Trifter

The story of the “Poet Sandal Maker” begins when Gheorgios Melissinos opened a small shoe factory in 1927. In 1954, when he passed away his son Stavros took over the struggling business. Slowly Athens became a tourist destination and famous people started to come especially to Stavros to buy their genuine Greek sandals.

 Over the years famous names such as Barbara Streisand, Maria Callas, Jeremy Irons, Sophia Loren, Jackie O and the Beatles have bought their sandals here. The chairs that the Beatles sat on still stand in the store.

Image via Wikipedia

Greek sandals are a genuine and practical souvenir to bring back from Greece, so why not get yours from this world renowned store in the heart of historic Athens. The prices range from 13 Euro to 27 Euro depending on the size.

Image by Titanas via Flickr
However the store is not only famous for the sandals but for the poet that makes them. Stavros served in the Greek army, studied film and electrical engineering, but his first love was literature, and although he took on the family business of sandal making he never stopped writing.

He is a world renowned poet, and has had 10 books published and translated. His most famous work is Rubayat, a poem celebrating wine, which has become a Greek classic and is studied is several major universities around the world.

The store’s unique atmosphere together with it’s history make it an interesting and unusual place to stop at on a trip to Athens.

Where:2, Aghias Theklas St, Monastiraki – Psirri, Athens.
Getting there: From Syntagma Square walk down Ermou Street, past Kapnikarea Sq, till you reach Athenas St on your right, Aghias Theklas Street is the 2nd right after Athenas Street.
Tel: 2103219247
Web site:http://www.melissinos-poet.com/eng/index.html