Megaro Andrea Syngrou

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Megaro Syngrou

The Megaro Andrea Syngrou ( Greek Μέγαρο Ανδρέα Συγγρού ), a city ​​palace in Athens , is now the seat of the Greek Foreign Ministry. It is located at the confluence of the Leoforos Vasilissis Sofias and the Odos Zalokosta on the north side of the parliament building .

history

The palace was built by the wealthy Greek abroad Andreas Syngros (Ανδρέας Συγγρός, 1830–1899), a banker from Constantinople . In 1871 he had decided to live exclusively in Athens. In 1872 he bought the building site at what was then Odos Kifisias, today's Leoforos Vasilissis Sofias, for 65,000 drachmas.

The neoclassical building opposite Otto's Old Royal Palace was built between 1872 and 1873 according to plans by the German architect Ernst Ziller . As Syngros reports in his memoirs (1908), Ziller's original plans were modified by his intervention, "and thus extremely artless."

The construction of the palace was initially supervised by the military engineer Nikolaos Soutsos and later by the French architect Piat, who also planned the interior. Piat was active in Athens towards the end of the 19th century with the support of the French embassy and was introduced to Syngros by a French friend. His works include the Megaro Athinogenous and the building of the French Archaeological School of Athens.

Andreas Syngros was married to Ifigenia Mavrokordatou . After her death, Ifigenia Mavrokordatou-Syngrou bequeathed the building to the Greek people "for permanent use by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs".

The building underwent significant changes in the 1930s and 1940s. Above all, the adjustment of the height of the canopy at the main entrance to the height of the building and the roofing with a triangular gable belong to the neoclassical characteristics. In 1976 the building was placed under monument protection by the Ministry of Culture.

literature

  • Maro Kardamitsi-Adami (Μάρω Καρδαμίτση-Αδάμη): "Ερνστ Τσίλλερ 1837-1923: Η Τέχνη του Κλασικού", αΜΕΛΙΣΣΑ, έκδοαη, Εκδο κικός Ενήθο Οίτικός 2006
  • Maro Kardamitsi-Adami: The Development of Vasilisis Sofias (Η γένεση της Βασιλίσσης Σοφίας), Εφημ. Η Καθημερινή / Επτά Ημέρες , 5 Νοεμβρίου 2000.
  • Nikolia Ioannidou (Νικολία Ιωαννίδου): The house of Andreas Syngros (Η κατοικία του Ανδρέα Συγγρού), Εφημ. Η Καθημερινή , 23 Φεβρουαρίου 1997.
  • Architectural monuments
  • Historic Buildings

Coordinates: 37 ° 58 ′ 35.3 "  N , 23 ° 44 ′ 11.9"  E