Ekali

For other uses, see Ekali (disambiguation).

Ekali Εκάλη
Ekali
Location within Athens
Coordinates: 38°6′N 23°50′E / 38.100°N 23.833°E / 38.100; 23.833Coordinates: 38°6′N 23°50′E / 38.100°N 23.833°E / 38.100; 23.833
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Attica
Regional unit	North Athens
Municipality	Kifisia
• Municipal unit	4.332 km² (1.673 sq mi)
Elevation	330 m (1,080 ft)
Population (2011)^[1]
• Municipal unit	5,889
• Municipal unit density	1,400/km² (3,500/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	145 78
Area code(s)	210
Vehicle registration	Z
Website	www.ekali.gr

Ekali (Greek: Εκάλη) is a suburban town in the northeastern part of the Athens agglomeration, Greece. A green and expensive town, it is home to many of the country's most powerful business and shipping families.^[2] Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Kifisia, as a municipal unit.^[3] It was named after the ancient Greek deme of Hecale.

Geography

Ekali is situated at the western end of the forested Penteli mountain range. The small river Kifisos forms the western border of the municipal unit. Ekali is situated 4 km (2 mi) northeast of Kifisia, 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Agios Stefanos and 16 km (10 mi) northeast of Athens city centre.

The main thoroughfare is Thiseos Avenue (Greek National Road 83), which connects Ekali with Kifisia and central Athens. Motorway 1 (Athens - Thessaloniki) passes west of Ekali. Ekali is a purely residential area, which means that retail, commercial shops and professional businesses are not permitted within the community.

People

Giannis Spyropoulos (one of the most popular Abstract Greek painters) lived in Ekali. In 1990 after painter's death the Spyropoulos Foundation was established there.
Former Socialist Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou lived in Ekali in his final years and the Greek media often used "Ekali" in the same way the British media use "Downing Street" or the American media use "the White House".