An "architectural jewel for Athens", the Ziller-Loverdos Mansion on Mavromichali street, opened to the public last week.
The three storey mansion was built by famous German architect Ernst Ziller in 1885. He resided there with his family until 1912.
"I think that most Athenians would not have seen that there is such a building on Mavromichali Street, as for many years there were scaffolding and burlap. It is a special architecture, which was originally Ziller's house which was bought by the banker Dionysios Loverdos. As an architecture, it has its own special characteristics, which make it, in combination with the transformations brought about by Dionysios Loverdos, a monument," Greece’s Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni said.
The 1,100 m2 historical building which was declared a monument in 1981, is located at 6 Mavromichalis Street.
The restoration works were completed by the Directorate for the Preservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments of Greece.
The Ziller-Loverdos Mansion will now function as an exhibition space under the Byzantine and Christian Museum.
"We are really happy that the Byzantine and Christian Museum, with a lot of work from its staff, completed and gives to the Athenian public this Mansion, which combines elements of neoclassical architecture with elements of Byzantine museum architecture. Additionally, the collection itself is a very large chapter. I hope the Athenians love it and visit as soon as possible," Mendoni continued.
Greece's Culture Ministry also released a short tour video of the unique building.
In this, the museum's director Ekaterini Dellaporta presents the exhibits and the history of the building, which will serve as a factor that upgrades the city of Athens.
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