{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox building | name = Victoria Square | native_name = Πλατεία Βικτωρίας | native_name_lang = Greek | former_names = Kyriakou Square | image = Πλατεία Βικτορίας 8602.JPG | altitude = | building_type = Open square | architectural_style = [[Neoclassicism]] | location_town = [[Athens]] | location_country = [[Greece]] | coordinates = | architect = }}{{Coord|37|59|35|N|23|43|46|E|display=title|region:GR_type:landmark}}
'''Victoria Square''' (Plateia Viktorias as formally transliterated from Greek Πλατεία Βικτωρίας) is a large square in the [[Municipality of Athens]], Greece situated between 3rd September and Aristotelous streets. It was renamed Victoria in honor of [[Queen Victoria|the Queen of the United Kingdom]] on the occasion of the annexation of the [[Ionian Islands]] to Greece in 1864, as a gift to the enthronement of the Queen's nephew, Prince Christian William Ferdinand Adolf George of Denmark, later [[George I of Greece]]. [[Victoria metro station, Athens|Victoria metro station]] on the [[Line 1 (Athens Metro)|metro line 1]] is situated under the square. The square crosses the streets of Hayden, 3 September and Aristotelous; in its center is the sculptural complex [[Theseus saving Hippodamia|Theseus saves Hippodamia]] by [[Johannes Pfuhl]] (1846–1914).
== Victoria Square neighbourhood ==
With Victoria square at its center, the eponymous neighbourhood is an official municipal neighbourhood, extending to [[Patission Street]] on the East, Kodrigktonos Street on the North, Acharnon Street on the West, and Ioulianou Street on the South.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Municipal Neighbourhoods - City of Athens |url=http://gis.cityofathens.gr/layers/athens_geonode_data:geonode:geitonies0 |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=gis.cityofathens.gr |language=en}}</ref> It lies therefore outside, but on the edge of the [[Daktylios]], the low emission zone of Athens.
Administratively, this Athenian municipal neighbourhood belongs to the larger Plateia Attikis municipal district (together with Aristotelous on its north, Agios Panteleimon on its north west, and Plateia Attikis on its west).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Municipal Districts - City of Athens |url=http://gis.cityofathens.gr/layers/athens_geonode_data:geonode:synoikia0 |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=gis.cityofathens.gr |language=en}}</ref> part of the 6th municipal community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Municipal Communities - City of Athens |url=http://gis.cityofathens.gr/layers/athens_geonode_data:geonode:dimotikes_koinotites1 |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=gis.cityofathens.gr |language=en}}</ref> The other neighbourghoods that border it are Agios Georgios Kypselis on its north east, Pedio Areos - Scholi Evelpidon on its east, [[Mouseio, Athens|Mouseio]] on its south east, and Ioulianou-Filadelfeias on its south.<ref name=":0" />
Since the 1940s the neighbourhood has been one of Athens' best and most sought after, comparable to [[Kolonaki]]. On its streets there are important examples of [[Modernism|classical modernism]], such as the Spathari block (Mavrommatia street), the Sarantopoulos block (27 Derigni street), as well as the buildings on Heiden 1 and 2. The luxurious apartments of these buildings were addressed to the bourgeoisie of Athens at the time, since they provided a variety of amenities and had high quality architectural elements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Κάτι καλό συμβαίνει στην πλατεία Βικτωρίας |url=https://www.athensvoice.gr/life/life-in-athens/835445/reportaz-stin-plateia-viktorias/ |access-date=2026-04-26 |website=AthensVoice |language=el}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Zinovieff |first=Sofka |date=2026-05-02 |title=‘The air resounds with a Babel’s Tower of languages’: why I wrote a novel based in Victoria Square, Athens |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/may/02/victoria-square-athens-greece-city-break |access-date=2026-05-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
The [https://www.searchculture.gr/aggregator/edm/Collections_OTE/000147-mt-071112 OTE building] by the architect Kostas Kitsikis, that includes a 58-metre tower is a landmark of the area, and is considered a prime example of the [[Modern architecture in Athens#The modernism of the 1960s|1960s architectural modernism of Athens]].
Gradually, the area began to decline, largely due to its abandonment by its original inhabitants. During the years of crisis the square got occupied by an illegal immigrants settlement,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-30 |title=Victoria Square: 'Greece and Europe have failed, together' |url=https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/28213/victoria-square-greece-and-europe-have-failed-together |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=InfoMigrants |language=en}}</ref> leading to the neighborhood to be generally regarded as degraded and facing problems of crime.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/938866/gallery/epikairothta/ellada/h-gerasmenh-plateia-viktwrias-kai-oi-fyles-ths|title=Η γερασμένη πλατεία Βικτωρίας και οι... φυλές της|last=ΑΘΗΝΑΚΗΣ|first=ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ|date=12 December 2017|work=www.kathimerini.gr/}}</ref>
The square and its surroundings are now being revamped along with the general upgrading of downtown Athens.<ref>{{Cite web |last=nkarapiperi |date=2026-04-08 |title=Πάμε για θαλασσινά στο Ουζερί του Λάκη |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2026/04/08/elliniki-kouzina/freska-psaria-kai-thalassina-stin-plateia-viktorias/ |access-date=2026-04-26 |website=ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ |language=el}}</ref> In particular, the restoration of the landmark OTE building "Patision 85", to soon relocate the telecommunications museum is to be noted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patision 85, the New Museum in the center of Athens! |url=https://www.otegroupmuseum.gr/en/whats-on/news/art-gallery-stem-workshop-at-the-museum-2-2-2-2-2-2/ |access-date=2026-04-26 |website=Otemuseum |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Cultural places === The neighbourhood hosts:
* [[Hellenic Motor Museum]] * Poreia Theatre * Alkyonis Theatre * Poli Theatre * Art 63 Theatre * Cinobo Patision (cinema) * Trianon cinema * Eos Gallery * Match Point Art ‘N More gallery<br /> == In the arts ==
* [[Sofka Zinovieff]] "loved writing about Victoria Square"<ref name=":1" /> in her 2025 novel ''Stealing Dad.'' * A 1995-1996 painting by [[Dimos Skoulakis]] entitled [https://www.nationalgallery.gr/en/artwork/victoria-station-stairs-9577/ ''Victoria Station – Stairs'',] exhibited at the [[National Gallery (Athens)|National Gallery]], magnifies [[Victoria metro station, Athens|Victoria Metro Station]].
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Geographic location | North = [[Agios_Panteleimonas,_Athens|Agios Panteleimonas]] | West = [[Attiki,_Athens|Attiki]] | Centre = Victoria | East = [[Pedion tou Areos]], [[Mouseio,_Athens|Mouseio]] | South = [[Vathi,_Athens|Vathi]] }}
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Athens metro Victoria station.jpg|An entrance to the Metro station File:Victoria metro station in Athens 02.jpg|The Metro station File:Victoria-2.jpg|A view of the square File:Theseus saves Hippodameia, Athens - Pl. Victoria, 2005.JPG|The sculptural complex at the center of the square </gallery> {{Attica-geo-stub}}
{{Streets in Athens}} {{Squares in Greece}} {{Landmarks in Athens}}
[[Category:Squares in Athens]] [[Category:Neighbourhoods in Athens]] [[Category:Monuments and memorials to Queen Victoria]]