After years of navigating the labyrinthine processes that only local government could create, the Sistovari Estate now belongs to the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi. Sitting snugly on Agiou Ioannou Street, this once-private property (formerly the Da Vinci) has finally changed hands—though some would say it’s merely swapped one set of question marks for another.
The estate’s journey into public ownership was sparked by the late Athanasios Sistovaris, who generously willed the property to the municipality. His nephew, Tolis Sistovaris, handed over the keys during a carefully staged symbolic ceremony—an event brimming with enough optimism to almost distract from what now comes next.
Speaking at the occasion, Mayor Yiannis Mylonakis declared it a “historic day” for Agia Paraskevi. But let’s pause for a moment: historic how, exactly? For transferring ownership? To satisfy a donor’s final wishes? Or could it be because no one is quite sure what to do with it yet? The mayor, bless him, offered carefully chosen words that hinted at plans without burdening them with pesky specifics:
“For us, it was critical to fulfil Athanasios Sistovaris’s desire to see this property transferred to the municipality. The first significant step has been taken, but only once the legal transfer is fully complete can we move forward. Our focus now is utilising the estate through a concrete plan that we’ve been developing for some time. The goal? To ensure that the site becomes a source of benefits for residents and our municipality.”
The mayor shared a vision of the Sistovari Estate becoming a “jewel” for the city. According to initial reports, the estate will become a multi-purpose space for cultural, educational, environmental, and recreational events and activities. There are also discussions regarding relocating the municipal library and housing a reading and arts centre with a direct connection to the A. Kontopoulos Museum.
