Little Metropolis
Little Metropolis
4.2
About
This tiny church is located under the shadow of the Athens Cathedral and dates from the 12th century.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Syntagma
Perhaps the best place to get your bearings is Syntagma Square, crowned by the imposing Parliament building on its upper side and surrounded by other large structures, such as the exclusive Hotel Grande Bretagne. The grand avenues that lead towards Omonia are also full of massive Neoclassical edifices like the Numismatic Museum and those around smaller Platia Kolokotroni. Here you will find lots of travel agents, bookshops and fashion shops, especially on Ermou Street. Just south of Syntagma Square, you can take a breather in the lush National Gardens, which extend into the grounds of the Zappeio palace and beyond to the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus.
How to get there
- Syntagma • 3 min walk
- Nomismatokopio • 5 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,639 within 3 miles
Attractions
636 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.2
212 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
95
Average
41
Poor
1
Terrible
0
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Mairwen1
United Kingdom12,397 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
This tiny, little, ancient church is completely dwarfed by the enormous Metropolitan Cathedral right next door and yet, it is the more interesting one of the two.
Built some time around the 12th century, it looks much like several other ancient churches around Athens but there is one quite unique thing about it. It was built entirely out of ‘spolia’, ie materials taken and re-used from other older, pagan buildings.
The highly decorative stone carvings around the exterior of the church came from all sorts of places. It’s a mish-mash of styles and images.
Some were once have been on old temples, others from doorways and others from funerary steles. Some have ornate patterns, lots have crosses and others are decorative rosettes and acanthus leaves. The most interesting ones have scenes of animals.
Two matching panels either side of the entrance caught my eye. Each one has a pair of birds (peacocks?) tangling with snakes. The snakes' jaws are wide open and they are just about to plunge their fangs into the birds’ necks.
We walked right around the outside of the small church checking out the different panels. Around to the right, another panel has an eagle, with wings spread wide and a limp looking rabbit clutched in its talons.
A little further around again and a highly stylised lion has pinned it’s prey to the ground and is sinking its teeth into the creature’s haunches. The dying animal’s head is thrown back, its eyes are startled and it’s mouth wide open letting out a terrified howl. It’s a very vivid (and not very churchy) scene.
Inside, the church is quite spartan. The only really striking feature is the large fresco of the Virgin Mary and child which is believed to have been painted in the 12th or 13th century.
Entry to the church is free.
It is worth noting that ‘Little Metropolis’ is only the nickname for the church. If you are trying to find it in a guidebook or map, you should also look for the names, ‘Church of Agios Eleftherios’ or the ‘Panagia Gorgoepikoos’. The sign out the front has a combination of both of these saints’ names.
Built some time around the 12th century, it looks much like several other ancient churches around Athens but there is one quite unique thing about it. It was built entirely out of ‘spolia’, ie materials taken and re-used from other older, pagan buildings.
The highly decorative stone carvings around the exterior of the church came from all sorts of places. It’s a mish-mash of styles and images.
Some were once have been on old temples, others from doorways and others from funerary steles. Some have ornate patterns, lots have crosses and others are decorative rosettes and acanthus leaves. The most interesting ones have scenes of animals.
Two matching panels either side of the entrance caught my eye. Each one has a pair of birds (peacocks?) tangling with snakes. The snakes' jaws are wide open and they are just about to plunge their fangs into the birds’ necks.
We walked right around the outside of the small church checking out the different panels. Around to the right, another panel has an eagle, with wings spread wide and a limp looking rabbit clutched in its talons.
A little further around again and a highly stylised lion has pinned it’s prey to the ground and is sinking its teeth into the creature’s haunches. The dying animal’s head is thrown back, its eyes are startled and it’s mouth wide open letting out a terrified howl. It’s a very vivid (and not very churchy) scene.
Inside, the church is quite spartan. The only really striking feature is the large fresco of the Virgin Mary and child which is believed to have been painted in the 12th or 13th century.
Entry to the church is free.
It is worth noting that ‘Little Metropolis’ is only the nickname for the church. If you are trying to find it in a guidebook or map, you should also look for the names, ‘Church of Agios Eleftherios’ or the ‘Panagia Gorgoepikoos’. The sign out the front has a combination of both of these saints’ names.
