Sir Thomas Gresham was a 16th century English financier who established London’s Royal Exchange. In 1880, the Gresham Life Assurance Company purchased the Nako House at Széchenyi Square and tore it down to create their lavish foreign headquarters. The Art Nouveau design by architect Zsigmond Quittner opened in 1907. During WWII and extending into 1990, this landmark building facing the Chain Bridge steadily deteriorated. After an extensive renovation, the former Gresham Palace reopened in 2004 as the Four Seasons Hotel.
