Athens City Hall

What I can see

The City Hall has a strict neoclassical style and is rather poorly conceived in terms of its architectural design because of the limited budget at the time of its construction. Its architecture is influenced by that of the Houses of Parliament (Vouli) and the Varvakios market. During the recent restoration, elements that had been removed in the 19^th century (e.g. the molding) were reinstalled on the first floor, while the second floor was left as it was during the second renovation, in order to provide a distinction between the different phases of the building’s history.

What I can't see

Originally, the building had a ground floor and a first floor. During the early years of its operation, the municipal authorities only used the first floor, while the lower level was rented to notaries and coffin making workshops. During the renovation works, a 2^nd floor was built, some of the decorative elements removed, while the base of the building was coated with marble.  The entrances of the shops on the ground floor were turned into windows, and anti-aircraft shelters were built in the second basement. The interior boasts rare frescoes by Fotis Kontoglou and Giorgos Gounaropoulos. 

Info

• Address: 63 Athinas St.
• Postal Code : 10552
• Phone: +30 210 3722001
• Website: http://www.cityofathens.gr/

Bibliography