Click on each point of interest to have the details of the selected building.
Athens: route 1
The Athens city center: Discovering a city’s history through architecture
This trajectory includes buildings from the period 1843-1939, mainly public ones of various uses, which are typical examples of architecture developed in Athens and most of them are associated with important historical events.
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Go to the Building list below to navigate through each building details of the route.
Pallis Mansion
Adress: Karagiorgi Servias 1, Syntagma Square
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
Pallis Mansion is a beautiful building with five floors in Syntagma (which means Constitution) Square. It was built as the house of the Pallis family in 1910-1911. Everyone loves this building because, back in October 1944, the Prime Minister of the country, George Papandreou, announced, from one of its balconies, the liberation of Athens from the Nazis.
Did you know that
An important Greek architect, Anastasios Metaxas designed the Pallis Mansion. When it was not used as a house anymore, there was a technical school and a bank in the building.
Can you guess the style?
The building is eclectic. Its exterior has beautiful decorations. The pilasters around its windows have nice ornaments like leaves. The windows of the first floor are arched. Its interior is also built with quality materials, with columns and a staircase made of marble.
What about today?
Pallis Mansion is a monument. Today, it houses a big shop for books, toys and electronics.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Pallis Mansion.
Greek Parliament building
Address: Syntagma Square
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
It was built as the palace of King Otto of Greece, during the years 1836-1843. It was designed by the important German architect, Friedrich von Gaertner. Inside it was filled with colorful paintings.
Did you know that
The old palace hosted refugee services after the Greek Asia Minor Disaster of 1922.
In the years 1930-1935 Greek architect Andreas Kriezis redesigned it to house the Hellenic Parliament.
Can you guess the style?
It is a neoclassical building. There is a pediment on its roof. There are also doric columns in front of its central façade.
What about today?
The Parliament Building overlooks the Constitution Square, the most important square of Athens! Next to it lies the National Garden.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Greek Parliament building
Building of “Metochiko Tameio Stratou” (Army Share Fund Building)
Address: Junction of Amerikis, Panepistimiou, Voukourestiou and Stadiou streets
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
This beautiful building was designed by the architects Vassilios Kassandras and Leonidas Bonis, after a competition. It was built where the stables of King Otho used to be back in the 19th century. Its construction was completed in 1938.
Did you know that
The six-floor building is one of the very few ones in Athens to cover a whole block. At the time when it was first built, there used to be shops and offices, two theaters and two historic coffee shops, named “Zonar’s” and “Floca”.
Can you guess the style?
It is an eclectic building, with classicist features. Some bright red decorations and spiral motifs ornate its exterior walls.
What about today?
The building is a monument. It houses offices and shops. There is still a coffee shop on the ground floor! The building is very popular with both Athenians and visitors.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Building of “Metochiko Tameio Stratou”.
Iliou Melathron (Schliemann’s Mansion, hosting the Numismatic Museum)
Address: 12, El. Venizelou (Panepistimiou) str.
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
Iliou Melathron was built in 1878-1879. Ernst Ziller, an important German architect designed it. It is one of the most beautiful buildings he designed in Greece.
Did you know that
It was the house of the famous German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who discovered the city of Troy (Ilion). He wanted his house to be decorated so as to remind people of ancient Greece! Even inside the building, there are phrases by ancient poets Homer and Hesiod written on the walls.
Can you guess the style?
The architect used the neoclassical style with eclectic decorations. On its exterior there is a long balcony with arches. It is built with ionic columns made of marble. On its terrace there are twenty-four statues made of clay. They are copies of ancient statues.
What about today?
Today, the building hosts the Numismatic Museum, with its very big and important collection of coins.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Building of Iliou Melathron” (Schliemann’s Mansion, hosting the Numismatic Museum).
The Serpieri Mansion (former Agricultural Bank of Greece)
Address: 23, Panepistimiou & Edouardou Lo str.
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
The Serpieri Mansion was built in the 1880. The Greek engineer Anastasios Theofilas designed it.
Did you know that
It was the house of Italian Giovanni Baptista Serpieri. Serpieri was a businessman and he was a specialist in minerals! There were also offices in the building.
Can you guess the style?
The building is neoclassical. It also has decorations of eclectic style, on the right part of its exterior. The main part of the building, on the left, has ionic pilasters on the first and second floor. On the third floor the pilasters are doric! On the right part of the building the windows are arched with a lot of decorations.
