Ever wonder about a suburb in Athens named after a politician? That’s Zografou. This vibrant town of almost 70000 people is named after Ioannis Zografos. He was a Greek politician. Zografou sits east of Athens. Mount Hymettus rises to the east of Zografou.
Zografou has grown into a bustling part of Athens. It is known for its high-rise buildings. Some buildings reach ten stories. Zografou is a hub of education and culture. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is here. Also, the National Technical University of Athens has a campus here. Many residents are students. Others are faculty or staff at these universities. Zografou also includes smaller areas. These are Ilissia and Goudi.
Zografou is just 4 km east of Athens city center. The municipality covers 8.517 square kilometers. Forested Mount Hymettus borders Zografou to the east. Zografou’s built-up area blends seamlessly with Athens. Ano Ilisia is in the eastern part of Zografou. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has a large campus there. The Ilisos River begins at St Eleousa. This is now within the University campus. It gives Ano Ilisia its name. Goudi is another section of Zografou. It lies in the northwestern part of the municipality. Agios Therapontas is Zografou’s main church. Zografou was built on the hills of Hymettus. Steep uphill streets are common here.
Getting around Zografou is easy. Several bus lines serve the area. These include lines 140, 220, 221, 230, 235, 250, 608, 622, and 815. The A62 Hymettus Ring Road passes through Zografou. By the summer of 2029, Zografou will have three metro stations. These stations will be at Ilissia, Zografou and Goudi.
After the Ottomans left in the 1830s, the area was owned by Ioannis Koniaris. He was mayor of Athens from 1851 to 1854. Leonidas Vournazos also owned land here.
In 1902, Eleni Vournazos sold land to Ioannis Zografos. He was a member of Parliament. He was also a university professor. Zografos divided the land into plots. He sold them for 112 drachmas per month. The first houses were built in 1919. Within ten years, 100 houses stood. The foundations of the Church of St Theraponta were also laid then.
In 1929, Zografou became independent from Athens. It became its own community. In 1947, it was elevated to a municipality. Sotirios Zografos, Ioannis’ son, became its first president. In 1935, Kouponia now Ano Ilisia was added to Zografou.
Zografou has several scientific and cultural centers. The Dimitri Kitsikis Public Foundation is located here. The Gounaropoulos Museum showcases the works of painter Giorgios Gounaropoulos. It was founded in 1979. The Marika Kotopouli Museum is a modern art museum. It is housed in actress Marika Kotopouli’s 1926 villa.
Sports are important in Zografou. Asteras Zografou is a local football club. It was founded in 1965. EFAO Zografou B.C. is a basketball club. It was founded in 1986. Ilisiakos, a sports club founded in 1927, is based in Ilisia.
Zografou’s story reflects Athens’ growth. From its roots as farmland, it transformed into a vital suburb. Its blend of history, education, and culture makes Zografou a unique place. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of urban life and history that defines Zografou.