Athens’ National Garden, is a 38-acre park behind the old Royal Palace, and just off Syntagma Square, one of the city’s central points. It’s got a bit of everything: remnants of ancient temples and colonnades, quiet corners with water, formal gardens, and the Zappeion, a large hall that was built as one of the venues for the 1896 revival of the Olympics.
The National Garden started out as the Royal Garden, created on orders of Queen Amalia, first queen of modern Greece, in 1838. Eventually large portions of it were open to the public, but an upper area adjacent to the palace was reserved for the royal family. After the 1974 referendum that abolished the monarchy, the name was changed and the entire area became public parkland.
Tune in tomorrow for Where in the World Is Gumbo #25 by puzzlemaster Jonathan L.
