What the Heck is a Zappeion?:
The Zappeion is a memorial building named for Evangelos Zappas, who died in 1865.
What's Special about the Zappeion?:
This is a beautiful recreation of a classical-style building. It has splendid proportions and features a large oval open area surrounded by a two-story colonnade, painted in the traditional rich rust tones which were used on many ancient Greek buildings. (It's true - they often painted their beautiful marble columns!) Standing in the courtyard, looking up at the caryatid-like columns on the second level is a delightful experience.
What Happens at the Zappeion?:
The Zappeion is a popular location for all sorts of events, including winetastings, business meetings, small trade shows, and many other events.
The Zappeion's Olympic History:
For the first modern Olympics, the Zappeion was used for the fencing competitions. During the 2004 Athens Olympics, it was one of the official press centers where hundreds of international journalists gathered to write and report their stories. It also was the home for an exhibition of Olympic Torches.
Visiting the Zappeion:
The Zappeion is easily reached from the Syntagma Square area by walking into the National Gardens. Since Syntagma Square is a major transportation hub with buses and the Metro providing regular service to the area, it's easy to get to. The exterior of the building can always be admired, and most of the time you can walk inside without any problem.
