Church of Saint Nikolaos Rangavas

Right in front of you is yet another Byzantine church. It whispers stories of Athens' long history, of a time when the city was part of the Byzantine Empire, way back between the 4th and the 15th century. It is a fine example of Byzantine architecture, built in yellow and gold-tinted stone, and lavishly adorned with cupolas and walls with elaborate carvings – think geometric shapes, nature-inspired reliefs, and even real and mythical creatures! Built in the 11th century, this church holds a special place in Greek history, as it was the very first one to ring its bells to celebrate the liberation of the city from the Germans in 1944, during World War II. It was restored in the 1970s and despite its renovations and remodelings over the centuries, it's never lost its Byzantine charm.