Greece opens palace gardens to the public
ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — Greek President Karolos Papoulias opened the gardens of the presidential palace to the public for the first time on Sunday, his office said.
Papoulias, who has a special interest in environmental issues, made the “symbolic gesture” to allow citizens to enjoy the 2.7-hectare (6.7-acre) island of green in the Greek capital, which is known for its lack of parks.
From now on, the gardens will be open each Sunday, except on holidays, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
“It’s an extraordinary idea, we need fresh air,” a lady in her forties who had just visited the gardens with her children told the Net public television channel.
The gardens surround the president’s residence, which was formerly the royal palace until Greek monarchy was abolished in 1974.
It was built at the end of the 19th century by German-born architect Ernst Ziller, who was responsible for a number of other neoclassical government buildings in Athens.
