Athens - Klafthmonos Square Platía Klafthmónos

The southwest side of Klafthmonos Square, with the church of Ayii Theódori, borders the older part of the town. Along with the National Library, the University and the Academy, with which it is linked by Korai Street, it forms part of the replanned Athens of the first part of the 19th C. In ancient times the boundary of the city ran through this area, and a section of the Themistoclean town walls of 479 B.C. can be seen in the square and at 6-8 Dragatsaníou Street (on the northwest side of the square).

King Otto and Queen Amalia lived from 1836 to 1842 in a modest mansion at the south corner of the square, next to the only surviving Classical-style building. The first Greek Ministry of Finance also stood on the square, and its name (klafthmon, "lamentation") refers to the complaints by government officials over the non-payment of their salaries.