The square, considered by many as the center of the city, was created in 1846 and was named Palace Square. Subsequently, it was renamed to Othonos Square and in 1862, and was subsequently renamed to its current name, i.e.Omonia Square,as, at that time, leaders of the rival political ideologies, which had caused bloody riots, gathered there and took an oath of “unity”.
In 1960, a central fountain was built in the middle of the square. In 1988, in the center of the fountain, the statue of the Runner, created by the Greek sculptor Kostas Varotsos, was placed.Currently the statue is located in the square of Phanar Greek Orthodox College, facing the National Gallery. It is the oldest square in Athens, from which the main routes of the city, Stadiou, Athena, Panesopitiou, 3rdSeptember, Piraeus and Agios Konstantinos, as well as Kotopoulis and Doros streets start, which were redesigned to include pedestrian walkways.
In 1992, all the green areawasremoved;its shapechanged from a circular to a rectangle and the “Pentacycle” sculpture was placed.
In 2020, the new renovated version of the square was launched, with the imposing 30-meter fountain, with 13 jets, 188 water jets and 90 underwater projectors among the lawn. The square and the neighboring wider area, uncared for a long time, are now experiencing a new development and new investment interest, mainly focused on the hotel and commercial sectors.
In recent years, the municipal authorities have been attempting to upgrade and rehabilitate the area, with the purpose regain the position it held during its peak prosperity.
Visitors will be impressed by the neoclassical buildings located at the junction of 68 Panepistimiouand Patision Streets, which were built at the beginning of the 20thcentury. The buildings at Athinas 69 &Omonia Square and Athinas 64 Omonia Square, which were built in the late 1880s and were declared a monument in 1976, are considered the representative works of ErnstZiller. At Omonia Squareand DorouStreet, in a preserved neoclassical building of the 1860s, a luxurious cafe was founded in 1920 with 100 marble tables, an impressive painting decoration and special furniture. Also, the VogiatzidisHall from the 1870s with 3 floors is located at 3rdSeptember 2 & Omonia Square.
