9:15

Starting Point: Syntagma Square (opposite of Hotel Grande Bretagne)

9:30 – 10:30

Special tour of the National Garden, accompanied by a landscape architect or a horticulturalist. Originally commissioned by Queen Amalia, the first Queen of Greece, as her royal gardens, the National Garden has provided the backdrop for much of the country’s modern history. Located just next to the Building of Parliament, once the royal palace, the gardens have witnessed much of the social and political history that forged the modern Republic of Greece. DGC’s field expert will provide guests with in-depth information about the site’s history and function, as well as the characteristics of its wealth of fauna and flora.

The National Garden is not just a green space, but a cultural space too. In 1939, Henry Miller wrote: “It remains in my memory like no other park I have known. It is the quintessence of a park, the thing one feels sometimes in looking at a canvas or dreaming of a place one would like to be in and never finds.”

10:30 – 11:30

Walk down Panepistimiou Street to marvel the stunning architecture of its neoclassical buildings and their connection with King Otto. Along the way we will encounter the Catholic Church of Saint Denis, the Ophthalmic Hospital -a structure with a distinctly Byzantine flavor- the Numismatic Museum of Athens (Iliou Melathron) and the neoclassical Athenian Trilogy, the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens and the National Library. Accompanied by a field expert, you will take a special tour of the Athenian Trilogy.

11:45 – 12:30

Coffee break at Black Duck Garden, a hidden treasure in the gardens of the Museum of the City of Athens that Queen Amalia herself had created in the early 19thcentury. On colder days, you will enjoy your coffee at Black Duck Multiplarte, an all-day multilevel hang-out restaurant with amazing decoration details. Once you drink your coffee, don’t miss out on the art and photography exhibitions in the basement.

12:30 – 13:15

Tour of the Museum of the City of Athens, Vouros-Eutaxias Foundation. Dedicated to the city of Athens, the museum is particularly focused on presenting the city’s modern history, from 1834 onwards. Having served as the first temporary residence of Greece’s first royal couple, the museum showcases a wealth of material culture objects from the 19th century and a range of rooms furnished and decorated in authentic 19th century aristocracy style, offering a rare glimpse into a fascinating period of modern Greek history.

13:15

Ending Point: Klathmonos Square

* In the event of rain, the tour will still go head and alternative activities will be offered.