This is the Old Royal Palace in Athens, completed in 1843 and served as a palace for the greek monarchs for about a century. After a decision to house the Hellenic Parliament inside the old palace in 1929, the parliament moved in in 1934 and has resided there ever since. In front of the palace there are presidential guards, the Evzones, stationed next to the tomb of the unknown soldier for 24 hours a day with regular ceremonial changings of the guards at the full hour. The building is facing the Syntagma-Square, the central square of Athens.
After the greek won their independence in 1929 and following the London Conference of 1832, Greece became a monarchy ruled by the bavarian prince Otto. He decided to built a new palace on the then “palace square” which was designed by the bavarian architect Friedrich von Gärtner. The palace was funded by Otto’s father, King Ludwig I. of Bavaria. After some years of ruling the greek demanded a constitution and following a peaceful revolt King Otto of Greece granted a constitution in 1843 – which led to renaming the square Syntagma Square (Constitution Square).
