Benizelos Mansion, Athens

This excellently restored Ottoman-era house, dating back to the 16th or 17th century, is a hidden gem that you can visit for free (though voluntary donations are appreciated). It is recognized as the last surviving 'konaki' in Athens鈥攁 type of urban aristocratic residence commonly found in Ottoman cities. Despite being often overlooked in guidebooks, the place is a treasure trove of information, presented in both English and Greek. Surprisingly, you'll find yourself spending more than the anticipated 10 minutes exploring it, as it provides a fresh perspective on the late period of Turkish occupation, filling a crucial gap in the city's architectural history.

The exhibition employs visual materials, audio applications, and digital interactive displays to recount the story of a prominent family. Their daughter, who chose a life of monastic philanthropy, was later canonized as Saint Philothei, with her relics now enshrined in a golden coffin at the city's Metropolitan Cathedral. As expected, you'll gain quite some insight into the lifestyle of the era.

On the first floor is a loggia supported by pillars, which was later enclosed with glass. The mansion's courtyard is enveloped by tall walls, characteristic of Athenian residences from that time period. Moreover, there's a charming garden that offers picturesque views of Athens.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Athens. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: 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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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Benizelos Mansion
Sight Location: Athens, Greece (See walking tours in Athens)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Plaka Attractions Walking Tour

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.

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 (tzatz铆ki, dolm谩des, kalamar谩kia) can constitute a full meal. Greece鈥檚 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

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 鈥渘eighborhood of the Gods鈥�, 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

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

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鈥檚 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

Athens Introduction Walking Tour

Athens, the cradle of Western Civilization and one of Europe's oldest cities, originated between the 4th and the 3rd millennia BC. The story of Athens stems from a mythological contest between the goddess of wisdom and warfare, Athena, and the god of the sea, Poseidon. Both deities vied to become the city's patron. Poseidon's gift of a saltwater spring was deemed impractical,... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles

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