Cattedrale dell'Annunciazione
Athens
The Metropolitan Cathedral is the main church of Athens, completed in 1862. Beside it stands a twelfth-century Byzantine chapel built from ancient stones.
The church of the new capital
When Athens became the capital, it needed a great church. Work began in 1842, but it stopped the following year. It started again a few years later with a new architect.
It took twenty years and three architects. In 1862 the cathedral was dedicated to the Annunciation, in the presence of the king and queen.
What to look at
The facade has two slender towers. In front of it opens Plateia Mitropoleos, always full of people. The church is 40 metres long and 20 wide.
Beside it is the church of Panagia Gorgoepikoos, also called Agios Eleftherios. It dates from the twelfth century and is built almost entirely of reused stones. Dozens of older carved reliefs can be seen on its outer walls.
A living place
The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. It is a place of worship: the right tone here is one of respect and calm.
Weddings and funerals of kings and politicians have taken place here. For Athenians it is the setting for the city's great ceremonies.
