Pale pink and white, the Maximos Mansion stands before us. It is more than just a building. It is the heart of Greek governance. Since 1982, it has been the official seat of the Prime Minister of Greece.
The story of Maximos Mansion begins in 1912. Alexandros Michalinos, a shipowner from Chios, started its construction. Originally, this land was a garden for the Royal Palace. Michalinos’ widow sold the incomplete building. This was after marrying Dimitrios Maximos. Leonidas Empeirikos bought it in 1916. But, in 1921, the Maximos family re-bought the property.
Dimitrios Maximos finished the mansion. His family settled here in the early 1920s. A dark chapter unfolded during the German Occupation. The Maximos Mansion became the residence of the German Admiral of the Aegean Sea.
After the war, the mansion briefly housed the U.S. Ambassador. In 1952, Dimitrios Maximos sold it to the Greek State. He offered a favorable price, marking a new chapter for the building. From the mid-1950s, Maximos Mansion became a guesthouse. Important foreign dignitaries were welcomed here. Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia stayed here in 1955. Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom visited in 1980.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1982. Andreas Papandreou decided to move the Prime Minister’s office. He moved it to the Maximos Mansion. Before this, the office was inside the Parliament building. Interestingly, Papandreou himself preferred working elsewhere. He often worked from his villa in Kastri.
The Maximos Mansion is near Syntagma Square and the Hellenic Parliament. This location is central. Today, the Maximos Mansion is not the Prime Minister’s home. It is their workplace. It also welcomes visitors. Local artists showcase their work here. This highlights Greek talent and craftsmanship. The Maximos Mansion remains a place of power. It is also a symbol of Greek history and art.