Korydallos Prison

The Korydallos prison complex in Piraeus is by far the largest prison in Greece and houses the country's main maximum-security facility. It holds inmates subject to strict security conditions and has played a special role in the country's recent history. In 1975, for example, the trials of the members of the military dictatorship of the time were held here, with a special court set up in the basement for the purpose. Well-known inmates have included members of left-wing urban guerrilla organizations as well as members of the neo-Nazi group Golden Dawn, who were held here before their trial.

Conditions in the complex have been repeatedly criticized internationally. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, as well as the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, have expressed concern about the extreme overcrowding and the inhumane treatment of prisoners. A 2007 report by doctors from the Piraeus prefecture found that the medical care and the psychiatric clinic were operating without minimal hygiene standards, as the infrastructure was outdated and there was a shortage of qualified staff. After years of protests by local residents and the municipality, the women's section was moved to the Thiva prison in 2008.

The prison's history is also marked by several uprisings and spectacular escape attempts. In 1990 and 1995, inmates temporarily took control of the facility, leading to lengthy standoffs with the police and ultimately to concessions from the justice authorities. There were also various politically motivated attacks on the facility or its staff. Among the most famous inmates are Vasilis Paleokostas, who escaped twice in a rented helicopter, and Christodoulos Xiros, who failed to return from a prison furlough in 2014. An escape attempt using a hijacked helicopter in 2016 also failed, after the alleged leader of a guerrilla organization had previously disappeared during his trial.