 Nea smyrni
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The history of the municipality of Nea Smyrni is closely tied to the settlement of thousands of refugees from Smyrna in Athens.
Just a few months after the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, the Smyrniot refugees began taking steps to secure housing.
The area chosen for their settlement was close to both Athens and Piraeus, well-connected by roads, and relatively inexpensive, as until then it had only been pastureland.
Twenty days after the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, the legislative decree "On the compulsory expropriation of land near Syngrou Avenue" was signed by N. Plastiras, and the following year the "New Athens Plan" was published, which included the "Urban settlement of refugees from Smyrna."
Thus, the area gradually began to be built, and in memory of the lost homeland, it was named Nea Smyrni. A new chapter in modern Athens began, as in the following decades many neighborhoods of the capital would change in appearance and become densely populated.
Today, Nea Smyrni is a modern city. Construction activity continues while respecting the environment. A stroll through its streets offers a visual journey through time: well-preserved old houses with manicured gardens, apartment buildings from the 1960s and ¢70s standing alongside new modern architectural structures, busy main streets lined with shops, charming squares, and a park providing a green oasis. Some neighborhoods still retain the atmosphere of the past, creating a city that is unique. Nea Smyrni carries memories as heavy as its name, yet with the vitality of its residents, it moves forward through time, constantly evolving according to the needs of each era.
Although much of the modern story begins in 1922, it is worth noting that the area occupied by the municipality of Nea Smyrni has been inhabited since ancient times. It was bordered to the south by Phaleron, to the northeast by Alopeki (today¢s Dafni), and to the west by Xypeti (today¢s Kallithea and Moschato). Archaeological findings throughout the city reveal human presence in the area across all historical periods.
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