This week marks 12^th and the last article of the MI4 Real Estate ‘Days of Future Past’ Blog Series, hence we have chosen to present a building that most Athenians and visitors alike value deeply, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The Odeon is pictured in the mid-19^th century and in the present day. The transformation of the ancient site as well as the surrounding area is indeed remarkable.

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is actually a theatre structure made by stone. It is located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece. The building was initially built in 161 AD by the Athenian Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla. Originally a steep-sloped theatre with a three-storey stone front wall, it had a wooden roof made of expensive cedar of Lebanon timber. It was intact until it was destroyed and left in ruins by the Heruli in 267 AD. It was renovated again in 1950 with the audience stands and the orchestra (stage) restored using the classic choice of Pentelic marble (sourced in Mt Penteli) as done in antiquity. Since then it has been the main venue of the Athens Festival, which runs from May through October each year, featuring a variety of acclaimed Greek as well as international performances.

It has played a central role in the Greek capital’s cultural and artistic life, often used as a venue for ancient and contemporary theatrical plays as well as music concerts, among others. In 1957 Maria Callas gave a splendid performance at the Odeon. Some of the artists who have performed at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus include Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, Alicia de Larrocha, the Bolshoi Ballets, Calexico, Maurice Béjart, Joaquín Cortés, Paco de Lucía, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Goran Bregovic, Jean Michel Jarre, Ennio Morricone, Jethro Tull, Karolos Koun, Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hatzidakis, Nikos Koundouros, Patti Smith, Sivert Hoyem, Spiros Evangelatos, Yannis Markopoulos, Haris Alexiou, Marinella, Yann Tiersen and Dionysis Savopoulos, among others.

The areas surrounding the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, namely Koukaki, Filopappou Hill, Plaka, Thiseion and Monastiraki are all located just below the Athenian Acropolis and are currently seeing a tremendous rise in property investor interest, and value. It is therefore of paramount importance to secure an investment in the area while prices are still competitive.

Contact us now, whether you would like to make a solid investment anywhere in Greece or its capital Athens, both some of the most beautiful and highly esteemed holiday destinations in the world, or you are seeking to secure Greek/EU residency status through the Greek Golden Visa program. One can obtain the residency by investing a minimum of 250,000€ on property (or properties) anywhere in Greece.