Palamas house

Palamas house is a neoclassical residence on Periandrou Street in Plaka, featuring traditional Greek architectural details with regular windows and decorative exterior elements. The structure sits within the historic neighborhood near the Acropolis and reflects the building styles common to literary households of early 20th-century Athens.

The poet Kostis Palamas made this house his home beginning in 1935, residing there until his death in 1943 under German occupation. The residence became a significant literary hub during a period of profound upheaval in Greece.

The residence served as a creative center where influential Greek literary works took shape and the nation's Olympic anthem was composed. The building stands as a testament to the poet's role in shaping modern Greek cultural identity through his writing.

The house is situated in Plaka, an area easily reached on foot from central Athens with plenty of nearby historic sites to explore. Visitors can see the commemorative plaque above the entrance while wandering through the neighborhood's narrow streets and older buildings.

Thousands of Athenians gathered outside the house during the poet's funeral procession to sing the national anthem as an act of defiance against Nazi occupation. This spontaneous outpouring made the funeral one of the most powerful public demonstrations of the war period.