Benizelos Mansion

Benizelos Mansion is a rare Ottoman-era house in Athens’ Plaka district and is known as the city’s oldest surviving house. Its rooms and courtyards give a close look at domestic life in an affluent Athenian household, with stone walls, traditional woodwork and antique furnishings. Information displays explain the spaces and their history. The mansion is also known as the House of Saint Philothei, after the daughter of the original family. Entry is free, and donations are encouraged to help maintain the building.

A surviving house in Plaka

Benizelos Mansion is widely known as the oldest surviving house in Athens. The residence stands at Adrianou 96, within Plaka, where busy streets and shops surround a quieter historic interior. It is a rare example of Ottoman-era architecture in the city.

The building’s dating is described in different ways: accounts place its origins between the 16th and 17th centuries, while much of the present house is associated with the first half of the 18th century. Remains of earlier homes have also been identified on the site. Together, the layers point to a long history of habitation in this part of Athens.

Rooms, courtyards and family history

Inside, the layout lets you move between domestic rooms and social spaces, with stone walls, woodwork and antique furnishings. Information displays explain the uses and history of the rooms. The courtyards and former storage areas add context to how the household functioned; the site also includes a wine and olive press.

The mansion is also called the House of Saint Philothei. Revoula, the daughter of the aristocratic family associated with the residence, became known as Saint Philothei for her charitable work. Her story gives the house a connection to Athens’ religious and social history as well as its architecture.