Greek Parliament

The Hellenic Parliament meets in the former Royal Palace on Syntagma Square, the political heart of Athens. King Otto, the Bavarian Wittelsbach placed on the Greek throne in 1832, had the building put up between 1836 and 1843 to plans by Friedrich von Gaertner in austere Neoclassical style. Greek kings lived here until 1922, and after a fire the gutted building was rebuilt and reopened in 1935 as the seat of the legislature. In front of it lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with a relief of a fallen hoplite, guarded by the Evzones in their fustanella skirts and pom-pom shoes; the changing of the guard happens on every hour. Visitors photograph the ceremony, cross Syntagma Square or take a break in the adjoining National Garden.