Zappion is not just a magnificent palace. The history of modern Greece is written here, day after day.
Many of those who come to Greece have an experience about this sunny country only through the prism of its glorious history, dated back in antiquity. However, Greece is not only the ruins of the Acropolis, Byzantine churches and artifacts of ancient Greece. A bright symbol of modern Greece is the palace Zappion - an architectural complex, which is not inferior to the Palace of Versailles in its luxuries. Zappion is an example of classical architecture, harmoniously merging into modernity and drowning in the greenery of park avenues.
The well-known Austrian architect Teofil Hassen gave life to the project of this palace. And with the beginning of 1874right at the same place, where a large-scale architectural complex can be found now, the builders laid the first stone. It took 14 years for the Athenians to see the palace Zappion in all its glory: in 1888 the construction was officially completed. The building was named in honor of the Greek patriot, merchant and philanthropist Evangelos Zapas, who devoted his life to the restoration of the glorious tradition of the Olympic Games.
Zapas sponsored the first three of the Hellenic Olympic sports competitions, similar to the Olympic Games, but far less massive. The Greeks themselves called these competitions "Ζάππειες Ολυμπιάδες", or "Olympia Zappas", because of so high honor to this patron in Athens. Yes, and the contemporaries themselves should pay tribute to the great man, because, only thanks to his activities, the world could see the first Olympic Games in 1896. One of the stages of the competition was held in the palace Zappion: among the white stone columns of the complex, the best fencers from all over the world measured themselves with each other by the art of swordplay.
Ten years later Zappion again hosted the world's athletes: this time as an Olympic village. Since then, the palace has become the focal point of the cultural and political life not only of the city of Athens, but of all Greece. There was an whole Greek exhibition of national manifacture in 1938, an exhibition of Byzantine art in 1964 and a Greek week of modern music in 1966. The arrival of 1981 marked the entry of Greece into the European Economic Community, and the main agreement was signed again within the walls of the palace.
The inner courtyard of the Zappion is adorned with a colossal rotunda. Snow-white trunks of ionic columns surrounding it, are proudly directed to the skies – there is no wonder that the palace was liked by many politicians. Congresses and symposia, scientific conferences and major trade fairs are held here year after year. That's why Zappion embodies the greatness of the no longer antique Hellas, and modern Greece, whose flags flutter in front of the entrance of the complex with white and blue canvases.
Excursions to Zpion Palace will be a real discovery for the visitor of the city of Athens. After all, the building stands in an amazing place. The Kalimarmaro stadium is located not far from the palace, which hosted the first Olympic Games, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus is also nearby. The complex itself stands inside the National Park, which is full of bright colors, slender trees and marble monuments. A traveler who gets bored of pages of history and architecture wonders should definitely use the opportunity to attend this blooming and fragrant paradise.
