Located at the corner of Irodou Attikou Street and George II Street, the New Palace, built between 1891 and 1897, today houses the residence and offices of the President of the Republic. The mansion was originally built as the residence of the then heir to the throne Constantine. It was designed by Ernst Ziller and funded by the Greek state.
[Irodou Attikou Street and George II Street]
© Vangelis Zavos
Built in 1924, the mansion features almost daily in news bulletins because this is the official seat of the prime minister, where ministers and other officials come and go every day. It was designed by Anastasios Helmis, an architect who had studied in France. The mansion belonged to banker and politician Dimitrios Maximos, who in 1947 briefly served as prime minister and five years later sold the mansion to the Greek state.[19 Irodou Attikou St.]
© Corbis / Smart Magna
It is named after its patron, Evangelis Zappas. In 1869, the government set aside 80,000 square meters of public land for the project and Theophil Hansen was commissioned to design the hall. The foundations were laid in 1874 and the inauguration was held in 1888. This grand neoclassical mansion, with 25 rooms and a beautiful atrium, is used for exhibitions, conferences and other events. Right next to the hall is the Aegli, a popular meeting place and hub of Athenian social life since 1904.
[Vasilissis Olgas Av.]
© Clairy Moustafellou
Built by the Athenians in AD 131, this imposing arch stood on the ancient road that led to the Olympieion. There are two inscriptions carved on the architrave of the lower level. The first, facing the Acropolis, reads: “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus.” The second, facing the Olympieion, reads: “This is the city of Hadrian, not of Theseus.”
[Vasilissis Amalias Av. • Open daily: 08:00 – 19:00 • General Admission: € 2]
© Perikles Merakos
Though it took centuries to build, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, or Olympieion, is one of the largest temples of the ancient world. Construction of the monumental temple began in 515 BC under the tyrant Peisistratus but remained unfinished for some 350 years. It was finally completed in AD 124-125 by Emperor Hadrian. Of its 104 original columns, 13 still stand today on the southeast side and three on the northwest side.[Vasilissis Amalias Av. • Open daily: 08:00 – 19:00 • General Admission: € 2 • Tel.: (+30) 210.922.6330]
© Perikles Merakos
Lycurgus of Athens, an orator and benefactor, rebuilt the stadium in 330 BC on the site of its ancient predecessor. In AD 140, the stadium was renovated and enlarged by Herodes Atticus, using marble quarried from Mount Pendeli. Used as a multi-purpose athletic arena, it became home to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the site of Spyros Louis’ triumph in the first modern Marathon.[Vasileos Konstantinou Av. • Tel.: (+30) 210.752.2984-6 General Admission: € 5 • www.panathenaicstadium.gr]
© Clairy Moustafellou
Wherever you go in Athens, you’re sure to run into a piece of architecture, a relic from history or an ancient structure that has stood the test of time. The city teems with such places which make the ideal setting for a quick photo, or simply to linger over as you wonder over the place’s history. We’ve put together a short selection of some of the most photo friendly places around the city.
Located at the corner of Irodou Attikou Street and George II Street, the New Palace, built between 1891 and 1897, today houses the residence and offices of the President of the Republic. The mansion was originally built as the residence of the then heir to the throne Constantine. It was designed by Ernst Ziller and funded by the Greek state.
[Irodou Attikou Street and George II Street]
© Vangelis Zavos
Built in 1924, the mansion features almost daily in news bulletins because this is the official seat of the prime minister, where ministers and other officials come and go every day. It was designed by Anastasios Helmis, an architect who had studied in France. The mansion belonged to banker and politician Dimitrios Maximos, who in 1947 briefly served as prime minister and five years later sold the mansion to the Greek state.[19 Irodou Attikou St.]
© Corbis / Smart Magna
It is named after its patron, Evangelis Zappas. In 1869, the government set aside 80,000 square meters of public land for the project and Theophil Hansen was commissioned to design the hall. The foundations were laid in 1874 and the inauguration was held in 1888. This grand neoclassical mansion, with 25 rooms and a beautiful atrium, is used for exhibitions, conferences and other events. Right next to the hall is the Aegli, a popular meeting place and hub of Athenian social life since 1904.
[Vasilissis Olgas Av.]
© Clairy Moustafellou
Built by the Athenians in AD 131, this imposing arch stood on the ancient road that led to the Olympieion. There are two inscriptions carved on the architrave of the lower level. The first, facing the Acropolis, reads: “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus.” The second, facing the Olympieion, reads: “This is the city of Hadrian, not of Theseus.”
[Vasilissis Amalias Av. • Open daily: 08:00 – 19:00 • General Admission: € 2]
© Perikles Merakos
Though it took centuries to build, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, or Olympieion, is one of the largest temples of the ancient world. Construction of the monumental temple began in 515 BC under the tyrant Peisistratus but remained unfinished for some 350 years. It was finally completed in AD 124-125 by Emperor Hadrian. Of its 104 original columns, 13 still stand today on the southeast side and three on the northwest side.[Vasilissis Amalias Av. • Open daily: 08:00 – 19:00 • General Admission: € 2 • Tel.: (+30) 210.922.6330]
© Perikles Merakos
Lycurgus of Athens, an orator and benefactor, rebuilt the stadium in 330 BC on the site of its ancient predecessor. In AD 140, the stadium was renovated and enlarged by Herodes Atticus, using marble quarried from Mount Pendeli. Used as a multi-purpose athletic arena, it became home to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the site of Spyros Louis’ triumph in the first modern Marathon.[Vasileos Konstantinou Av. • Tel.: (+30) 210.752.2984-6 General Admission: € 5 • www.panathenaicstadium.gr]
© Clairy Moustafellou
We hop off the Athens Metro in an area that...
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