Vrilissia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vrilissia Βριλήσσια
From upper left: Pendelis Avenue, The Water Tower, the Cultural Hall and Analipseos Square
Vrilissia Location in Greece
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Attica
Regional unit	North Athens
Area
• Municipality	3.856 km2 (1.489 sq mi)
Elevation	245 m (804 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Municipality	32,417
• Municipality density	8,406.9/km2 (21,773.8/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	152 35
Area code(s)	210
Vehicle registration	I
Website	www.vrilissia.gr

Vrilissia (Greek: Βριλήσσια) is a town and a municipality located in the northern part of Athens, Greece. It is a suburban area found at the base of Penteli Mountain. In 2021, about 32,417 people lived in Vrilissia.

Where is Vrilissia Located?

Vrilissia is about 10 kilometres (6 miles) northeast of the center of Athens. It is also about 5 kilometres (3 miles) northwest of Pallini. The total area of Vrilissia is 3.856 square kilometres (1.489 square miles).

The town has mostly low buildings, with apartments usually having four floors at most. Many homes also have private gardens. The main church, Analipseos Main Church, is in the center of the town. The main shopping area is along Penteli Avenue. Most people living in Vrilissia have a medium to high income.

Vrilissia is well-connected by public transport. The A6 motorway and the A621 motorway pass through the municipality. There are two train stations (Doukissis Plakentias station and Pentelis station) and one metro station (Doukissis Plakentias). Many buses also connect Vrilissia to nearby areas and the center of Athens. Pentelis Avenue is the main road, linking Vrilissia to Chalandri and central Athens.

A Look Back: Vrilissia's History

Long ago, in ancient times, the area of Vrilissia was part of a region called Phlya. This area stretched from Psychiko to Agia Paraskevi and was mainly centered around what is now Chalandri.

Vrilissia was part of the Chalandri municipality until 1949. Then, it became its own separate community. In 1990, it officially became a municipality. The town grew quickly around 2004 because of improvements made for the Athens Olympic Games. Roads were completed, and the main avenue was made wider. Many small parks were also created in different neighborhoods.

Since January 2024, the mayor of Vrilissia is Mr. Ioannis Pisimisis.

What Does "Vrilissia" Mean?

The name "Vrilissos" or "Vrilittos" can be found in old writings by historians like Thucydides, Herodotus, and Strabo. The name likely means "Great Rock." It comes from old words meaning "forceful" and "rock."

Penteli Mountain was named this way because of its large white stones and beautiful marbles. These marbles were used to build famous ancient monuments like the Acropolis in Athens. The word "Vrilissia" is a plural form, meaning "the land of the Great Rock Mountain" (Penteli). It is pronounced "Vri-lί-ssi-a."

The city's logo shows an ancient Greek treasure. A large rock, representing the town's connection to the "Great Rock" mountain, is placed in the main park, Eleftherias Square (which means "Freedom Square").

Cool Features of Vrilissia

Vrilissia is a well-off suburb with many schools for all ages. It also has sports fields and parks. There is a large commercial area with banks and several shopping centers. Two popular spots are the main squares: "Plateia Iroon" (Heroes' Square) and "Plateia Analipseos" (Ascension Square). These squares have been updated and have many small coffee shops.

Ano Vrilissia Maisonette Block

Vrilissia has wide, straight roads, which is different from many other parts of Athens. It is also quite green, with most houses and apartment buildings having gardens.

Vrilissia is home to a popular men's handball team that plays in the A1 league.

Vrilissia's Suburban Forest

The city's borders used to reach the foothills of Pentelikon Mountain. There was a woodland area called Patima Hill. This area was later used for the Vrilissia Municipal Damari (Pit) Theatre.

Vrilissia Suburban Forest

Penteli Mountain was a popular place for Athenians to visit for picnics and walks. However, it was never officially called a "National Forest." As towns like Halandri, Vrilissia, and Melissia grew, Penteli started to become more residential.

Pentelis Avenue

Over time, Vrilissia expanded into the hill. Sadly, during the summer of 2007, there were several large fires in the area. These fires burned many houses and parts of the forest. Firefighters, with the help of residents, worked hard to control the blazes. These incidents highlighted the importance of protecting the natural areas.

Patima Hill

Today, a pine-covered area of 0.088 km² (0.034 sq mi) is preserved around the northern borders of Vrilissia. This area acts as a natural shield from traffic and pollution. Vrilissia is known for its clean air, which makes it a great place to live.

Burnt area near the land claimed by the Agios Theoklitos association, a few weeks after the adjudication

Inside the forested area

Sports Teams in Vrilissia

Vrilissia is proud to have two sports clubs that have won national titles:

How Many People Live Here?

The population of Vrilissia has grown a lot over the years:

source: ESYE, Vrilissia Municipality

Neighborhoods of Vrilissia

The Analipseos Cultural Hall at Vrilissia

• Analipsi
• Rematia
• Ano Vrilissia
• Patima Hill
• Krassas Settlement
• Doukissis Plakentias Belt

See also

In Spanish: Vrilíssia para niños