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 The plaka is the oldest neighborhood in Athens which is also heart of the city. The plaka was used to be known as Alikokou, Kontito, or Kandili. The name Plaka was given under the rule of King Otto which means the Old. The area is located between Syntagma square and Monastiraki. Plaka was known as “Turkish quarter of Athens” during Ottoman rule. When in 1883, the first burned part of Plaka neighborhood then it gave a reason to archeologists to search for ancient time remains in Roman Market and Hadrian’s library. Plaka is visited by thousands of people every year. To roam around Plaka area it has to be on foot because no motor vehicles are allowed due to narrow streets. Plaka is the only area where all of the utilities of Athens are build that include water, power, cable television, telephone, internet, and sewage.
Plaka area has many attraction places to visit by tourist which include Roman Agora/Roman Forum, Ancient Agora, Martinos, Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, Kanellopoulos Museum, Museum of Greek Popular Musical Instruments, and Museum of Greek Folk Art. Roman Agora/Roman Forum is a place where ancient shops and a fountain are located where many people visit just for the fountain. Ancient Agora is also located there an area which was once a common place for political, administrative, social, religious, and cultural activities of Athens. Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is where you can find old Islamic art of Ottoman Rule times which was open in 2004 to public. Kanellopoulos Museum includes artifacts from Persian and Mycenean Greece times. Museum of Greek Popular Musical Instruments is an exceptional museum that includes musical instruments from traditional Greek times. Museum of Greek Folk Art where there will be artifacts, tools, paintings, folk poetry, interior décor, costumes, and embroidered items from ancient times of Athens. Martinos is a perfect plan to shop for original antiques objects which off course has high prices but yet affordable.
 For entertainment, visit Cine Paris which is known as top best outdoor movie theater of Athens. The movies are almost all in English language with Greek Subtitles. The interior of the theater has dynamic light changing roof with astounding lightening and sounds.
The list of restaurants in Athens can go on and on but the top ones are Paradosiako restaurants, Epeiros restaurant, Platanos, Peristeri, Psaras Fish Taverna, Saita Bakaliaro, Thespidos, The Hani, Vyzantino Taverna, and Paradosiako. Each of the restaurants has different menu to offer from just small coffee café to fine traditional dining in Greek style.
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