EYCH 2018: Greece’s Historic Houses Open Doors to Public on May 24-27

The Emmanouel Brothers’ mansion. Regional Division of Kastoria.

Historic mansions across Greece will open their doors to the public on May 24-27, as part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage (EYCH) 2018 activities.

A total of 39 historic houses in the cities of Nafplio, Athens, Aegina, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Lesvos, Patmos, Skyros, Spetses, Syros, Chios, Sifnos and Kastoria will be open for visitors to discover and to gain insight into the local architecture, intricate art work, traditional and urban lifestyles of past eras.

The happening is organized by the Athens-based Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET) in cooperation with the Brussels-based European Historic Houses Association (EHHA). Greece joins other European cities which will also be participating in the event on the same days.

Besides introducing guests to the historical, aesthetic, educational, environmental, economic and social aspects of historic houses, the event in Greece aims to raise awareness as to the importance of safeguarding and preserving these urban monuments.

The building of ELLET is among the mansions to open their doors to the public. Photo: © Maria Theofanopoulou

In the meantime, the EHHA is an umbrella organisation consisting of 24 national associations of historic houses with the goal to adopt at the European level favourable measures for the conservation of cultural heritage and of historic houses in the areas of inheritance tax, low VAT-rate, and the illicit trafficking of cultural goods.

The EHHA also works to promote cooperation regarding the conservation of historic houses and gardens and provide a platform for the exchange of information and support for national associations.

The Greece event is made possible with the sponsorship of Alexandra Mamilega – Prokopiou, who represents Greece at the EHHA.

For opening hours visit http://www.ellet.gr/private-heritage-week