A tour of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens

National Library of Greece

More than a million books and magazines, as well as handwritten codices from the 9th-19th century, are held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, making it the foremost record of Greek literary heritage. The setting couldn’t be more different to the National Library’s previous location, in the neoclassical Vallianeio Mansion, amongst the historical buildings of central Athens. Tomes are presented over multiple levels in a space that maximises natural light, with separate reading areas for children, teenagers and adults as well as rooms for research and educational and interactive programs.

National Opera House

Having been established in 1939, the Greek National Opera found its natural home when it moved from the compact Olympia Theatre in central Athens to the SNFCC, where a full program of local and international operas and ballets, as well as experimental and children’s performances are brought to life with world-class acoustics. The ambience never fails to inspire, as it did with the inaugural performance in 2017 – Elektra by Richard Strauss, the first time the Greek National Opera had presented the play.

Stavros Niarchos Park

Covering 21 hectares (85% of the area of the SNFCC), the Stavros Niarchos Park is considered the largest publicly accessible Mediterranean park in the world. It feels both expansive and intimate, with features such as a labyrinth and playgrounds designed to blend harmoniously with the surroundings and water jets that are especially popular on hot days. The centrepiece is the Great Lawn, where summer outdoor events are staged and families and friends enjoy picnics or snacks from the canteen by the lawn. The park also plays a role in showcasing Mediterranean flora, with olive and carob trees, as well as laurel and cypress trees and an extensive collection of indigenous aromatic plants. In total, the park has 16 tree and 161 plant species.

The canal

The 400m long and 30m wide canal has the effect of uniting the SNFCC complex with the waterfront. It is fed by water from the Faliro Delta, which returns to the sea after it has been filtered, and hosts sailing and kayaking for kids and adults. It is also an important visual component, introducing the element of water into the architecture and reflecting the main building’s glass facade. You can enjoy waffles, crepes and treats from the mobile canteens alongside the canal.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse (or Pharos) is found on the top floor, above the National Opera House and is topped by the 2.5-acre energy-producing canopy, fitted with photovoltaic panels. You will find the Pharos Café up here but the real draw is the uninterrupted vista of the Saronic Gulf islands and central Athens. The night-time view towards the lit-up Parthenon is one of the most special in Athens.

Restaurants

Don’t worry if you haven’t brought a picnic. You’ll find Mediterranean cuisine options for breakfast, light snacks and main meals in the Agora bistro on the ground floor and fine dining in the super-elegant top-floor Delta restaurant, with a choice of mouth-watering tasting menus with a farm-to-table philosophy and a selection of Greek wines.

Bonus

There are bikes to hire and a 2.5km cycle path within the SNFCC grounds, and easy access to the waterfront. Around 2km down the coast, you will find the Averof, an armoured cruiser that played a key role in Greece’s victory in the Balkan Wars (1910-1920), that has now been turned into a fascinating floating museum.