Zappeion Exhibition Hall

History:

1858: The national benefactor Evangelos Zappas  makes a big donation and institutes the Zappeian Olympiads, the Olympiads as they were named at first, which was an early attempt for the rebirth of the Olympic Games.

1888: Thirty years later the Zappeion Hall is erected and is donated to Greece by the heirs of Zappas, at the time when the 4th Zappeian Olympiad was to be held. It was then that the landscaping of Zappeion gardens began, in layouts originally made by Hansen. An endearing area for walks and relaxation was created for the Athenians. The Aigli cafe was built and later on the homonymous cinema, while for a short period of time two small theatres operated next to Aigli cafe, named Oasis and Pefkakia.

1896: The first olympic village is hosted during the Athens Olympic Games.

1903: The International Exhibition is held in Zappeion.

1940: It converts to a hospital.

1944: It converts to a military camp.

For seven years, between 1952 and 1959, the National Gallery is hosted inside the halls of Zappeion.

An important historical moment for Zappeion was the 28th of May 1979, when the ceremony for the acceptance of Greece in the European Economic Community (EEC) took place there.