The square is located in the center of Athens, between 3rd September and Aristotelous streets and incluides a train station. Its uniqueness is attributed to the presence of people with a variety of cultures and the abundance of shops, cafes, restaurants and entertainment options.
Its center features an imposing statue depicting the mythological scene of the abduction of Hippodamia by the drunken Centaur Eurythion and the attempt of the Athenian King Theseus to rescue her, while the composition also features a fallen fourth figure, Hippodamia’sservant . The Centaurs who were mythical creatures and a creation of the ancient Greeks, resembled a horse in their lower bodies, as well as a human in their upper bodies.
It was formerly known as Kyriakou Square. According to the prevailing version, the square was named Viktoria in honor of the Queen of Britain, on the occasion of the concession of the Ionian Islands to Greece in 1864, as a gift for the crowning of the Queen’s nephew, Prince William George of Denmark as the King of Greece. This transaction was completed in 1872 by the mayor of Athens, Panagis Kyriakos, who lived in the area. Later it was renamed to Kyriakou Square in his honor. However, the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 shocked Greek public and led to the prevalence of the old name, which was made official in 1943.
Since the 1940s this district has been one of the best and most sought after in Athens, comparable only to Kolonaki. For many years, the summer theater of Katerina Andreadis, known as the Katerina theater was located on 3rd September Street (at the site of the current OTE Building). The theater’s area was taken over in 1960 by the Hall of OTE, designed by the leading architect Konstantinos Kitsikis. The building was completed in 1969 and was internationally recognized for its ultra-modern and elegant aesthetics. The facade of the building is decorated with ceramic murals by PanosValsamakis. In 1966, the Greek public television (EIR) broadcasted for the first time from the 10th floor of the semi-completed building. Around the former Katerina theater were picturesque pastry shops such as Perfect, at the junction of 3rd September and Hayden streets, frequented by the elites of the time.
In the streets around the square, visitors exprience great features of classic modernism, such as the apartment building on 43 Mavrommataion Street, the Sarandopoulos apartment building (27 Derigny Street), but also the apartment buildings on 1 and 2 Heyden Street (luxurious construction in 1949 by the construction company LASKO).
