Maximos Mansion, Athens
With the benefit of being located at the heart of Athens, near Syntagma Square and a stone's throw from the Hellenic Parliament, the Maximos Mansion, with its pale pink and white façade, has served as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Greece since 1982.
Founded in 1912 by Alexandros Michalinos, a prosperous shipowner hailing from the island of Chios, this grand Neoclassical edifice priorly functioned as a guesthouse for esteemed foreign dignitaries visiting Greece. Notable guests included Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia in 1955 and Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom in 1980.
Historically, the mansion played diverse roles, serving as the official residence of the German Admiral of the Aegean Sea during the German occupation of Greece. Post-war, it briefly assumed the role of the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Athens.
While the Maximos Mansion presently serves as the seat of the Greek Prime Minister, it does not serve as his official dwelling. Nevertheless, it welcomes visitors and showcases local artists' creations, highlighting their exceptional talent and craftsmanship.
Founded in 1912 by Alexandros Michalinos, a prosperous shipowner hailing from the island of Chios, this grand Neoclassical edifice priorly functioned as a guesthouse for esteemed foreign dignitaries visiting Greece. Notable guests included Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia in 1955 and Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom in 1980.
Historically, the mansion played diverse roles, serving as the official residence of the German Admiral of the Aegean Sea during the German occupation of Greece. Post-war, it briefly assumed the role of the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Athens.
While the Maximos Mansion presently serves as the seat of the Greek Prime Minister, it does not serve as his official dwelling. Nevertheless, it welcomes visitors and showcases local artists' creations, highlighting their exceptional talent and craftsmanship.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Athens. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Maximos Mansion on Map
Sight Name: Maximos Mansion
Sight Location: Athens, Greece (See walking tours in Athens)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Athens, Greece (See walking tours in Athens)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Athens, Greece
Create Your Own Walk in Athens
Creating your own self-guided walk in Athens is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Walking Tour Around the Legendary Acropolis
Also called "the sacred rock", the Acropolis was home to temples and sanctuaries throughout recorded history, and is a symbol of the city of Athens. Its religious importance was paramount to the ancient Greeks, and the buildings on the summit still capture the essence of their classical architecture. You can see the temples from most parts of the city, which adds to the feeling that this... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Athens Introduction Walking Tour
Athens is one of the oldest European cities, widely regarded as the birthplace of Western Civilization. Its history begins in the Neolithic period between 4th and 3rd millennium BC. The first settlement on the site of Athens was situated on the rock of Acropolis which means “high city” in Greek.
According to the Greek mythology, the name “Athens” emerged from a competition between the... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
According to the Greek mythology, the name “Athens” emerged from a competition between the... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Walking Around the National Garden
The National Garden is an impressive, historic park in the center of Athens, complete with artificial streams and duck ponds. Formerly known as the Royal Garden, it was commissioned by King Otto’s queen, Amalia, in 1838, reason why it is located directly behind the Old Palace (currently the Greek Parliament building). Not only is it a welcome refuge from the swirl of traffic just outside the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Plaka Attractions Walking Tour
In the shadow of the Acropolis stands Plaka, the most picturesque and oldest district of Athens, with continuous habitation from antiquity until today. The “neighborhood of the Gods”, as it is called, is like a romantic, atmospheric trip to old Athens adorned with antiquities, historic 19th-century buildings, museums and Byzantine churches.
From the vibrant Syntagma Square walking down... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
From the vibrant Syntagma Square walking down... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Athens Food Walking Tour
Traditional Greek cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world, and prices in all but the flashiest establishments afford excellent value. The prevalence of vegetable and dairy dishes makes eating out a delight for non-meat eaters. Carefully selected appetizers (tzatzíki, dolmádes, kalamarákia) can constitute a full meal. Greece’s most famous slow-cooked oven dish, however, is probably... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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A Self-Guided Food Walk in Athens
Just as many things in Greece, dining in Athens is very much laid-back with the majority of local eateries seeing patrons begin to congregate for dinner only after 8 pm. Eating-wise, the Athenians favor simplicity, leaning to the more casual and not so pricey tavernas where food is plentiful. To...
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