Palaio Faliro is a coastal district and a municipality in the southern part of the Athens agglomeration, Greece. At the 2011 census it had 64,021 inhabitants.
Transport
The main avenues of Palaio Faliro are the seaside Poseidonos Avenue, which connects it with the port of Piraeus and the other southern suburbs, and the Andrea Syngrou Avenue respectively, which connects Palaio Faliro with the central Athens. Palaio Faliro is served by the Tram and by Buses. Palaio Faliro has a direct connection to the Athens International Airport via its express bus line X96. A new pedestrian overpass is planned to cross Poseidonos Avenue at Aphrodite Road.
Landmarks
The Flisvos Public Park at Palaio Faliro, next to the Marina of Flisvos, is a common destination for cultural activities and public events in Palaio Faliro, as well as a place for relaxation for the local population and tourists. It is located just next to the sea beach and provides benches and ample space for jogging or gymnastics.
Other landmarks include:
- Cultural Centre of Palaio Faliro
- Marina of Flisvos
- Saint Mary church (Panagitsa)
- Naval Tradition Park, including the historical warships Georgios Averof, Velos and the replica of the ancient Athenian trireme Olympias.
- Village Cinemas Complex
- Kimatothrafstis (Wave-breaker)
- Phaleron World War II Cemetery
- The Evgenidio Foundation (better known as: The Athenian Planetarium)
- Parts of the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex, such as the Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena, that were intended for the usage for the 2004 Summer Olympics
- National Historical Museum of the Hellenic Air Force
- Phylax Statue
Churches of Palaio Faliro
The oldest church of Palaio Faliro is the chapel of St. George in Xirotagaro, next to the Museum of Naval Tradition. It was built probably in the 17th century, when the area was known by the Turks as Three Towers. Restored 1985.
The large church of St. Alexander is the metropolis of Palaio Faliro and is located in St. Alexander Street, the main commercial thoroughfare, at the corner with Alcyonis Street. In order to satisfy the spiritual needs of the growing population of Palaio Faliro the church was founded at the behest of the “Urban League of Palaio Faliro” on 5 June 1916, in honour St. Alexander, Archbishop of Constantinople. The foundation stone was laid by the then prince, later king, Alexander of the Hellenes. The church was completely rebuilt on the same site in 1952.
The Church of the Assumption of Mary is in Achilles Street. It is a large and imposing building on the model of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The first church was built in 1930 and burned down in 1969.
The church of St. Barbara, in St. Barbara Avenue, gave its name to the district of the same name in Paleo Faliro. Initially built in 1936 as a wooden chapel, the current Byzantine style church was completed in 1965.
The church of Ayia Kyriaki, in Amfitheas Street, was founded in 1955 as a private wooden church. It became a parish church in 1957. The present stone building was built in 1964 and the site includes a separate stone tower at the corner with Palaeologos Street.
Sports
The Scouts of Greece have a Sea Scout Group in Palaio Faliro. Palaio Faliro also has an A1 water polo team named AC Palaio Faliro. Palaio Faliro is also home to its professional basketball club Paleo Faliro B.C., which is currently in the Greek Second Division.
Notable people and residents
- Pavlos Kountouriotis
- Christodoulos of Athens
- Dimitrios Levidis
- Kostas Rigopoulos
- Yanis Varoufakis
- Nikolaos Vokos
- Vera Zavitsianou
- Demetrius of Phalerum
