Gazi | Technopolis ΓΚΑΖΙ | ΤΕΧΝΟΠΟΛΙΣ a vibrant neighborhood
Gazi is a neighborhood of Athens around the old Athens Public Gas Works, which today is used as an industrial museum and exhibition space widely known as Technopolis, that spreads in an area of about 30,000 sq m, next to Kerameikos and close to the Acropolis.
Over the past decade the neighborhood has been growing rapidly and expanding. Gazi is close to the center of Athens and one of the few remaining areas in which you can still come across single-floor houses and the scent of jasmine. At the time the Gas Works were still in operation on that location, the area had a bad reputation.
Since 1999, when Technopolis was founded, making use of the old Gas Works premises, things began to gradually take shape and today there are many places to wine and dine, several theaters, a wide variety of music venues, and one open-air summer cinema. To truly understand the renaissance that Gazi started, apart from the many cutting-edge multi-use spaces and popular, dining and nightlife options, one must see the ripple effects it has had on the neighboring areas, creating with it new architectural landmarks. Today, Gazi has an air of Summer in the Aegean, even though you are just down the road from Omonoia Square. Gazi is trying to appeal to all types of day and night visitors but without focusing only on night entertainment and also by focusing on increasing the number of residents.
The Gas Works (Gazi) founded in 1857 operated through 1983, producing lighting gas for the city. The buildings have unadorned, neoclassical masonry, a varnished, wooden roof with skylights, covered with Byzantine or French style tiles and sheet-iron. It is an industrial zone, today housing a cultural center called Technopolis, belonging to and run by the Athens Municipality, where several mostly cultural (concerts, art and photography exhibitions) but also other types of events are hosted (trade shows, conferences, school events). Part of the facilities (furnaces, tanks, air chambers etc.) form the Industrial Gas Museum where the history of the former industrial zone is presented by means of original items (such as machinery and other implements) and audiovisual presentations.
Farther down in Votanikos, is Athinais, an impressive restoration of a former silk factory into an arts complex host of the Museum of Ancient Cypriot Art, art galleries, a concert hall, a theater and cinema, and two excellent restaurants.
Museums
Within walking distance of Gazi proper, the visitor will find the new Benaki Museumat Pireos, the Michalis Kakoyannis Foundation, and Ellinikos Kosmos, the cultural complex including the Theatron and Tholos.
There are not many commercial shops in Gazi. However there is a huge number of street vendors, especially on a Saturday night or during holidays, mostly around the Metro station, with a multitude of both quality jewelry or handicrafts, to cheap Chinese imitations of trendy brands.
Dine & Wine
On Persephonis Street, but also throughout Gazi, the visitor will encounter numerous dining options.
Bar | Coffee | Snacks
There are numerous cafes, bars, food vendors of all sorts and kinds to be found around Gazi. Too many to mention without risking quality standards, but certainly worthy of a walk around, in search of your favorite. Our favorite is Gazi College cafe and bistrot, and Gazarte multi-art space.
