Laterna of Mr. Spyros Athens

Sounds like old Athens

Andreas from Athens

About me I was born in Koln, grew up in northern Greece, studied in Crete and finally landed in Athens for work reasons in 2006. For up to 6 years now I've worked in the music industry and I have attended over 500 concerts throughout the Attica. My friends consider me as a very sociable person, although I am not sure about it... What I am sure of is that I am a restless spirit ...
"The "Laterna of Mr. Spyros" can be found at the beginning of Ermou street. Its tunes always remind me of my childhood. Thank you, Mr. Spyros!"

One of the things I love most in Athens are music barrel organs (laternes). I always stopped to listen to their music ever since I was a child. There is something fascinating about them. The sweet sound they produce, their captivating appearance with lots of decorations and ornaments, the dominating picture in the middle surrounded by flowers.. and definitely its player standing next to it and giving it life.

The story of these organs goes back in the 1st century B.C. with Alexandrian engineer Herona manufacturing the first automatic musical instrument. The first Greek barrel organ was created around 1880 and travelled in the neighborhoods and squares throughout Greece. It is an instrument that has created many feelings inside Greeks and helped greatly in spreading sounds that are loved even today.

One of the remaining barrel organs of Athens can be found at the beginning of Ermou street with tireless Mr. Spyros standing next to it, turning the crank and filling the streets with its tunes. Kind and smiling as usual, every time I talk to him I tell him how happy I am that he brings it to the pedestrian street so that all of us can hear its music and he responds that he is only doing his duty and that she (referring to the barrel organ) chose him.

On your next stroll in the city center, stop and listen to Mr. Spyro’s music and travel back to the old Athens.

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Athens Spotter Andreas

About me I was born in Koln, grew up in northern Greece, studied in Crete and finally landed in Athens for work reasons in 2006. For up to 6 years now I've worked in the music industry and I have attended over 500 concerts throughout the Attica. My friends consider me as a very sociable person, although I am not sure about it... What I am sure of is that I am a restless spirit that loves to go around a lot and discover new places all the time. I'm curious to explore every door… and most of the time I find something very interesting behind it ;-). Why Athens?�...

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Oct 30, 2025

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