The archaeological site of the Acropolis in Athens, one of the most visited tourist sites in the world, is getting revamped with new, hi-tech entrance gates and a welcome point aiming to improve the visitors’ flow and experience.
A total of five, hi-tech and ultra-modern security gates were installed in the two main entrances leading up to the Parthenon on Tuesday, January 21. According to iefimerida.gr, the main purpose of the gates is to protect the archaeological site along with the visitors from a potential terrorist attack since they can detect a wide range of weapons, from small firearms to assault rifles. It is noted that bulky bags and large backpacks are already not allowed inside the archaeological site. At the same time, the new gates will help make the entry of visitors smoother, just months before the start of this year’s tourist season.
The new security gates, installed by a company that specializes in modern security systems, are funded by the Onassis Foundation and are expected to become operational soon.
New admissions area at the Acropolis to welcome tourists
Every year, millions visit Greece’s most famous archaeological site, often lining up in the hundreds in order to enter the site, especially during the peak tourist season.
The Greek Ministry of Culture announced that the Acropolis site will soon be getting a new welcome area and sales point, designed to enhance the visitors’ experience. According to the ministry, it blends seamlessly with the archaeological site and the natural surroundings. It will also feature a sales shop, which is part of a wider program that includes the construction of 14 new shops at archaeological sites across Greece, budgeted at 6.3 million euros ($6.56 million).
The new welcome area and sales point will be strategically located on the plateau south of the Areopagus Hill, offering visitors impressive views.
Additional improvements at the Acropolis archaeological site include the construction of pavements that will facilitate access to people with disabilities and two parking spaces. Also, benches will be added in the area, more trees will be planted and new designated pathways will be created.
The existing shop was inadequate in size and at the wrong location, according to Lina Mendoni, the Greek Minister of Culture, who added that the new area will also facilitate the high volume of visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage site. “The construction of a new shop at the Acropolis is part of our overall efforts to enhance the services offered to visitors,” while the new facility, Mendoni noted, “will also improve visitor flow management and showcase the archaeological site more effectively.”
A guide to the Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis of Athens is a massive archaeological site brimming with the spiritual, artistic, and democratic wonders of ancient Greece, but with every turn, one comes across a new monument. So how does one know what is actually worth visiting?
Thought to be inhabited as far back as 5,000 BC, the Acropolis and its monuments largely remain in suitable condition to this day. In the eighth century BC, the people of Athens dedicated the hill to the goddess of wisdom and military victory, Athena.
Through the ages, as Athens blossomed from a mere settlement village to a large powerhouse in the region, Pericles, who ruled during the golden age of Athens (450 – 400 BC), sought to promote the Acropolis as an exhibition of Athenian pride.
Under Pericles’ leadership, the Acropolis grew from a handful of temples, damaged by the Persians in 479 BC, to a beacon of Classical architecture and symbol of greatness.
Archaeological ruins at the Acropolis include temples, statues, sanctuaries, altars, theaters, and even fountains. If you visit, it’s well worth taking the time to appreciate some of the more remarkable sites that include the Parthenon, Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Propylaea, the Theater of Dionysus, the Caryatids (Porch of the Maidens), and the Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus.