoulia is a Greek actress, model and television presenter.-Career:Makrypoulia graduated from Vasilis Diamantopoulos' Drama School, while she has also attended acting classes at Theatro ton Allagon...
, Greek actress - Giorgos MazonakisGiorgos MazonakisGiorgos Mazonakis is a Modern Laika and pop Greek singer.-Biography:Giorgos Mazonakis born and raised in the neighbourhood of Nikaia, Athens. He grew up listening to traditional folk songs of Stratos Dionysiou, Yiannis Parios, Marinella and Haris Alexiou. Very quickly, at the age of 15, he...
, Greek singer - Constantine MitsotakisConstantine MitsotakisConstantine Mitsotakis , a Greek politician, was born in Chania, Crete. He came from a political family: his father and grandfathers were members of parliament, and the great liberal leader Eleftherios Venizelos was his uncle...
, former Prime Minister of GreecePrime Minister of GreeceThe Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following... - Tony MokbelTony MokbelAntonios Sajih 'Tony' Mokbel is an Australian from Melbourne, Australia, who was a fugitive until his recapture in Athens, Greece on 5 June 2007. He is of Lebanese descent and born in Kuwait. Detectives from Operation Purana allege that he is the mastermind behind the Melbourne amphetamines trade...
, Australian fugitive - Fani Palli-PetraliaFani Palli-PetraliaFani Palli-Petralia is a Greek lawyer, New Democracy politician anda former Minister for Employment and Social Protection...
, former Greek Minister of Tourism - Giannis PloutarhosGiannis PloutarhosGiannis Ploutarhos is a popular Greek singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the most popular laïko singers of his time, and has been characterized with having a genuine laïko voice...
, Greek singer - Alexandros PanagoulisAlexandros PanagoulisAlexandros Panagoulis was a Greek politician and poet. He took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels in Greece. He became famous for his attempt to assassinate dictator Georgios Papadopoulos on 13 August 1968, but also for the torture that he was subjected to during his...
, Greek politician and poet - Elena PaparizouElena PaparizouEleni "Elena" Paparizou , usually referred to abroad as Helena Paparizou, is a Greek-Swedish singer and occasional songwriter, who was born and raised in Sweden by Greek parents. She began her career there in 1999 as a member of the duo Antique, while she also worked briefly as a model for a...
, Pop singer and Eurovision winner - Giannis PariosGiannis Parios- Biography :Yiannis Parios was born Ioannis Varthakouris on the island of Paros .- Discography :*Yiannis Parios *Ti theleis na kano *Anthropina kai kathimerina...
, Greek singer - Antonis RemosAntonis RemosAntonis Remos , is a Greek laïko singer.-Early life:Antonis Remos was born in Düsseldorf, West Germany. He was raised there by his Greek parents, and later his family moved back to their native Thessaloniki, Greece, where he finished school. During his childhood he got involved with music and...
, Greek singer - Notis SfakianakisNotis SfakianakisPanagiotis Sfakianakis is a Greek singer of laika music, who is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time in Greece and Cyprus. Sfakianakis began his career in 1985, opening at nightclubs for other artists. He was discovered by Sony Greece and released his debut album Proti Fora...
, Greek singer - Tolis VoskopoulosTolis VoskopoulosApostolos Voskopoulos is one of the legends of modern Greek music. He also starred in many films and played in the Theatre in Athens....
, Greek singer - Chris Papadopoulos, Author, hit book "The Rolling Pumpkin"
- Sarah Ataya, Sailing champion of the year 2008
Historical population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 44,018 |
| 1991 | 63,306 |
| 2001 | 80,409 |
Districts
- Agios Nikolaos, GlyfadaAgios Nikolaos, GlyfadaAgios Nikolaos is a subdivision of the municipality of Glyfada in suburban Athens in Attica, Greece. Together with the neighboring Glyfada's Kolimvitirio neighborhood and Golf neighborhood it is also one of the most expensive districts of Glyfada and Athens in general. This is due to its close...
- Kolimvitirio
- Eksoni
- Evriali
- Pirnari
- Egli
- Ano GlyfadaAno GlyfadaAno Glyfada is a subdivision of the municipality of Glyfada in Athens, Greece literally meaning "Upper Glyfada"....
- TerpsitheaTerpsithea (Glyfada), GreeceTerpsithea is the northernmost and most densely populated settlement of the municipality of Glyfada in Athens, Greece. It lies in a valley run by the Mavrovounia hills/mountains and has an altitude between 120 and 180 m.- The climate at Terpsithea :...
Twin cities
Glyfada is twinned with the following cities: NišNiš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
Gżira
Gzira
Gżira is a town in the north-eastern coast of Malta between Msida & Sliema, and bordering on Ta' Xbiex, with its famed yacht marina and Embassy Row. The population is approximately 7,100 . The word Gżira means "island" in Maltese, and the town is named after Manoel Island which lies just adjacent...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
Vidnoye
Vidnoye
Vidnoye is a town and the administrative center of Leninsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated south of Moscow city limits. Population:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
See also
- List of cities in Greece
- Communities of Attica
- List of municipalities of Attica
External links
- http://www.glyfadiotes.gr
- Geographical Information
- Info Pages - Glyfada