Kifissia Houses
Kifissia district is famous for its luxurious mansions and houses.
Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )
Ottoman era (1453- 1821)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
In the area of Palaia (Old) Kifissia there are many impressive buildings, the majority of which are villas, the so-called “mansions of Kifissia”. It is like a time capsule that takes us back to the late 19th and the early 20th centuries. The great variety of architectural styles shows a central European influence on the architects and owners. Some of the mansions that stand out are a) the Kazoulis villa (1890) with its iconic dome, which is a landmark of Kifissia and is a rare combination of neoclassicism and art nouveau, b) the Zouras mansion (1872) with its characteristic tower, the monumental marble staircase, garden and vaulted entrance, c) the Dorpfeld House (1891) designed by him, with elaborate woodwork on the facades and floors and d) the stone Bodin Kindergarten with the ornate roof of the early 20th century. Other interesting buildings are the Kotsika villa, the house of Fokion Negris, the mansion of Theodoros Diligiannis and the mansions at 19 Kassaveti, 13 Agiou Dimitriou, 10 Agion Theodoron, 299 Kifissias and 19 Kyriazi Streets.
What I can't see
Why was all the wealth concentrated here? Kifissia was a rural area and not as well connected to Athens as it is today. Here were the summer residences of the country’s upper class. They chose Kifissia to be close to the summer palaces of Tatoi and in direct contact with the king.
Bibliography
Open House Athens (2019), Έπαυλη Ζούρα, [Zoura’s Mansion], ΟΗΑ
Open House Athens (2018), Οικία Βίλελμ Ντέρπφελντ, [Wilhelm Dorpfeld Residense] ΟΗΑ
