What does “zero kilometer” mean and where is it located?

Where do they measure kilometer distance in Greece? What is the famous “zero kilometer” in Athens? These and other questions were answered by experts from the website carandmotor.gr.

To determine the kilometer distances between cities, it was necessary to determine some places called “zero kilometer”. This special topographic pointmainly in large cities, from which the numbering of measuring kilometer distances with other cities of the country and beyond begins.

Usually such a point is taken as the most central square or major historical monument of the city. The oldest such road landmark in the world is a marble column in Italy, the famous “Golden Miliareum” of Ancient Rome.

In Greece, kilometer distances are marked either with signs or stone columns and start from the central square of mainland cities or from the central pier of the ports of island cities, from where the numbering of internal kilometer distances begins.

Many people believe that the “zero kilometer” of the capital Athens is Omonia or Syntagma Square, although in fact it is located in the courtyard of the National Observatory of Athens on the Hill of Nymphs.