What I can see

The old building of the Evangelismos Hospital is located on Ypsilantou Street, at the corner with Marasli Street. It is neoclassical and was probably designed by Gerasimos Metaxas, although it is also said that it was designed by Anastasios Theophilas. The original building consisted of 3 two-storey wings, one central and two side ones, which were connected by single-storey corridors. Later additions were made and the corridors acquired a second floor, while they were extended forward, approaching the facades of the wings. The difference with the projection of the wings remains, despite being significantly limited. The difference between the openings is more noticeable; these of the wings are rectangular, while these of the corridors are arched. This is a neo-Byzantine element. Neo-Byzantine order was common in welfare facilities. During its almost 150 years, the hospital grew in size. Modern wings have been developed and this kept happening until recent years. All the later buildings have no architectural connection with the neoclassical one, as most of them are of a modernist order. The AHEPA building is worth noticing. It was designed before the war and its construction had already begun, but was inaugurated in 1950, after the studies were updated. It was initially designed by Ioannis Antoniadis and the updated plans were made by him, in collaboration with Emmanuel Kriezis, George Diamantopoulos and Kostas Kitsikis.

What I can't see

The land was donated by the Petrakis Monastery and the hospital was founded on the initiative of Queen Olga. Royalty attended the inauguration and the first patient was a child. Among the benefactors for its construction were Queen Olga, Tsar Alexander III of Russia and many businessmen, such as Andreas Syngros. The Tsar’s donation was also a gesture of gratitude to Prince George of Greece, who saved his son – and later Tsar – Nicholas II from a Japanese anarchist.

Info

• Address: 45-47 Ypsilantou & Vas. Sofias St.

Bibliography