12 historical buildings in Athens for architecture lovers

Two of the Greek capital´s oldest buildings, close to Klafthmonos Square in central Athens, house the Athens City Museum (Vouros-Eutaxias Foundation). The two-floor residence at No.5 was renovated in 1916, displaying elements of eclecticism (the architectural style incorporating numerous historical motifs which dominated Athens by the late 19th century). Today’s façade isn’t the original, designed by military engineer Gerasimos Metaxas. However, it still preserves its past glory. Dubbed the ‘Old Palace’, the neoclassical house at No.7 belonged to a wealthy banker from the island of Chios. When the capital of Greece moved to Athens, it became the first residence of King Otto and Queen Amalia in the city. The buildings were transformed into the Athens City Museum in the 1970s. 

With over 100,000 volumes and manuscripts on Greek history, literature and art from antiquity, the Gennadaion (as it is also known) is one of the most important libraries in Athens. It is also one of the most beautiful, located in a striking 1920s building designed in the style of a classical temple and garden and situated in a leafy enclave under Lycabettus Hill. It was built with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation to house the 26,000 rare works donated by Joannes Gennadius, a Greek diplomat and bibliophile. Opposite is the American School of Classical Studies, which owns the library. 

The Iliou Melathron (as the building is called) has a grand history. It was designed by one of Athens’ greatest architects (Ernst Ziller) as a residence for one of Greece’s most celebrated archaeologists, Heinrich Schliemann (who excavated ancient Mycenae and Troy). Built between 1878-1880, it is considered one of Ziller’s finest structures, uniting Renaissance and neoclassical styles, and is adorned with frescoes and mosaics with themes from the Trojan War and other ancient episodes inspired by Schliemann’s work. The museum, which has a garden cafe, has a collection of 500,000 coins, medals, gems, stamps and other artefacts from 1400 BC to modern times. 

Athens’ City Hall, a short walk from Omonia Square, has seen numerous renovations since it was constructed in 1874, but its function has never changed. As the seat of the municipality, it has overseen the development of Athens for close to 150 years. Designed by architect Panagiotis Kalkos, and built with a 130,000 drachma loan from the Bank of Greece, it was originally two floors (and the municipality occupied only one of them). But as the functions of City Hall grew so did its needs for floor space, so a third floor was added in 1937. Its simple neoclassical exterior contrasts with the details of the paintings and murals of renowned 19-century Greek artists inside, with representations of mythological and historic themes.

Your final historical Athens building is designed by – who else? – Ernst Ziller. The Royal Theatre (as it was originally known) was commissioned by King George I and built between 1895-1901. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful neoclassical buildings in Athens and, though it was briefly forced to close in the early 20th century, it was renovated in the 1930s and reopened as the National Theatre. The small plot size and incline of the land make Ziller’s design all the more impressive.