Athens Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas

Location: Plaka

The Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas in Athens is situated in a picturesque and narrow alleyway on the foothills of the Acropolis! It is an aesthetically pleasing church building, getting lots of praise due to its architecture and its stone-and-brick structure!

Experts say that the church’s origins stem back to the 11th century AD, given its details and its similarities with plentiful other religious buildings of that time. However, it is said that Agios Nikolaos Rangavas was originally constructed two centuries before that but was subsequently destroyed before being rebuilt.

Its interior design has been altered throughout the ages, though the local Archaeological Services managed to restore and transform it in its current state during 1979 and 1980, keeping the same inner dome and northern part from the times of the Byzantine period! Now functioning as a parish church, visitors of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas will spot its large, white-colored pillars, classy chandeliers, impressive roof paintings, golden candelabras, and semi-gilded temple that is filled with icons and hanging censers! On top of that, it has a small courtyard for attendees to enjoy a coffee after the liturgy.

Furthermore, it is important to mention that the bell of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas is of historical significance since it is the first one to ring right after the Liberation of the Acropolis in 1834 and the Greek liberation from the besiegers during the Second World War, on the 12th of October, 1944!

The photo is taken from www.commons.wikimedia.org.

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: (0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, (0030) 18180. You can also book your taxi online.

On foot: As the Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas is located in a central area of Athens it can be easily reached on foot from Syntagma Square in approximately 10 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is Akropoli (Red Line). Note that the Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas is located within a 7-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By tram: The closest tram stop is Syntagma (Route 6, Syntagma-Pikrodafni). Get a map of the tram here.