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The Benizelos Mansion is believed to be the oldest existing house in Athens, Greece. It’s located in the Plaka neighborhood.
Visiting the Benizelos Mansion
The Benizelos Mansion is open daily except Mondays. Admission is free but visitors are encouraged to leave a donation (as of July 2024). Check the official website for more info.
History of the Benizelos Mansion
The Benizelos Mansion was constructed in the first half of the 18th century. It’s the last konaki (Ottoman mansion) in Athens and one of the few surviving in Southern Greece. The mansion was built by the Benizelos family, who were one of the richest and most powerful families in Athens since the 16th century.
The mansion was built atop two earlier stone structures that were incorporated into the ground floor of the building. These structures are associated with the house of Saint Philothei (1522-1589), who was a descendant of the family, born Revoula Benizelos.
In the early 20th century, the mansion was split into two properties. Restoration took place between 2008 and 2009, focusing on returning the mansion to its appearance in the 18th century. The archaeological remains in the courtyard and ground floor were also preserved. These include a Late Roman wall just inside the entrance and pithoi (large Byzantine storage jars) used for grain, oil, or wine.
Ground Floor
The ground floor of the Benizelos Mansion consists of three rooms and a portico. The first two rooms contain pithoi as well as a wine press system.
The third room on the ground floor is dedicated to the story of Saint Philothei. It includes an interpretive panel with a brief biography.
Back Court
A passage next to the third room leads to the back court, where there are the remains of a Late Roman wall built in 267. The first photo in this entry was taken from the corner of the back court There are also views of the Diogeneion archaeological site, which is covered in my main Plaka entry.
Courtyard
The courtyard contains interpretive panels on the history of Athens and a well. Underneath a glass floor, it’s possible to see the remains of another Late Roman wall.
Upper Floor
The upper floor of the Benizelos Mansion was constructed with wood-framed walls and functioned as the main living space. It consists of an open passageway called a hayiati with two sitting rooms on either end called sofas.
A middle sitting room, called an orta sofa, contains interpretive panels about Ottoman urban homes as well as the life of Greek nobles in Athens under Ottoman rule. Other rooms to the right and left were closed to the public.
