Eksarhia

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Eksarhia is an area located in the centre of Athens. It took the name from a seller called Eksarhos who opened a big store. Eksarhia is east of Kolonaki and west of Pedion Areos.

In Eksarhia there are located the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, the National Technical University of Athens, Strefis hill, the central square with many cafes and bars and the Stournari street with numerous computer shops also called the Greek Silicon Valley. Many bookstores are also located in Eksarhia, vindicating its intellectuality.

The area of Eksarhia has played a significant role in social and political life of Greece. It is there where the students uprisings in 1974 took place. Eksarhia is a place where many intellectuals and artists are staying. It is also an area where many leftist and anarchist groups are accommodated. Eksarhia is definitely the most politicised area in Greece. Most surveillance cameras are destroyed and quite often police and the closest police station are targets of anarchist and anti-authoritan groups. Many theatrical happenings and concerts are also taking place in the central square and in some of the nearest meeting points. Despite the efforts of the latest governments to remove the political character of Eksarhia with accusations such as drug dealing and naming the leftist and anti-authoritan groups as marginal, much of the "Eksarhian" style still survives.