Stepping back in time, imagine 1897 Piraeus. A grand mansion is rising on Lambraki Avenue. This is the Οικία Μεταξά, the Metaxa Mansion. It was designed by the renowned architect Ernst Ziller for Spiridon Metaxas. Spiridon was part of the famous Metaxa cognac family. The Metaxa Mansion stands as a testament to the family’s success. The mansion’s neoclassical design is striking. It features a clear separation of the ground floor from the upper two floors. Look closely at the details. You’ll see vaulted masonry on the ground floor. The upper floors are plastered, giving the impression of isodomic masonry. Notice the piers surrounding the openings, adorned with Hermes’ head. The corner openings on the first floor are crowned with entablature and cornice. The second-floor openings are topped with pediment finials. On the Lambraki Avenue side, ornate balconies grace the first and second floors. The second-floor balcony is especially impressive. It is supported by marble corbels and features ceramic Atlas figures flanking the openings. A similar design graces the side facing Vas. Georgiou Street. The Louka Ralli Street entrance features a monumental gallery. Caryatid figures support the architrave and balcony. Look for “S.A.M.,” Spiridon A. Metaxas’s initials, on the metal gate. Even the roof parapet is adorned with piers and balustrades decorated with ceramic statues. The Metaxa Mansion has also been immortalized in art. Greek artist Yiannis Tsarouchis captured its elegance in his 1967 painting, “The House of Metaxas in Piraeus.” Today, the mansion stands as a beautiful reminder of Piraeus’s rich history and architectural heritage.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to