Tourists can now enjoy a view of Athens' Parthenon without scaffolding

Athens, October 11 - Visitors to Athens can now enjoy an unobstructed view of the Parthenon temple while walking along the wide pedestrian zone along the foot of the famous Acropolis. Scaffolding that had covered the western facade of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for nearly 20 years due to restoration work has finally been removed, writes the AP agency. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said at the same time that this is the first time in about 200 years that the entire exterior of the Parthenon has been completely free of scaffolding.

The west side of the temple is the best view from the street, so the change is most noticeable for tourists. For visitors, "it's like they're seeing a different, completely different monument," Mendoni said in an interview with the Skai radio station. The removal of the scaffolding was completed in late September.

However, conservation work must continue, and the respite will be only temporary. The new scaffolding will be erected along the western side of the Parthenon in about a month, but it will be lighter and much more aesthetically pleasing, Mendoni added. Renewed conservation work is expected to last until early summer 2026, after which the Parthenon will be completely stripped of this scaffolding.

The Acropolis, which includes the Parthenon, is Greece’s most popular tourist attraction. According to the National Statistical Office, 4.5 million people visited it in 2024. The marble temple was built in the mid-fifth century BC in honor of the goddess Athena, the city’s patron goddess.

WT.24