This book explores the development of the city of Athens after the Greek War of Independence. It presents the process of creation of a neo-classical capital, in the place of a pre-existing town with the remains of a long history. The book examines the treatment of the pre-revolutionary town, its connection with the neo-classical city, the position of old churches in this antiquity-centered capital, and the factors that influenced the implementation of the projects for the new capital and their consequences on the city's evolution. It will be of interest to historians, geographers, architects and scholars of Europe.

Introduction Part I: Ideology: the revival of ancient glory 1. The ideological background of the creation of neo-classical Athens: the different priorities between idealism and rationalism in establishing a European capital, and the importance of cultural institutions 2. The relationship of the neo-classical city with the antiquities Part II: The treatment of the pre-revolutionary town 3. The connection of the new neo-classical city with the old one: the treatment of Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches and pre-revolutionary houses 4. Housing a European capital in a small Ottoman town: the use of the pre-revolutionary buildings of Athens for housing the official functions of the new capital Part III: Creation of the new city: the actual circumstances 5. The role of land availability 6. Functionalism in the creation of the new city 7. The role of official functions in the evolution of the city of Athens 8. Public space and monumental architecture: from the grandiose plans of a European metropolis to a peripheral capital between East and West