It is one of its most famous main streets Of Athens. And there is no man, not even a visitor, who does not know her. She is the oneof the Stadium, which is located in the center of the capital and is one of the busiest streets in the city. Throughout its length, it hosts important buildings and attractions, such as the Museum of the City of Athens, the Old Parliament, the Statue of Kolokotronis and of course Klafthmonos Square. In addition, it hosts several commercial buildings, the Bank of Greece building and more.
A road that is not long on its way, as it starts from Omonia (as you climb it) and ends at Syntagma Square. And imagine that according to the original urban planning of Athens, there was an ambitious plan for the road and how far it would go. From there, after all, it got its name. Stadium.
Because in the sights it has, one may not find a. Stage anywhere, but the original plan provided that the road would reach the Panathinaiko Stadium. But the story with its name does not stop here, since for a while - after the Second World War - it was named "Winston Churchill»In honor of the great British politician.
As we said, the initial urban planning of Athens predicted that Stadiou Street would reach Panathenaic Stadium. A plan that found obstacles and ended up in the middle, as Otto's regency did not materialize.
For the reasons he did not proceed, there are various views and assessments. One is that the funds required for its implementation did not exist then. Another says they did not want to clash with the area's landowners, as they would have to expropriate their lands. Because yes, in those years of Otto, Athens was a big village and had nothing to do with its current image.
The implementation of the project was undertaken by the town planners, Stamatis Kleanthis, Eduardos Saubert and then Klendze. And from the beginning, the name given to it was "Stadiou" due to the connection with the Panathinaiko Stadium. And it may never have happened, but the name remained, so it reminds me of its history and how a project was "buried" either for bureaucratic reasons or for political / client reasons.
The truth is that the image of Athens in the 19th century was very different from today. The basin at that time, we read that about 700 torrents, rivers and streams crossed.
Until the 1850s it was the river-stream of Voidopnnikhtis, the source of which started from Lycabettus, passed along Bucharest Street and crossed the Stadium. At the height of Arsakeio there was a bridge that connected the two banks and which was demolished in 1852 during a severe storm that then cut Athens in two.
Around 1860 the stream was blocked and the current Stadiou Street was formed. During the earthworks, the first sewer of the capital was built by the French Public Works Mission. The road that was built had large sidewalks, and many acacias were planted along it. Cars and trolleys began to use the road in the 20th century, which was two-way.
On the new road at the time, two rows of green-yellow acacias were planted along the sidewalks and adorned the street. And because at that time they used to give names to the streets based on some of their characteristics, the Stadium was also named the "street with the acacias". But in 1911 the municipality uprooted the acacias, which saddened the Athenians.
However, the Stadium remained as the name of the street and was maintained for about 110 years. That is, until 1945, when it was officially renamed κάθε "Winston Churchill».
After the end of World War II, they wanted to honor the British leader for his contribution and help to the country, so it was decided to give his name to the main and historic street of Athens. Something he was used to.
After all, at about the same time, Academy Street was renamed Roosevelt.
For the renaming of the Stadium, we read that the newspaper EMPROS, in the sheet of March 9, 1945, described in detail the ceremony of the unveiling of the plaque with the new name.
"Yesterday at 11.30am. took place in Syntagma Square, from where the Stadiou Street until yesterday begins, the unveiling ceremony of the first built-in sign Winston Churchill… The built-in sign was covered by the flags of England and Greece. "The mayor of Athens spoke on the occasion of the unveiling and then, while the Municipal Philharmonic recited the English and Greek anthem, he unveiled the sign…", he wrote, among other things.
However, the Athenians remained faithful to the name "Stadium" and never used "Churchill". After all, the new name lasted less than three months, returning to the old. Where will those who do not know always wonder "Why Stadium"?