Athens Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris

Location: Thissio

The Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris is located on Philopappos Hill, on the way to Pnyka and the Monument of Philopappou. It is considered one of the most picturesque churches of Athens and is a frequently preferred destination by Athenians as an ideal spot for weddings, baptisms or a relaxing walk.

The tiny church is estimated to date back in the 9th century and is a vaulted, aisled basilica. During the building process parts of the ancient ruins of the area were used, such as the columns in the altar. Its name in Greek means “Saint Demetrius the Bombardier” and derives from an incident that took place in 1658, when the Aga of Athens, Yusuf, was planning to bombard the church and the believers that were gathered there from his position, at the Propylaea on the Acropolis Hill. However, a thunder fell upon the gunpowder storehouse and killed him along his family. This was considered a providential sign and the church was named to honor the occasion.

The church was restored in 1955 by the renowned architect Dimitrios Pikionis who also undertook the design of the slated route that leads to the hill of Philopappos. During the restoration works, impressive meta-byzantine illustrations of the 16th century were discovered.

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked Athens 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 693 881 8288, 0030 694 597 2090, 0030 690 943 9292 or book your taxi online.

On foot: As the Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Syntagma metro station, in approximately 20 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is “Acropolis” on line 2. Note that the Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris is located within a 12-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is “Apheteria” of the bus line 230. Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.