Met with a particularly warm reception and an enthusiastic response from the public, the historical tour organized by the Historical Archive of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP) in collaboration with the Municipal and Historical Archive of the City of Athens took place on Saturday, April 4, 2026. The event was held to mark the 130th anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens (April 6-15, 1896). The initiative drew a large crowd, capturing the keen interest of the participants.
During the tour, attendees had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the urban and historical transformation of the wider Ilissos area. With the Zappeion Megaron and the Panathenaic Stadium serving as the main stops, the guided tour highlighted the transition from the national commercial and industrial festivals of the Zappas Olympics to the international Olympic movement.
Concurrently, the tour provided an extensive analysis of the monumental marble restoration of the Panathenaic Stadium—one of the first public works of national scope—in preparation for the 1896 Games and the 1906 Intercalated Games, alongside the broader urban development of the areas surrounding the Ilissos river (Ardittos Hill, Propylaea of the Stadium).
The enthusiastic public participation confirms the value of such actions in showcasing the city’s modern history and cultural heritage.
*The tour was led by Eleni Beneki (Head of the Historical Archives) on behalf of PIOP and by Konstantinos Tzavellas on behalf of the Municipal & Historical Archives.
