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National Garden Review

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National Garden

Fodor's Review:

When you can't take the city noise anymore, step into this oasis completed in 1860 as part of King Otho and Queen Amalia's royal holdings. Here old men on the benches argue politics, police officers take their coffee breaks, and animal lovers feed the stray cats that roam among the more than 500 species of trees and plants, many labeled. At the east end is the neoclassical Zappion hall, built in 1888 and used for major political and cultural events: it was here that Greece signed its accession to what was then the European Community. Children appreciate the playgrounds, duck pond, and small zoo (East end of park). The Hellenic Ornithological Society runs an information kiosk (Irodou Attikou entrance, near playground. 210/381-1271 or 210/330-1167) dedicated to the park's birds. The society's activity program for children includes games geared to recognizing the park's winged visitors, drawing contests, and the making of swallow's nests to ensure sanctuary for homeless birds. The kiosk is open all year (though August depends on the volunteers), weekends 11-2:30. Youngsters ages 5-15 may settle into a good book at the Children's Library (210/323-6503. Sept.-July, Tues.-Sat. 8:30-2:30), a rustic, vine-covered stone cottage in a tranquil corner of the garden. Of its 4,000 books, only 60 are in English and French. It also has games and puzzles (some in English), a chess set, dominoes, crayons, and coloring books.

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