Neoclassical Towns In Greece

"In addition to Athens, many cities and towns throughout Greece followed the same architectural trend, expressed in the form of either Neoclassicism or late historicism. The urban landscape that emerged in Greece through the early twentieth century includes buildings that are remarkable both architecturally and artistically. Today, they attract an intense and growing interest."--Jacket.

Neoclassical towns cannot be identified with a specific form of town planning in Greece. They are neoclassical because they were designed and built during a particular period of history (1830-1920) in which neoclassical architecture predominated. The neoclassical town is, at bottom, a new situation, a new way of life - it is the clear expression of the modern spirit in the 19th century. It represents, that is, Europeanisation and progress as applied to the urban environment. This lavishly illustrated book is based on research and photography in the field, and on an extensive study of the relevant sources, from 19th-century monographs. It contains a selection of neoclassical towns from all over Greece: those that are promoted as 'neoclassical cities' (Athens, Patra, Nafplio and Ermoupoli), others that are known as 'historical centres', in which neoclassical features are combined with traditional traces (Symi and Pilion) and, finally, towns in areas that were integrated into Greece at a late date (Chania, Volos, Ioannina, Thessaloniki and Kavala). The taking of the photographs proved to be a laborious task; a large part of the neoclassical nuclei of the Greek towns has been rebuilt and is now occupied by apartment blocks. This means that the archive material assembled here has an added historical value: it records much that may no longer exist tomorrow.

The establishment of the Modern Greek State in the late 1820s, after four centuries of Ottoman rule, marks a crucial development in the long history of the Greek nation. Both socially and culturally the state adopted a firm orientation towards urban progressivism. New towns were built and older ones were radically changed. As one would expect, nineteenth- century urban architecture in Greece stemmed from European classicism, since European culture in general played a vital role in the life of the young state. What is most important, though, is that this architecture developed in the shadow of its superb models, i.e. the monuments of classical Athens and the Acropolis. The outcome was unique: a neo-classical architecture of exceptional quality and lasting application. Beside Athens, a great number of cities and towns in various parts of Greece followed the above architectural trend either in the form of neoclassicismof late historicism. Such was the urban build enviroment in Greece up until the early 20th century, with remarkable buildings, both architecturally and artistically, that today attracts an intense and growing interest.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of figures -- Introduction -- PART I Ideology: the revival of ancient glory -- 1 The ideological background of the creation of neo-classical Athens: the different priorities between idealism and rationalism in establishing a European capital, and the importance of cultural institutions -- 2 The relationship of the neo-classical city with the antiquities -- PART II The treatment of the pre-revolutionary town -- 3 The connection of the new neo-classical city with the old one: the treatment of Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches and pre-revolutionary houses -- 4 Housing a European capital in a small Ottoman town: the use of the pre-revolutionary buildings of Athens for housing the official functions of the new capital -- PART III Creation of the new city: the actual circumstances -- 5 The role of land availability -- 6 Functionalism in the creation of the new city -- 7 The role of official functions in the evolution of the city of Athens -- 8 Public space and monumental architecture: from the grandiose plans of a European metropolis to a peripheral capital between East and West -- Index

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