Written November 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofi NS
Athens, Greece23,259 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Next to the Metropolis of Athens in the area of the plaque. the small marble temple is made of materials taken from monuments of the Byzantine, Roman and ancient Greek era with depictions of Christian and pagan elements. the decoration with themes from mythology and the detail on the marble facade with representations of the Attic calendar are excellent.
Written September 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
atrapapichones
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain1,923 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
beautiful Byzantine chapel built between the 6th and 7th centuries. XIII and XV. On its exterior walls you can see a multitude of elements from different periods, from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Free admission
Written March 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eileen108
Mount Shasta, CA5,982 contributions
Oct 2019
The church is quite amazing, with the intriguing hodgepodge of pagan and Christian symbols on the walls, especially on the outside! It was part of the free "Rick Steves Athens City Walk" audio which I was listening to. He talked us through the rich history and iconography inside and outside the church. The audio tour is available for free download online so I highly recommend when visiting Athens!
Written August 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil K
Liverpool, UK824,415 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
Although overshadowed by the stunning Metropolian Cathedral Of Athens on Pl.Mitropoleos but Little Metropolis is no less beautiful.
A church dating from the 12th century ,a great example of Byzantine architecture ,the church facade is wonderful ,the stonework lovely ,the domed roof is the most distinctive feature of the church,never ventured inside as when I passed here with my twin brother Stephen it was 3am the church was obviously closed ,the church looked superb bathed in moonlight,such a cute looking church that's easy to locate on Pl.Mitropoleos.
A church dating from the 12th century ,a great example of Byzantine architecture ,the church facade is wonderful ,the stonework lovely ,the domed roof is the most distinctive feature of the church,never ventured inside as when I passed here with my twin brother Stephen it was 3am the church was obviously closed ,the church looked superb bathed in moonlight,such a cute looking church that's easy to locate on Pl.Mitropoleos.
Written July 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
permia
Ireland68,344 contributions
Feb 2020
Lovely stone work is a hallmark of this place of worship. Even with uncertainty about its completion era, it uniquely has a preponderance of stone, and not brick that is common in Byzantine churches.
On the facade lower section plain stone exists while ascending is to see beautiful numerous sculptural bas-reliefs.
Inside has a rather plain Iconostasis dividing the inner holy space from the worshippers. A dome with many lunettes suffuse the interior with light. Icons and holy pictures are revered by the faithful.
On the facade lower section plain stone exists while ascending is to see beautiful numerous sculptural bas-reliefs.
Inside has a rather plain Iconostasis dividing the inner holy space from the worshippers. A dome with many lunettes suffuse the interior with light. Icons and holy pictures are revered by the faithful.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Choreftis
Marousi, Greece1 contribution
Panagia Gorgoepikoos is a very small but elegant church downtown Athens (beside the city' s Cathedral, "Mitropolis"). It is an unusual byzantine church (built in the 8th AD. century by order of the Athens born byzantine empress Irene) , at least for 2 reasons: it is not made out of bricks and stones (as most of the byzantine churches are) but out of slabs of marble, most of which are the remainings of ancient Athenian buildings. And the most curious fact, on one embedded fringe (propably of the 4th century BC.) one can notice curved the symbols of the 12 zodiacal signs!
Written August 23, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Souzie Michel
United Arab Emirates607 contributions
Jun 2015
This Byzantine church is a must see, its located in the heart Of Athens - its called the little cathedral.
Written January 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gwen D
Cincinnati, OH2,121 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
Along side the Athens Cathedral is the even more interesting 13th century church. Glad I took the time to step inside and feel the history.
Written November 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JLC-mtl2015
Montreal, Canada373 contributions
Aug 2019
The Little Metropolis is the nickname of Church of Theotokos Gorgoepikoos and Ayios Eleytherios.
Very small with very nice detailed exterior sculpture and simple interior. I’m happy we stopped.
Very small with very nice detailed exterior sculpture and simple interior. I’m happy we stopped.
Written November 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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