Agia Paraskevi (Greek: Αγία Παρασκευή, named after Saint Paraskevi), is a suburb of Athens, Greece, in the northeast of Athens, about nine kilometers away from the city. It is linked to Athens by Mesogeion Avenue, a major road in the greater Athens area.

Built at the foot of mount Hymettus, Agia Paraskevi is one of the few suburbs of Athens to retain plenty of trees, and offers good opportunities for leisure activities, such as trekking, jogging and picnics. A beautiful route on the mountainside leads through the pine trees, to the small monastery of Saint John, known as "the hunter" in the area. There are spectacular views at the summit, to all Athens as far as Piraeus.

Although there is a very satisfactory highway connection, Agia Paraskevi is still poorly linked to other areas of Attica via public transport; a major reason for this is the town's geographical position. There are few bus lines leading to the center of Athens and one going to Agioi Anargyroi. On the 2nd of September 2009, the first of the two Metro stations that will be serving the city, called Nomismatokopio, was open to the public.

 Up until the 1950s, the suburb was sparsely inhabited, with most of its inhabitants practising agriculture. In the 1960s, the rapid economic development that the country was experiencing drove an influx of immigrants to the big cities, and a burst of construction activity. Thus the population of suburban Athens (and Agia Paraskevi) dramatically increased; a process that went on into the 1980s and 1990s (see table below). Today, Agia Paraskevi, like the majority of Athens' suburbs, is densely populated.

Agia Paraskevi consists of 7 districts: Kontopefko (Greek Κοντόπευκο for short pine tree, Ancient/Katharevousa Kontopefkon), Nea Zoi (Νέα Ζωή Greek for new life), Tsakos (Τσακός), Stavros, Agios Ioannis (Άγιος Ιωάννης the Greek equivalent of Saint John), Pefkakia and Paradisos (Heaven). In the downtown area lies the central Agia Paraskevi Square with a cathedral dedicated to the Orthodox Saint Agia Paraskevi, after whom the suburb is named.

Agia Paraskevi operates the nuclear research center Demokritos, which hosts the sole nuclear reactor in Greece. It is also home of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture.

The football team of the city is Agia Paraskevi F.C., but is known as "Santa", attracting devoted fans. During the Olympic games in 2004, a part of the historical Marathon passed through Agia Paraskevi in Mesogeion avenue, and this was deemed a great moment for the municipality.
 

KEP Mesogeion 419  - 210 6019436

KEP Peloponnisou 6  - 210 6016

Town Hall Agia Paraskevi

ΔΗΜΟΣ ΚΑΓΙΑΣ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗΣ

Mayor:     Vasilios Giannakopoulos

Mesogeion 463

0030 210 6080224

www.agiaparaskevi.gr

 EVENTS

Add Community Information and Events for free >>>