What I can see

Goudi Park occupies a total area of about 810 acres, but the actual green space- landscaped recreational area is much smaller, only 49 acres. This is because there are facilities within the site, such as a ministry, the National Sculpture Gallery and various other buildings. It emerged from former military camps and is suitable for walking, running, cycling and other sports activities (e.g. swimming). There is an alternation of low and high vegetation, concerts and various cultural events take place and it is a refuge for many birds. Unfortunately, there has not been any comprehensive architectural proposal, as a result of which it remains a “fragmented” park.

What I can't see

The name of the park comes from the area of Goudis, a family name that dates back to Middle Ages. The park has been linked with three important historical events. The first was the “Goudi Movement”. Fearing a coup d’état, the government of Dimitrios Rallis (1909) carried out extensive transfers and discharges of military personnel. The reaction of the military started from here and had the characteristics of an uprising. They demanded the removal of the royals from the army and the dissolution of the pro-royal government. The Movement prevailed, but did not impose a dictatorship and a new government was formed. However, a military dictatorship was established after the Asia Minor Catastrophe (1922), with the official name “Revolution of 1922” and with the silent tolerance of the Venizelos party. After the Greek defeat, the military put in trial 6 pro-royal ex-military and politicians, with the accusation of being responsible for the disaster. The indictment was drafted by rising pro-Venizelos politician Georgios Papandreou. The 6 were executed, despite the strong reactions of the international community. They were executed for high treason, although it was not conscious treason. According to historians, their execution was a political move by the military to shift their responsibilities elsewhere. The third historical event is the execution of the lawyer, resistance member and member of the Communist Party, Nikos Belogiannis on charges of espionage. The post-civil war governments showed their hard anti-communist face to the “man with the carnation”, as he went down in history, despite the international outcry. His wife was pardoned because she had given birth in prison. The execution was carried out in haste, on an unusual day and time, probably to avoid any chance of Belogiannis to be pardoned.

Info

• Address: P. Kanellopoulou Av.

Bibliography