24 February 2021 11:08am
Not many other architects have left their imprint on the urban landscapes of Greece like Ernst Ziller. Known for buildings such as the Presidential Mansion and the National Theatre of Greece, he not only played an important part in shaping the city of Athens, but also left his mark in many cities across the country between 1870 and 1914. He designed, built or supervised more than 500 public and private buildings, and helped transform the Greek capital from a village into a bustling metropolis.
Birth of modern Athens
When Greece declared its independence following the Revolution of 1821, its official capital was the city of Nafplion in the northern Peloponnese. In 1832, Greece was established as a Kingdom under Otto, son of Ludwig I of Bavaria. The Bavarian administration decided to forge a modern identity for the country rooted in the glory of Ancient Greece. They thus moved the capital to Athens, due to its illustrious past as the greatest city in Greek classical antiquity.