In 1965, Aristotle Onassis met with Prince Rainier III of Monaco, to discuss Kastella. In fact, he even presented a model of the architectural restoration of what he aspired would turn Kastella into “Monte Kastella” – similar to Monte Carlo. His vision wasn’t fulfilled, but today it is being partially completed thanks to an initiative of the Municipality of Piraeus, to restore the neighbourhood’s scenic port, none other than the famous Mikrolimano.
But can the one-time ‘Piraeus Riviera’ turn into something similar to Long Island? One thing’s certain, that it has all it takes since in the past it has been a resort for aristocrats, businessmen, and wealthy people with refined taste. It’s no coincidence that Junkermann, the protagonist of Manolis Karagatsis’ novel of the same name, disembarked there, taking the “posh-y” society of the time by storm.
The many neoclassical houses that remain on the hill of Kastella are proof of a time when the seaside mansions were symbols of power and wealth, creating a residential network of elegance and luxury, that was considered the playground of the wealthy. It’s a past that’s hard to deny, even today, despite a big part of that glory being lost after the First World War.
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