The Zappeion is one of the most important buildings in Athens. Its construction was financed by the philanthropist Evangelos Zappas and was completed in 1888. The neoclassical mansion is intertwined with the history of modern Greece. Today it functions as a conference and exhibition center.
In 1869, the Greek government allocated 8.000 m? of public land for the building in the space between the palace gardens and the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus. On November 30.1869, the Greek Parliament also passed a law specifically for the construction of the buildings of the 1896 Olympic Games, as the Zappeion was the first building in the world to be built exclusively for the Olympic Games.
The first plan of the building was prepared by the architect Franç ois Boulanger, which was later modified by Anastasios Theophilas and finally abandoned. Eventually, Konstantinos Zappas entrusted the design of the building to the Danish architect Theophilus Hansen. After long delays, the foundation was laid on 20 November 1874. The official inauguration took place on 20 October 1888. The architecture of the building is in the neoclassical style with a Corinthian propylon. The building, combined with the three-arched stone bridge of Ilissos, which was also built with the sponsorship of Evangelos Zappas, and the surrounding gardens, formed the image of Athens in the early 20th century. Unfortunately, Evangelos Zappas did not live to see the building in its final form. His skull is buried in the Zappeion, unlike his body, which rests in his birthplace, the village of Labovo in Albania. In his will, Evangelos left his cousin Konstantinos Zappas responsible for the execution and continuation of his charitable activities.
On 22 March 1961, after a radical renovation to mark the centenary of the signing of Evangelos Zappas's will, the restored Zappeion was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis.
The Zappeion has about 25 rooms (ranging from 97 m² to 984 m² ). Initially, the building and the courtyard were used for the "New Olympia", an agricultural, technical and industrial exhibition that was to be held every four years in the Zappeion. It was also used by the National Broadcasting Foundation, and the Athens State Radio broadcast from its premises from 1938. It was used at the 1896 Olympic Games for fencing competitions. It was used as the Olympic Village at the 1906 Summer Olympics, and as the press and event center at the 2004 Olympics.
Zappeion has been the site of many historical events, culminating in the historic signing of the Treaty of Accession of Greece to the European Union (then the EEC) by Konstantinos Karamanlis on 1 January 1981. Also, after the change of government, Zappeion has been the press center for all general elections in the country, where the winners and losers of the elections give the usual interview after the end of the elections. Zappeion Square has been used and is used for various exhibitions and ceremonies.
In front of the building are monuments to Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas.
In 1869, the Greek government allocated 8.000 m? of public land for the building in the space between the palace gardens and the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus. On November 30.1869, the Greek Parliament also passed a law specifically for the construction of the buildings of the 1896 Olympic Games, as the Zappeion was the first building in the world to be built exclusively for the Olympic Games.
The first plan of the building was prepared by the architect Franç ois Boulanger, which was later modified by Anastasios Theophilas and finally abandoned. Eventually, Konstantinos Zappas entrusted the design of the building to the Danish architect Theophilus Hansen. After long delays, the foundation was laid on 20 November 1874. The official inauguration took place on 20 October 1888. The architecture of the building is in the neoclassical style with a Corinthian propylon. The building, combined with the three-arched stone bridge of Ilissos, which was also built with the sponsorship of Evangelos Zappas, and the surrounding gardens, formed the image of Athens in the early 20th century. Unfortunately, Evangelos Zappas did not live to see the building in its final form. His skull is buried in the Zappeion, unlike his body, which rests in his birthplace, the village of Labovo in Albania. In his will, Evangelos left his cousin Konstantinos Zappas responsible for the execution and continuation of his charitable activities.
On 22 March 1961, after a radical renovation to mark the centenary of the signing of Evangelos Zappas's will, the restored Zappeion was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis.
The Zappeion has about 25 rooms (ranging from 97 m² to 984 m² ). Initially, the building and the courtyard were used for the "New Olympia", an agricultural, technical and industrial exhibition that was to be held every four years in the Zappeion. It was also used by the National Broadcasting Foundation, and the Athens State Radio broadcast from its premises from 1938. It was used at the 1896 Olympic Games for fencing competitions. It was used as the Olympic Village at the 1906 Summer Olympics, and as the press and event center at the 2004 Olympics.
Zappeion has been the site of many historical events, culminating in the historic signing of the Treaty of Accession of Greece to the European Union (then the EEC) by Konstantinos Karamanlis on 1 January 1981. Also, after the change of government, Zappeion has been the press center for all general elections in the country, where the winners and losers of the elections give the usual interview after the end of the elections. Zappeion Square has been used and is used for various exhibitions and ceremonies.
In front of the building are monuments to Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas.
Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
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