The Presidential Palace in Athens

The Presidential Palace in Athens - This magnificent neoclassical palace in Athens is the official residence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, but it was the royal palace until the abolition of the monarchy by referendum in 1974. His story is a quite hectic. The decision to build a palace for the Greek royal family was taken in 1868, but the new palace was begun in 1891 and was completed six years later, in 1897. In the early twentieth century a fire destroyed much of the palace. Worked as a royal residence between 1913 and 1924, when the Republic was declared, and also between 1935 and 1974, the period when the monarchy was restored.


It is interesting that when they built this palace, he was actually on the outskirts of the city, the only prominent buildings were also the Duchess of Plaisance, known as Ilissia and is today the Byzantine Museum, and the Monastery of Petraki. The design of the building was entrusted to the architect Ernst Ziller, who also designed other seven buildings across Greece, King George had requested an austere building, and the architect chose a historic design, symmetrical and neoclassical.

Today this mansion with the garden covers 27000m2, was practically in the center of town, surrounded by the National Gardens and the Parliament. Herodou street is Attikou, one of the most beautiful of the city, and is concentrated political and social life of Greece. On the same street is the residence Maximou, where are the offices of the Prime Minister and the best accommodation in Athens.

With the passage of time added other agencies, such as the former ballroom, now Credentials Hall in 1909, and another extension when the Princess Sophie married Prince Juan Carlos I, the current kings of Spain, was commissioned by the architect Alexander Baltatzis.

Paragraph for the gardens, covering 25000m2 and are a real green lung in Athens, were designed by Ziller and most plants are native to Greece. The garden was divided into two sections: the front is a neoclassical style, and follows the typical French design with symmetrical flowerbeds and flowering plants.

If you wish to visit the Presidential Palace, we reported that the mansion is not open to the public in general are welcome visits from schools and other groups, so we recommend travel agencies reported in the capital.
Source: On Greece. Com


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