Old Royal Palace

This article is about the one in Athens, Greece. For the one in the Czech Republic, see Old Royal Palace (Prague). For former royal palaces, see list of royal palaces.

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Building in Athens, Greece

Old Royal Palace

Παλαιά Ανάκτορα

A view from Vasilissis Amalias Avenue.

Location within Athens

General information
Architectural style| Greek Revival (a type of Neoclassicism)
Location| Athens, Greece
Current tenants| Hellenic Parliament
Construction started| 1836
Inaugurated| 1843
Client| Ludwig I of Bavaria
Owner| Hellenic Republic
Design and construction
Architect(s)| Friedrich von Gärtner
Website
www.hellenicparliament.gr

The Old Royal Palace (Greek: Παλαιά Ανάκτορα Palaiá Anáktora) is the first royal palace of modern Greece, completed in 1843. It has housed the Hellenic Parliament since 1934. The Old Palace is situated at the heart of modern Athens, facing onto Syntagma Square.

## History[edit]

The palace was designed by Bavarian architect Friedrich von Gärtner for King Otto of Greece, with funds donated by Otto's father, King Ludwig I of Bavaria. Previous proposals had placed the new palace at the sites of Omonoia Square, Kerameikos and even on top the Acropolis of Athens. Construction work started in 1836 and was completed in 1843.[1]

The Royal Palace the year of the 1909 fire.

After suffering fire damage in 1909, it entered a long period of renovation. During renovations, George I of Greece and his family moved to the Crown Prince's Palace, from then on known as the "New Palace", one block to the east on Herodou Attikou Street.

Some of the royal family, chiefly the dowager Queen Olga, continued to reside in the "Old Palace" until 1922. In 1924, a referendum abolished the monarchy. The building was then used for many different purposes--housing a variety of government and public services in the 1920s, functioning as a makeshift hospital during World War II, a refugee shelter for Greek refugees from Asia Minor in 1922, a museum with the personal effects of King George I (now part of the collection of the National Historical Museum), and other uses.

In November 1929 the government decided that the building would permanently house Parliament (previously housed in what is now called the Old Parliament House). After more extensive renovations, the Senate convened in the "Old Palace" on 2 August 1934, followed by the Fifth National Assembly on 1 July 1935. Although the monarchy was restored that same year, the building has housed Parliament ever since.

* The Old Royal Palace in 1877

* A photograph of the Old Royal Palace in 1910

* A photograph of the Old Royal Palace in 1910

* Soldiers and artillery in front of the Old Royal Palace before the elections of 1926

* Aerial photograph of the Old Royal Palace from the Hotel Grande Bretagne.

* The interior of the Old Royal Palace

* The Old Royal Palace at night

## Bibliography[edit]

* Kardamitsi-Adami, Maro (2009). Palaces in Greece. Melissa Books. ISBN 978-960-204-289-2.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Old Palace (today the Greek Parliament)". Contemporary Monuments Database. National Hellenic Research Foundation. Retrieved 10 September 2014.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Palace of Athens.

* Official website of the Hellenic Parliament
* History of the Hellenic Parliament Building

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Major landmarks of Athens

Ancient|

* Acropolis
* Ancient Agora
* Arch of Hadrian
* Areopagus
* Aristotle’s Lyceum
* Hadrian's Library
* Kerameikos
* Monument of Lysicrates
* Odeon of Herodes Atticus
* Panathenaic Stadium
* Philopappos Hill/Monument
* Platonic Academy
* Pnyx
* Remains of the Acharnian Road, Acharnian Gate and Cemetery Site
* Remains of the Long Walls
* Roman Agora
* Stoa of Attalos
* Temple of Hephaestus
* Temple of Olympian Zeus
* Theatre of Dionysus
* Tower of the Winds

Byzantine|

* Little Metropolis
* Daphni Monastery
* Holy Apostles Church
* Kapnikarea Church
* Pantanassa Church
* Holy Trinity Church

Ottoman|

* Fethiye Mosque
* House of Saint Philothei/Benizelos-Palaiologos mansion
* Tzistarakis Mosque

Modern|

| Hansen's "Trilogy"|

* Academy
* Kapodistrian University of Athens
* National Library of Greece

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Museums|

* Acropolis Museum
* Benaki Museum
* Byzantine and Christian Museum
* Museum of Cycladic Art
* Kerameikos Museum
* National Archaeological Museum
* National Gallery
* National Historical Museum
* Numismatic Museum

Churches|

* Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
* Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite
* Saint Irene church, Athens

Gardens/Parks|

* Lycabettus Hill
* National Gardens
* Pedion tou Areos

Squares and
Neighbourhoods|

* Anafiotika
* Kolonaki Square
* Kotzia Square
* Monastiraki
* Omonoia Square
* Plaka
* Syntagma
* Thiseio

* Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
* Athens Concert Hall
* Athens Towers
* Gennadius Library
* National Observatory of Athens
* National Theatre
* Old Parliament House
* Old Royal Palace
* Olympic Sports Complex
* Presidential Mansion
* Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
* Zappeion

Marinas|

* Agios Kosmas Marina
* Alimos Marina
* Athens Marina (formerly Faliro Marina)
* Glyfada Marina
* Olympic Marine
* Marina of Vouliagmeni
* Marina of Zea

Others|

* Dionysiou Areopagitou Street
* Ermou Street
* First Cemetery of Athens

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Royal residences in Greece

Attica|

* New Royal Palace
* Old Royal Palace
* Tatoi Palace
* Rododafni Castle
* Queen's Tower (Serpieri)

Corfu|

* Achilleion
* Mon Repos
* Palace of St. Michael and St. George

Thessaloniki|

* Palataki (Thessaloniki)

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
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Geographic|

* Structurae

37°58′31″N 23°44′13″E﻿ / ﻿37.97528°N 23.73694°E﻿ / 37.97528; 23.73694
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