The Aktaion Hotel in Neo Faliro, Athens

The Aktaion Hotel was one of the most iconic buildings of Neo Faliro. Its story began on September 22, 1900, when a large sign was first placed on its plot, announcing the construction of the “Grand Hotel Aktaion.” The building was designed by architect Panos Karathanasopoulos. In 1902, the hotel was leased by businessman A. Melier, owner of the Crystal Palace Hotel in Constantinople. He renamed it Aktaion Palace and undertook the furnishing and interior decoration according to European standards. The luxurious hotel, boasting 160 rooms, officially opened on June 1, 1903. Even before its official inauguration, it hosted social events, balls, and conferences in its lounges and other public areas. During the interwar period, the hotel began to decline. Following the Asia Minor Catastrophe, it was repurposed as refugee housing. From 1935 to 1936, entrepreneur Angelos Grekas operated the first winter cinema of Neo Faliro in the hotel’s two dining rooms, which remained in operation until 1956. During World War II, the Aktaion was occupied by the Axis forces and was later bombed by Allied forces. After the war, the building’s gradual demolition began. In the 1970s, a portion of the grand hotel that remained was converted into an entertainment venue named “Sinikon.” The final chapter came under the Greek military dictatorship, when the last remnants of the Aktaion were demolished.

Pictured: Postcard showing an electric tram in front of the Aktaion Hotel in Neo Faliro, Athens, early 20th century. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.