Tatoi Royal Estate
What was once a beautiful summer retreat for the Greek royal family is slowly being reclaimed by the wild. It's an unusual tale, even by Greek standards, and a setting that makes for a remarkable walk on the southeast slopes of Mt. Parnitha. The first piece of the estate was bought by King George I in 1871, who slowly built up the land around it and commissioned a mansion in the style of Russia's Peterhof Palace. Over the next century the estate grew and grew as vineyards, a cemetery, stables, a pool, a hotel, and various buildings were added to its 10,000 acres. Then it all came to a halt. The abolition of the monarchy in 1974 preceded a long-running dispute over the estate's ownership and saw its buildings fall sadly into neglect. Since then, clumsy attempts at restoration and plans to turn it into a museum have come to little, and today its buildings, now mostly boarded up, are off-limits to visitors. The grounds are free to roam by the public until sunset and have parking nearby to allow access. That is the extent of its facilities, however; there are no cafés, toilets, or running water inside the park. Yet the estate's fall from grace doesn't diminish what is an astonishing walk, as you wander through pine-scented forest and contemplate the fleeting nature of wealth in this "ghost palace."
