Acropolis Restoration Status, anyone?
 

My trip to Greece is in less than two months (yay!). For anyone who has recently visited Greece, can you elaborate on the status of restoration projects going on at the Acropolis? I hear these projects are ongoing and have no end-date in sight, so I expect a bit of scaffolding, cranes, etc., but just how bad is it? And is the Temple of Athena Nike back yet? I just want to keep my expectations in check so I'm not disappointed! Thanks.

I have been to Athens 5 times since 1998 and the scaffolding has always been there. There was talk about having the work done by the Olympic games. But I talked to a Greek tour guide who said that 2015 might be more realistic. Was she kidding? Who knows.

Maybe the work is done and the area is clear but I would say that you will be disappointed only if you choose to be. The Acropolis and the Parthenon are spectacular. It's hard not to be thrilled walking in the very place where greats such as Socrates, Plato and Paul might have once walked. Scaffolding or not.

Enjoy your trip.

Asa youngster visiting Greece in the 1960s, I recall being able to walk up the Parthenon's marble steps and get inside ... no scaffolding anywhere.

It might be another 40 years before the Acropolis is free and clear of construction cranes, scaffolding, and junk ;-)

For good reason is it called the "100 Years Restoration Project."

Does anyone who's been in the last few months have any more specific info on what things are like there? Specifically is the Temple of Athena Nike back in its place? I read it had been disassembled and removed from the Acropolis for repair work on a previous botched repair job and was scheduled to be returned to its place in 2007. Thanks.

I was there in early Dec., and unfortunately, I don't specifically remember the Temple of Athena Nike. The scaffolding is indeed intact, but did not take away much from the glory that is the Acropolis. Breathtaking and moving are a couple words that come to mind.

Don't worry about the scaffolding. It took around 2,000 years for the Acropolis to get to the state it is in, (with a little help from the Romans and Turks) and I suspect the scaffolding will still be there when we are long gone. Maybe a little editing with Adobe Photoshop will help. ;-)

Assuming that one knows how to edit....

...That's the problem, but the only way I know of to to see the Parthenon without scaffolding any time soon. :-)

The temple of Athena Nike IS back - illuminated at night, too! It's identical, but somehow it doesn't seem QUITE the same ....!

I was there last May... no Temple of Athena Nike and scaffolding everywhere. We return in May 2008 so I'm keeping my fingers crossed

Well, I hope they get it done soon, when we were there the whole place was in RUINS!

Yay! I'm so glad the Temple of Athena Nike is back! TexasAggie, I really enjoyed your trip report from your trip last year. I guess you must have loved Greece since you're going back again this year. Where, besdies Athens, are you headed this time? Have a great trip!

NeoPatrick, LOL. Thanks for the first laugh of my day (8:01AM) :-d

LOL, Neo!

Hi sam,
We're going to do a little more exploring around the Peloponnese and then venture north to Meteora and Thesalonikki (I may have butchered the spelling on that one!). DH very much wants to see some of the Macedonian ruins further north. We're hoping to go for about 2.5 weeks in '08 so that will give us an extra few days to explore.
Thank you so much for the compliment on my trip report. I switched jobs last autumn and have not gotten around to finishing it. Hopefully I will be able to do so shortly.
In 2009 we want to see the Greek Islands and the western coast of Turkey. I feel like we'd need at least 3 weeks to do any sort of justice to the places and it's getting pretty difficult to get away for so long... so who knows. Maybe we'll just have to go on 2 shorter trips :-)

Texasaggie, I would love to read the rest of your trip report if you finish it (you were also helpful in planning my '05 trip to the Cinque Terre)! And I love how you plan your trips so far in advance--sounds a lot like me (we've got trips mapped out through 2009). Ciao!