Zappeion palace Athens. East of the Acropolis is the National Garden (Ethnikos Kipos). On the same grounds is located the "Zappeion Megaron" , literally the "Zappeion Palace". It is a neoclassical building that has been funded by the Greek benefactor Evangelos Zappas and was built by the architect Theofil Hansen in the period 1874-1888. The inauguration took place on October 20, 1888 simultaneously with the start of the Olympic exhibitions that were held in the Zappeion at that time. Today the Zappeion is a building in which exhibitions and fairs are held.