National Gardens Walk

Although Athens has fewer gardens than any other European city — only 2.5 square meters of greenery per person compared to 10 square meters per person on average elsewhere — the city’s shortage of public parks is why the National Gardens is a treasured urban green space. Spread over 38 acres, the garden holds 7,000 trees, 40,000 bushes and species from 520 other plants. Only a fourth are native to Greece; the rest were imported by King Otto of Bavaria and Queen Amalia when the park was the royal family’s private garden.

The primary purpose of the National Gardens Walking Tour is identifying the plants which is why the tour is led by a professional botanist. There are exotic plants, such as an oak tree rare to Attika dating from 1845, the Kazouarines of Australia, the Chinese Aeilanthoi, the Washington palm tree named in honor of U.S. President George Washington located at the park’s entrance. Species native to Greece include carob and oleander. Many of the trees are over 100 years old. Evergreen trees occupy 75% of the tree, while 25% are deciduous.

The National Garden has always been a green space. Around 600 BC, there were three public parks outside the walls of ancient Athens, including the National Gardens site which was known as the sacred grove dedicated to Apollo. Socrates is said to have strolled these grounds, philosophizing with his students. The park’s location was ideal because all the aqueducts of the city passed through there. Even today one of the sources of irrigation for the garden is the ancient aqueduct of Pisistratus.

The National Gardens has six lakes and ponds, wildlife, pergolas, a zoo, a turtle pond, a sun dial, a children’s library, and unusual plant life. The abundant greenery means it is a refreshing retreat in warm and hot weather. You feel as if you are in rural environs rather than the center of a city of three million people. There are birds in the park, too – local and migratory. Pieces of ancient monuments are scattered around. Busts and statues introduce you to famous figures in Greek history. The Zappeion building built in 1896 is has a beautiful painted ceiling. The Garden possessed the first two greenhouses in the country.

DETAILS

The tour starts and ends in front of the Gardens entry on Amalia Street directly across the street from the Amalia Hotel. The walking tour lasts three hours and includes lunch in the park cafe. Actual walking time is 1½ hours at a casual pace.

Minimum participants 4. Maximum participants 10.

Participants are urged to wear comfortable walking shoes.