Tours for Accompanying Persons

This year, two half-day sightseeing tours are included in the accompanying person’s registration package. IFLA and the National Committee are delighted to offer both tours for the accompanying person’s programme. Tickets for the half-day guided tours can be reserved during the online registration process or when registering onsite at the congress. Please note that these tours are subject to availability and require a minimum amount of confirmed bookings in order to take place.

 

1. Kolonaki – Gallery Walk

Date: Monday, 26 August 2019

Time: 09:00

Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours

Meeting point: Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, Tour Desk

If you want to get to know one of the most famous districts of Athens and explore neoclassical buildings and art in the metro, this is the tour for you.

Our first visit will be at the Megaron Mousikis Metro Station, which is strongly connected with the Olympic games of 2004 & Evagelismos Metro Station, where you will  find the artwork of “the Mott Street (1983)”, the renowned large work in dark aluminium and red-toned neon light created by Chryssa, which took its name from Mott Street in Chinatown, Manhattan.

After an 8 minutes walking tour we will arrive at Kolonaki Area. Kolonaki, literally “Little Column”, is a wealthy and upmarket district in central Athens, and its name derives from the two metre column (located in Kolonaki Square) that defined the area even before a single house had been built there.

The tour concludes with a visit of two of the most well-known contemporary art galleries of Athens, that will offer you the opportunity to familiarize with Greek contemporary art.

Tour highlights: Contemporary art • Kolonaki vibrant area • neoclassical buildings •  art in the metro

 

 

2. Old Athens – Plaka Walk

Date: Tuesday, 27 August 2019

Time: 09:00

Duration: 3.5 – 4

Meeting point: Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, Tour Desk

Οur walking tour will start with a visit to Syntagma Square that is placed in front of the 19th century Old Royal Palace, housing the Greek Parliament since 1934. Syntagma square is the most central and important square of Greece from a historical, political, social and commercial point of view. At the bottom of the Parliament, there is the Monument of the Unknown Soldier that is protected by evzones, members of the presidential guards.

Afterwards, we will pass through Mitropoleos Street and visit the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation, the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, that was built by King Otto and Queen Amalia.  Next stop is Plaka, the old historical neighborhood of Athens on the northeast slope of Acropolis. Our tour will conclude with a visit of Monastiraki flea market, the center of buzzing Athens where you can find traditional food, clothes, leather, jewelry, antique reproductions and souvenirs & experience the real atmosphere of Athens.

Tour highlights: House of Parliament • Syntagma Square   • Orthodox Cathedral  • Old Athens/ Plaka •  Monastiraki  Square  • Adrian Library • Fleet Market