Eunardeio

"Recognized as the first neoclassical building in the modern Greek state. This iconic structure was founded in 1830 through a generous donation by Swiss banker and philhellene J.G. Eynard, a close friend of Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias, reflecting the aspirations of Aegina as the capital of Greece for a robust educational infrastructure. Designed by architects S. Kleanthis and E. Schaubert, the Eynard School served as the first institution of higher education in free Greece. It offered a comprehensive three-month training program for future teachers and featured an experimental interdisciplinary curriculum. Notable scholars of the time served as educators, with Georgios Gennadios leading the institution. Located adjacent to the Cathedral of Aegina, the Eynard School played various roles over the years, housing the National Library, an Intermediary School, and eventually the Archaeological Museum of Aegina from 1926 to 1982. Despite its transition after the museum relocated, the Eynard School remains a well-preserved testament to Greece's educational and cultural heritage, symbolizing the spirit of intellectual pursuit and innovation that characterized Aegina during its early years as the nation's capital."