What about today?
In 1929 the building was purchased by a bank. Today, the building is a monument and has no specific use.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Building of The Serpieri Mansion.
Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius
Address: Junction of Amerikis, Panepistimiou, Voukourestiou and Stadiou streets
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
The Catholic Cathedral of St. Dionysius was built in 1865. At first, Leo von Klenze, an important German architect made the plans for the church, after the request of King Otto of Greece. But, later on, the Greek architect Lysandros Kaftanzoglou took charge of the design.
Did you know that
The church is called a “basilica”. In its interior, there are beautiful paintings on the walls. There are also vitrail glass decorations on eight windows. They were made in Munich, and then they were placed on the church’s windows!
Can you guess the style?
The style of the building is neo-Renaissance, inspired by the Renaissance architecture. A big beautiful staircase made of marble and an entrance with arches leads to the entrance of the main building.
What about today?
The Cathedral of St. Dionysius is the most important church of Athens for the Catholic community. It is also a monument.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Building of Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius.
The University of Athens
Address: 30, Panepistimiou Street
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
Τhe building of the University of Athens was designed by Danish architect Hans Christian Hansen. It was built in 1843.
Did you know that
Above the central door there is a beautiful painting on the wall, showing king Otto of Athens. Around the king, the painter drew women, representing the Sciences.
Can you guess the style?
The building is neoclassical. Its exterior looks like ancient Greek temples. The form of the building, with columns made of marble, looks like the Acropolis of Athens. There are two big courtyards on each side of the building. In front of it there are sculptures made of marble.
What about today?
Today the building is used for special events. This building of the University, together with its neighbouring buildings, the National Library and the Academy, form the Trilogy, the most beautiful neoclassical ensemble in Greece.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Building of The University of Athens.
The Academy of Athens
Address: 28, Panepistimiou & Sina Street
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
The Academy of Athens was built between 1859 and 1885. Its architects were Theophil Hansen and Ernst Ziller. Simon Sinas, a diplomat and businessman from Vienna, financed the building’s construction.
Did you know that
On top of the entrance of the Academy, there is a marble sculpture of the birth of goddess Athena in the pediment. She is surrounded by the gods of the ancient Greeks, with god Zeus, her father, in the center. On the two sides of the main façade there are two big columns with two marble sculptures: one of goddess Athena and one of god Apollo!
Can you guess the style?
The Academy is a neoclassical building. Its columns are Ionian. The building is made of marble, and its lower part is made of stone from Piraeus. The colors used in the decoration of the entrance, red, gold and dark blue, are similar to the ones used in ancient Greek times!
What about today?
The Academy of Athens was first used in 1926, as the house of the Academy of Athens. Today, this is where the members of the Academy meet – that is important educated professors and scientists. The building is a monument.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Building of The Academy of Athens.
The National Library
Address: Panepistimiou 32 street
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
The National Library was built in 1902. The important architect Theophil Hansen designed the building, and Ernst Ziller supervised its construction. The building took fifteen years to build!
Did you know that
The brothers Vallianos, who were from the island of Kefalonia, financed the construction of the building. There is a statue of one of them just below the Library!
Can you guess the style?
The style of the building is neoclassical. The staircase is inspired by Renaissance architecture, with its curved form. Close to the entrance of the Library, the columns are of doric style! Inside the Library, there is a big beautiful reading room, with a sunlight window on its roof. On the walls, there are a lot of bookshelves made from iron.
What about today?
In 2018, the relocation of the National Library of Greece to the new building at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) took place. Today, inside the building you can find the old newspapers’ reading room.
Click to listen to the audio guide of Building of The National Library.
“Rex” movie-theater
Address: 48, Panepistimiou str.
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Let me tell you a story about this building!
The “Rex” movie-theater was built in 1937. Two Greek architects: Leonidas Bonis and Vasileios Kassandras designed the building.
Did you know that
The Rex movie-theater was one of the first theater-centers of Athens. It housed two cinemas, and a theater.
Can you guess the style?
The building’s style is called modern. It also has many art deco elements.
The “Rex” is 34-meter tall! Its architects were inspired by skyscrapers, and they used the modern material, concrete, for its construction.
What about today?
Today, the building belongs to the Ministry of Culture. It hosts three stages of the National Theatre of Greece. It is also a monument!
Click to listen to the audio guide of “Rex” movie-theater
