Athens Becomes the Capital: What Happened
In 1834, the capital of Greece moved from Nafplio to Athens. At the time, Athens was a small, war-damaged town of only a few thousand inhabitants, clustered around the foot of the Acropolis. The choice was driven largely by its symbolic importance. As the city of Pericles, Plato and the Parthenon, Athens represented the glory of ancient Greece, which the new state wanted to connect with. The decision was strongly supported by King Otto and his father, King Ludwig I of Bavaria. German and Greek architects and planners drew up plans for a new city with wide avenues and squares, and the old town was rebuilt. Over the following decades, a series of neoclassical buildings rose in Athens, including the Royal Palace, now the Greek Parliament, the University of Athens, the National Library and the Academy of Athens. The Acropolis was cleared of later buildings to highlight its ancient monuments. Athens grew rapidly, and today it is a metropolis of over three million people, home to a large share of the country's population.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Athens become the capital of Greece?
Athens became the capital of Greece in 1834, when the government moved there from Nafplio. King Otto made his entry into the city that December.
Why was Athens chosen as the capital?
Athens was chosen mainly for its symbolic importance as the city of Pericles, Plato and the Parthenon, linking the new state to ancient Greece.
How big was Athens in 1834?
At the time, Athens was a small, war-damaged town of only a few thousand inhabitants, clustered around the foot of the Acropolis.
Which buildings were built in Athens after 1834?
Neoclassical buildings rose across the city, including the Royal Palace, now the Greek Parliament, the University of Athens, the National Library and the Academy of Athens.
How big is Athens today?
Today the Athens metropolitan area is home to over three million people, a large share of the population of Greece.
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