Near the Monastiraki metro station, the impressive walls of Hadrian's Library stand as a testament to Emperor Hadrian's 21-year reign. Hadrian, an admirer of Athens and the arts, was an amateur architect and poet who frequently traveled throughout the Roman provinces, fostering a reputation as a pacifist Emperor. Constructed in 132 AD, the library was a grand structure measuring 119 by 89 meters. It featured an inner courtyard with a peristyle of 100 columns and housed halls, amphitheaters, and reading rooms. A testament to the Romans' love for opulence and luxury, this remaining fragment serves as proof of their wealth. The library's site has transformed over the years. In the 5th century, a temple was erected where the reservoir once stood, and during the Ottoman era, it served as the headquarters of Voivodeship. In the late 19th century, a significant fire led to excavations supervised by the Greek state and archaeologist Komanoudis. Hadrian's Library opened to the public in 2004, and extensive restoration efforts concluded in 2010, preserving its current appearance.