Old Parliament Building/ National History Museum

What I can see

This building is a symbol of modern Greek history. It was originally built to house the senate but after the political changeover of 1862 and the fall of King Otto, architectural changes were applied mainly in the interior, while the two-storey facade was converted into a single-storey facade. The building has a different orientation from the other buildings in the area, a fact observed by the French traveler Gaston Deschamps (1890). Since 1962, it has housed the Museum of National History, featuring artifacts from the Ottoman era to the present with an emphasis on the Greek Revolution, the social and political development of the new Greek state, and important events such as wars and dictatorships. Portraits, costumes, weapons, historical relics, flags, archives, and works of art are some of the items in the museum’s collection.

What I can't see

Until 1935, this was the building where the Greek Parliament meetings were held. It was associated with some of the most turbulent periods in modern Greek history. Designed by Francois Boulanger, it was completed under the supervision of Panagis Kalkos, who added eclectic elements to the original neoclassical design. This building is connected with three figures of Greek history: Psorokostaina, the nickname of a refugee beggar, which later described the country as a whole in times of poverty; Rozou, an avid supporter of Diligiannis, who mocked his political opponents in parliamentary meetings; and Sakkoules, a beggar with a confident attitude, who called out to passerby: “Hey you, give me a penny” or “Phew! A hundred thousand people cannot feed a dallier”.

Info

• Address: 13 Stadiou St.
• Postal Code : 10561
• Phone: +30 210 3237617, 3237315, 3222266
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.nhmuseum.gr

Bibliography