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Vassilissis Sofias Avenue

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Vassilissis Sofias Avenue or Vasilissis Sofias Avenue (Greek: Λεωφόρος Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας Leoforos Vassilissis Sofias) is a major avenue in the east side of Athens, the Greek capital. The avenue is named after Queen Sophia the consort of King Constantine I. The avenue begins at the intersections of Amalias Avenue and Panepistimiou Street and ends by Alexandras, Kifissias and Mesogeion Avenues as well as Feidippou Street, continuing a length of approximately 3 km. A section of the avenue is part of the old GR-1, and a branch of GR-54.

The avenue passes through north of the Greek Parliament Building (Vouli) and the Old Royal Palace as well as the National Gardens of Athens, the Byzantine Museum, the War Museum, a small forest area, the Athens Hilton Hotel, the Athens Concert Hall, Hospital Aretaeion, Hospital Alexandra and the Hospital Ippokrateion. Mavilis Square is nearby, by D. Soutsou Street.

The westbound lanes turn into Amalias Avenue and Panepistimiou Street, and the northbound of Amalias turns into Vasileias Sofias Avenue and Panepistimiou Street ; there is no traffic flow from the eastbound of Panepistimiou Street as it forms a one-way route westbound, and since the 2000s transit traffic has been excluded.

Four Athens Metro stations (Line 3) are on, or near, Vassilissis Sofias Avenue.

History

The avenue was first paved in the 20th century and added trolley lanes by the ends of the avenue, with neo-classical buildings also taking shape by the avenue. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, it added modern eight-to-ten storey buildings in most of the intersection (mainly to the north) with traffic and street lights installed. Today's Vassilias Sofias Avenue has, on its west side, four lanes westbound and two lanes eastbound, while beyond, the rest of the avenue takes in three lanes, including a bus lane and intersection by Vassiliou Konstantinou Avenue and Vasileiou Alexandrou Street.