When we were Kings

For the last few years I have been photographing the abandoned Country Estate of the former Royal family, outside Athens, Greece. Through the seasons , finding new paths and discovering new spaces. It was a journey in self discovery. Nature makes us return to ourselves. Decelea is the ancient Greek name for the area, one of the 12 cities of Attica. That is now Tatoi. I was Intrigued by the history, romance, and gothic mystery of the place more than the people that lived there. The Estate was bought in 1880 by King ( William) George the first of Denmark with money he brought from abroad. Timeline of events: The Junta surrounded the estate and took it over during their reign. 1974: Royalty was abolished. 1994: The 10,000 acre area was confiscated by the socialist government of Andreas Papandreou. 2020: owned by the Greek State In 2007 plans were underway to turn the Country Estate into a museum and recreational area.. In 2013 the government planned to sell or lease the abandoned property. Now. Many Athenians flock to this "Metropolitan Park" ( as the Former Royal Palace is now called )on weekends to bike, picnic and walk the royal forests. It took 20 years to start serious renovation. Because the pseudo leftist governments wanted to bury Royalty. They just left it dead and buried like the Royal cemetery. 2020: Restoration is underway by Greece’ new Government. It’s part of our history: we must preserve it. The Rise and fall of empires. The Tatoi tragedy,