The Culture Ministry has announced the restoration and reuse of the historic Xenia tourist pavilion in Mycenae, one of the earliest buildings erected by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in the 1950s as part of its Xenia promotion program.
Designed by architect Kimon Laskaris, the structure combined polygonal stonework with a restrained modernist style, harmonized with the landscape. Decorated with a mural by painter Nikos Nikolaou, it welcomed visitors from 1951 until its abandonment in the early 1990s, when neglect, weathering and vandalism rendered it unusable.
Under the new plan, the building will be transformed into a cultural venue presenting recorded performances by Greece’s state theater and opera companies related to the House of Atreus. It will also include a shop and refreshment area.
The ministry said the project will preserve the original design, improve accessibility and revive a historic gateway for visitors to Mycenae near the archaeological site itself.
