As Strefi Hill is known a hill located in the heart of the city of Athens, in Exarcheia neighborhood. The hill is 155 meters high and is designated a municipal park. This Hill is by far less known and frequented, by locals and tourists alike, than the adjacent to it Lycabettus Hill or Philopappos Hill. However, its trails are as pretty and the views from its top as spectacular, plus the benefit that one can enjoy these in much greater privacy.
History
Strefi Hill was previously known as Agchesmos Hill due to a statue of Zeus that went by the agnomen Agchesmios which stood there in antiquity. The hill owes its current name to Strefi family to whom it belonged during much of the 19th and 20th centuries. A stone quarry, owned by one of the Strefi brothers, operated on the hill up to the 1920s when its operation was suspended. The utensils that were produced by that quarry’s output also gave the neighborhood of Exarcheia its past name: Pitharadika, which stands for jar making district.
The story goes like that Mrs. Strefi, wife of General Strefis, proprietor of the hill, who resided by the foot of the hill, returned home one day to find her laundry smeared with red dust raised from the quarry. Mrs. Strefi had just had enough; she was infuriated. She called her husband and, exerting her feminine suasion, demanded that the quarry get shut down and the hill forested. So it happened. Thanks to Mrs. Strefi’s laundry and the general’s yielding, the hill was turned into the neat park it is today.
The hill finally was donated by Strefi family to the city of Athens and converted into a public park in the year 1963. It was then officially renamed to its current name in honor of the donors. Today the park contains numerous paved paths and benches, a playground, a basketball court, and a small theatre. Various cute little cafes and taverns are situated at its periphery.
The park is nowadays especially popular with youth from Exarcheia area who habitually gather there in the evenings to chill, drink beers, smoke pot, and play music. It also is a favorite shelter for Athens’ homeless folks, many of whom have established permanent little camps in the forest and maintain a little, alternative community of their own. Strefi Hill is generally not a place for the casual tourist; but definitely a must-visit for the seekers of the unique and the genuine.
How to get there
Strefi Hill is most easily accessible from Omonia or Victoria metro stations. It takes about 20 minutes to walk there from both the stations. There is a total of six entrances to the park, situated on its west and north sides. The most common entry is found between the basketball court and Exostrefis restaurant in the middle of its western side. If you follow Themistokleous Street northeast direction after Exarcheia Square, you will soon end up exactly there.
What to do there
Strefi Hill makes an ideal haven for a short escape from the urban chaos, especially if you happen to reside in some of the adjoining neighborhoods. The slopes of the hill are fairly densely forested with pines, cypresses, eucalypti, agaves, and other plants. There is a good number of paved paths and dirt trails for having a pleasant stroll.
The views from the craggy ridge of the hill are outright splendid. The entire metropolitan area of Athens, as well as the Saronic Gulf and the surrounding mountains, are clearly visible. The top of Strefi Hill is probably the best spot to take pictures of Lycabettus Hill which is very close. Unlike with other hills of central Athens, here you’ll also enjoy the benefit of being alone most of the time.
If you visit Strefi Hill, you shouldn’t skip having a drink or a meal in the charming Exostrefis cafe/restaurant situated by the basketball court on the western side of the hill.
The small stone theatre in the park hosts concerts and other shows on a frequent basis. A shadow play festival is also held annually in this theatre. Make sure to check out if something’s going on if you visit in the evening. Upcoming events are oftentimes posted on Athinorama.
One of the best things you can do in Strefi Hill is socializing. Do not be shy or afraid to strike up a conversation with the companies of young anarchists, homeless folks, and other denizens of the hill. If you’re into listening to unusual stories, you are sure to get your share here.
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Safety
There is a lot of balderdash and paranoia going on about safety concerns in Strefi Hill. All this is mostly baloney. There are indeed lots of homeless people and other vagabonds hanging out in the park but those are almost always very nice folks; more likely to protect one in case of need than harm. Due to the dense presence of people at night, you should feel safer there than in many an inhabited neighborhood of the city. Common sense, though, must apply like anywhere else.
Map
Photo Gallery
View (and if you want use) all my photographs from Strefi Hill.
More on Strefi Hill
- Strefi Hill – Wikipedia
- Lofos Strefi (Strefi Hill) – Athens Walker
- Strefi Hill, Athens – My Guide Athens
- Strefi Hill – Trip to Athens
