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ATHENS, March 1-- In the heart of the historic center of this capital city under Acropolis Hill, a mansion transformed into a unique museum stands out for its history, architecture and religious significance for Orthodox Christian worshippers. Behind a tall stone fence in the bustling neighborhood of Plaka, is the Benizelos mansion named after its first owner Angelos Benizelos. Benizelos was the descendant of an aristocratic family and father of Saint Filothei, considered a Patron of the city of Athens, The monument features remnants of structures erected in the 16th century. It was reconstructed in the late 17th and early 18th century, but was abandoned for years in the 19th century. It has undergone extensive restoration during the past 15 years. The Benizelos mansion is the only example of such houses preserved in southern Greece today, providing testimony to life in Athens during the years of the Ottoman occupation. Various travelers referred to the house in their journals or depicted it in their sketches and paintings. The building was taken over by the ministry of culture in 1972, and it has been run by the Archdiocese of Athens since 1999. After being restored using European Union (EU) funds, the mansion was turned into a museum and opened its doors to the public in February 2017. The restoration of the monument focused on highlighting the original morphological elements and the character of a pre-revolutionary noble urban house. | 
