Zappeion Garden wraps around one of Athens' most historically loaded neoclassical buildings. The Hall itself opened in 1888 after fourteen years of construction, designed by Danish architect Theophil Hansen, who used the same classical vocabulary for Vienna's Parliament. It was the first building erected specifically for the revival of the Olympic Games, serving as the fencing hall in 1896 and the press centre in 2004.

The garden surrounding it offers shaded paths lined with trees and a small lake populated by turtles. A fountain sits directly in line with the Hall's entrance and Lycabettus Hill beyond, creating one of those compositions photographers can't resist. On the right side of the grounds sits Cine Aigli, one of Athens' most beloved summer cinemas, where films screen in the open air among the greenery.

VoiceMap's self-guided audio tours use the Zappeion and its gardens to trace the revival of the modern Olympics and connect Athens' 19th-century royal ambitions to the city's role as a European capital, from the Games to multiple EU Presidencies hosted here.