THE TRILOGY: The renowned "Trilogy" on Panepistimiou St. consists of the National Library, the University, and the Academy. All three were designed and built by the creators of Athenian neoclassicism, the prominent 19th century Danish architects Christian Hansen (1803-1883) and his brother Theofilos (1813-1891). The "Trilogy" serves as an introduction to Athenian neoclassicism, a marvelous work of great beauty for the new capital of Greece. In front of these three buildings there are important statues. Those in front of the Academy show Socrates and Plato, that in front of the National Library Panagis Vallianos, one of the donors of the building. In front of the University there are five statues which illustrate the diverse roots of the modern Greek state. That closest to the station shows the foreigner, liberal and friend of the Greek people, William Gladstone, Prime Minister of Great Britain. The other four are of the Enlightenment scholar Adamantios Korais from Chios, the diplomat and first Governor of Greece loannis Capodistria from Kerkyra, the revolutionary and martyr for freedom, Rhigas Feraios from Thessaly and the Patriarch of Constantinople Gregory V from the Peloponese who was martyred just after the beginning of the War of Independence in 1821. The four Greeks evidently cover a very wide range, both ideologically and existentially.

(1) University: Built by the Danish architect Christian Hansen in 1839-1841, though construction was completed in the mid 19th century, under the supervision of the fine Greek architect Lysandros Kaftantzoglou. By adopting the proportions and the varied colors of the temples of classical antiquity, the architect created a building which was a model for Greek neoclassicism. The paintings were designed by Karl Rahl (1861), and carried out by the Polish painter Lembrefski (1888).

(2) National Library: Built in 1885-1894, in a Doric order combined with a Renaissance staircase. As it was the last building of the Danish architect Theophilos Hansen in Athens, he refused to accept payment for it. The Library facade with the Doric prostyle copies the Temple of Hephaistos in the Ancient Agora. Four fifths of the costs were donated by the Vallianos brothers.

(3) Academy: Built between 1859 and 1885 with the donations of Simon and Ifigeneia Sina, it is considered the finest work of the Danish architect Theophilos Hansen in Greece. The facade has borrowed features from the east and west stoas of the Erechtheion. The Academy began its activities as late as 1926.

(4) OPHTHALMIATREIO (EYE-CLINIC): On the right of the Academy, this was one of the first of its kind in the world. The foundations were laid in 1847, following the design made by the architect Christian Hansen. Hansen left Greece in 1850, and was replaced by Lysandros Kaftantzoglou who supervised the construction. In 1869 a third floor was added by the architect Gerasimos Metaxas. The building is a sample of a romantic edifice in the neo-Byzantine style. (26 Panepistimiou St)

(5) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. DIONYSIOS THE AREOPAGITE: The foundations were laid in 1853, following the design by the Bavarian architect Leo Von Klenze. The original design was further simplified and implemented by Lysandros Kaftantzoglou. Painted images in the church were made by the painter Bilancioni (1896) and the clergyman hagiographer Petite (1912). The church was opened on April 4, 1865. (24 Panepistimiou St, tel.: 210 3623603)

(6) SCARLATOS SOUTSOS-DEMETRIOS RALLIS MANSION: Situated on the corner of Korai St and Panepistimiou. A plain yet elegant neoclassical building, that dates from the decade of the 1880s. It came close to being demolished, and owes its survival to the action taken by Elliniki Etairia. When built it was at the city's outer limits.

(7) KORAI ST PEDESTRIAN AREA: Recently this has become a pedestrian street situated between Panepistimiou and Stadiou St, named after Adamantios Korais (1748-1833), the principal figure of the Greek Enlightenment.

