The shop owner stops at the exit of his store and studies the crowds. “I love it. I never get bored, even on the slow days,” said Nikos. “The people are so colorful. They’re fun to watch.”

It is a weekday at Monastiraki square. The Acropolis looms overhead as Athenians and tourists mingle and assemble into groups to watch street musicians perform their daily show.

From the square, several winding streets branch out in every direction. Running along the streets, vendors spread out their blankets or stands and present their wares.

Nikos gazes at the landmarks that rest in the corners of the square: an eighteenth century mosque – a relic of Turkish rule – and the monastery of Panayia Pantanassa. The monastery was built in the tenth century and served as a meeting place for townspeople. Its magnetism attracted thousands of people that spread throughout the local city streets.

The monastery’s magnetic appeal has taken a contemporary turn. Today, Monastiraki has become the multicultural center of Athens, inviting both locals and tourists to partake in its various attractions.

The central square and the flea market draw thousands of people daily. The neighborhood located west of Syntagma square is the most visited neighborhood of Athens. It is a hub for tourists, shoppers, and collectors.

“It never fails to amaze me how many different people walk through these streets,” said Stellios, Niko’s brother who owns a jewelry store on Pandrossou street.

Most people head straight to Pandrossou, home of the famous flea market. The narrow passageways harbor the small stores. People jostle and push for a view of the clothes, souvenirs and art.

“Most people who come into my store are tourists looking for pieces that are typically Greek,” said Stellios, who speaks French, English, Italian, and German.

As people stroll through the narrow streets, blending with the multinational crowds, a wide selection of stores is revealed. Old coin stores, stamp and print shops, and mini-army-surplus stores where actual machine guns left over from the Nazi occupation are on display.

On Sundays near Avissynias square, the heavy bargaining congests the narrow passageways.

“You can find anything you’re looking for. It’s a collector’s heaven,” said a comic book collector. “I come here every Sunday, and I always walk away with something.”