it is September of the1900’s. On a plot of New Faliro is placed a sign announcing a building construction. A hotel was about to be erected. On June 1, ocf 1903, the “Great Hotel Aktaion” was inaugurated.
In a large area and at a cost of 2,500,000 drachmas (an exorbitant amount of money for that time) the new four-storey hotel in Faliron district was to be a reference point for the elite of the time. The construction of the hotel of Attica was entrusted to the architect Panos Karathanasopoulos who was a student of Ernest Chiller and the result was a real architectural marvel. It is characteristic that throughout its construction the king himself and other members of the Royal Family visited the construction site.
The “golden age” of the hotel
The emblematic accommodation did not take long to become the core of social life. Famous Greek and foreign persons used to hang out there and it was also a hangout for politicians. On an ordinary visit, you could meet the king, ministers of the government to businessmen, scholars and artists. The official banquets held there, in winter and summer, had gained a special reputation. It had reached the pinnacle of its glory.
What can you get of a hotel without getting in trouble?
The gradual demolition
It was being demolished part by part in a long period of time but no-one was ever bothered. Initially, the huge domes of the roof were removed, on the grounds that the building would collapse due to poor foundation work. There was a risk due to their weight, as they argued, but with no proof, and only on the basis of information of that period.
Finally, only the ground floor was left, which was completely demolished during the mayorship of Stelios Logothetis (1991-1998). In its place, a private hospital was erected which exists to this day.
The legendary hotel of celebrities turned permanently to dust taking yet another memory of the Old Athens with it …
Photo Source: Greek Literary and Historical Archive elia.org.gr
Five classical buildings in Athens that no longer exist
Frequently Asked Questions
The Great Hotel Aktaion was inaugurated on June 1, 1903, in the Faliron district of Athens. Construction began in September 1900, and the hotel was built at an extraordinary cost of 2,500,000 drachmas, making it a luxurious landmark designed by architect Panos Karathanasopoulos.
The Great Hotel Aktaion featured 160 luxurious bedrooms, a restaurant, impressive living rooms, a pastry shop, a theatrical performance room, a ballroom, and luxurious banquet halls. It was considered a game-changer for its time with its formidable central entrance and high-end accommodations.
The Great Hotel Aktaion was gradually demolished over several decades, beginning during the interwar period and accelerating after World War II. Mayor Aristides St. Skylitsis initiated demolition, claiming the building's roof domes posed a collapse risk due to poor foundation work, though this was never definitively proven. Final demolition occurred under Mayor Stelios Logothetis (1991-1998).
The Great Hotel Aktaion attracted the Greek and international elite, including royalty, government ministers, businessmen, scholars, and artists. The king frequently visited the hotel, and it became the center of social and political life in Athens, hosting prestigious official banquets that gained special reputation.
After the complete demolition of the Great Hotel Aktaion, a private hospital was constructed on the site during the mayorship of Stelios Logothetis (1991-1998). The hospital still exists today where the legendary hotel once stood.
