HISTORY
from planning until today
HISTORY OF THE BUILDING
The decision to construct the building currently used as the Presidential Mansion was taken in 1868. It was the year that King George I’s first son and heir to the throne, Constantine, was born and the Greek state decided to bestow a private dwelling on him when he came of age. Indeed, twenty one years later, when Constantine married Sophia, Princess of Hohenzollern, the state assigned the planning of “The Crown Prince’s Palace” to Ernst Ziller. Construction began in 1891, and was completed six years later, in 1897.
After a fire destroyed a large section of the official Royal Palace on Christmas Eve of 1909, the residence of the royal family was temporarily moved to the Crown Prince’s Palace. With the assassination of George I in 1913, and the accession of Constantine to the throne, the Crown Prince’s Palace became the official royal residence.
The use of the building as a Palace was interrupted in 1924, when the monarchy was overthrown and a Republic was declared. It was used as the Presidential Mansion until 1935, when the monarchy was restored and the King returned.
Since 1974, when democracy was restored after a seven year military dictatorship, the building has been used as the Presidential Mansion and the residence of the President of the day.