Cénotaphe des illusions

The “Pagoda” building at the port of Piraeus next to St Nicholas Square and customs

Formerly the Agios Nikolaos Passenger Station, the three-storey edifice, which looks like a ship deck from afar, is considered a prominent example of Modernist architecture and was constructed between 1962 and 1969 by architects Ioannis Liapis and Ilias Skroubelos. The contemporary structure was meant to welcome incoming travelers but also serve as a point of farewell to the thousands of Greek emigrants who set off to seek their luck abroad.

The Pagoda operated as an exhibition center until 2004. The 50-year-old Pagoda was listed in 2013 by the Central Council for Modern Monuments as a preserved building. The fate of the Pagoda has repeatedly come up for discussion with plans to include port and shipping company offices going back to 2013. It could be restored and re-launched as a five-star hotel on the premises of the port.