(8) CHURCH OF AGHIOI THEODOROI: A simple two-columned cross-in-square church with cloisonne masonry, built in the 11th century. It is noted for the inscribed plaques over the entrance. The small bell-tower was a later addition. (Agion Theodoron Square at the bottom end of Klathmonos Square)

(9) EUTAXIA-VOUROU MANSION, MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF ATHENS: Built in 1833 by the German architects G. Luders and J. Hoffer, it was the former residence of the Stamatios Dekozis- Vouros family. It was rented as the royal palace from 1836 to 1843, together with the neighboring buildings belonging to Mastronikolas and Aphthonides. In 1859 exactly next to it, St. Dekozis-Vouros built a second mansion for his son Constantine, following a design by the architect Gerasimos Metaxas. In 1916 the face of the building was redecorated by the architect Anastasios Helmis. This second mansion became the residence of the Museum's founder and benefactor, Lambros Eutaxias. The Museum displays mostly heirlooms of the period of King Otho (1833-1862), as well as various works of art that portray the history of Athens during the last few centuries. The most notable exhibit is an oil painting of Athens by the artist Jacques Carrey of 1674, the biggest of its kind. Impressive too is the model of the city of Athens of 1842. Historians should not miss the first handwritten Constitution of 1843, and an oversize lithographic map of the Kingdom of Greece within its original boundaries, of 1838. (5-7 Paparrigopoulou St, Klafthmonos Square, tel.: 210 3231397, 210 3230168)

(10) OLD PARLIAMENT - NATIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM: The mansion of the banker Alexandros Kontostavlos from the island of Chios, was built in 1832 by Stamatis Kleanthis on the northeast edge of 19th century Athens. It was purchased by the Greek Government in 1834, an octagonal wooden structure was added to it and, until the end of 1836, it became King Otho's palace. From 1843, under the first democratic constitution, the octagonal building housed the Greek Parliament. Completely destroyed by fire in October 1854, its replacement was completed in 1871, following the design made by the French architect Boulanger, as modified by the Greek architect Panayis Kalkos. The Greek Parliament was housed there until 1932; the Ministry of justice thence until 1961; and the National Historical Museum since that time. The Museum contains rich collections that chronicle the Frankish and Ottoman periods, but the real gem of the Museum is a collection of historical heirlooms belonging to the leading men of the Greek War of Independence of 1821, as well as commemorative items from more recent Greek history. Of particular interest is the folk art section with its impressive costumes, and the meeting chamber of the Old Parliament Hall, one of the finest in Athens, where the greatest statesmen of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as Harilaos Trikoupis and Eleftherios Venizelos, spoke.

(11) "ILIOU MELATHRON" - NUMISMATIC MUSEUM: This building represents the finest synthesis of neoclassicism and romanticism in nineteenth century Athenian architecture. It was also the most luxurious private mansion in Athens of its time. Built in 1879-1881 by the architect Ernest Ziller, it was the residence of Heinrich Schliemann, the man who uncovered the ancient cities of Troy, Mycenae, Tyrins, and other Mycenaean centers. The fine paintings were made by the Slovenian artist Juri Shubich, who worked under Schliemann's guidance. Today it houses the Numismatic Museum which displays 600,000 coins dating from early antiquity until modern times.

(12) HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE: Originally built in 1842 by the Danish architect Theofilos Hansen for the family of Antonios Dimitriou, it was purchased in 1874 by Stathis Lampsas and Savvas Kentros, and since then transformed into a hotel. For long periods of time, it served as a major center for the city's political and social life. Extensive renovations and additions followed throughout the 20th century which enlarged it out of all recognition. It is the oldest and most elegant hotel in Athens. In its current form, it dates from 1960. The last radical internal renovation was completed very recently for the Olympic Games of 2004. (AI Vas. Georgiou St, tel.: 210 3330000)

SYNTAGMA SQUARE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION

To read about these locations, please refer to our August newsletter feature, Heritage Walk #6

ERMOU STREET AGIOS ELEUTHERIOS

To read about these locations, please refer to our July newsletter feature, Heritage Walk #5

TRIPODON ST ELLINIKI ETAIRIA LYSICRATES' MONUMENT ACROPOLIS STATION (M)

To read about these locations, please refer to our March newsletter feature, Heritage Walk #1

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