Ancient Greek culture

The board of Greece's Central Archaeological Council (KAS), the country's top advisory body on the protection of antiquities, approved unanimously on Tuesday a proposal by the Environment Ministry to set the maximum height for buildings in the vicinity of the Acropolis Hill at 21 meters, Kathimerini understands.

Guards wearing protective masks are seen on Monday in front of the Propylaea, the gateway to the Parthenon, following the reopening of the Acropolis yesterday. Visitors to the landmark site yesterday had the privilege of enjoying the experience free of the usual crowds it draws.

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou visited the Acropolis Hill on Monday which signalled the first day when archaeological sites reopen to the public after the lockdown imposed in mid-March to halt the spread of coronavirus.

People dance to the tune of a clarinet during a protest by musicians, actors and art workers outside Parliament in central Athens Thursday to demand more support for the culture sector, which has been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic. A similar protest took place in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

Eight interventions to improve accessibility, safety and revenues at Greece's top archaeological site are proceeding with just a few delays and should start improving the visitor experience when the country's archaeological sites reopen within the coming weeks, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said.

The Acropolis Museum in Athens is suspending for two weeks three planned events as a precaution agaisnt the spread of the coronavirus in the country, it announced Wednesday.

The Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday there will be an extraordinary three-hour closure of the archaeological site of the Acropolis in Athens of Friday due to a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The site will open as normal at 8 a.m. and close at 10 a.m. (last entry at 9.30 a.m.).

There is absolutely no doubt that Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, needs a metro system to serve its commuters. 

There is no argument that could convince us we can afford to waste more time - or money for that matter.

Too many projects in Greece would have been shelved or put on the back burner if skeptics had their way every single time.

Marking the October 28 national holiday, the Acropolis Museum presents a tribute to the statue of Athena Parthenos, made of gold and ivory, and designed by Phidias for the Parthenon. Presentations about the lost statue - from its history and construction to the myths associated with it - will be held by museum archaeologist hosts in Greek at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day on Friday, September 27, admission to the Acropolis Museum will be free of charge from 5 to 10 p.m. (with last entries at 9.30 p.m.), while the restaurant will stay open, as it does every Friday, until midnight (for reservations call 210.900.0915). There will also be free guided tours, in English, starting at 5.30 p.m.