The Ministry of Culture (YPP) through the Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens, as part of its policy to improve services for visitors and enhance their experience, is proceeding with the upgrade of infrastructure, visitor facilities, and urban equipment at the archaeological site of the Ancient Agora of Athens, according to its announcement. The project involves the overall enhancement of the archaeological site, focusing on the creation of a new entrance and exit gate on Adrianou Street, and improving accessibility to the site.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “The functional and aesthetic upgrade of the Ancient Agora archaeological site, along with the improvement of service facilities and visitor accessibility at the Kerameikos archaeological site, constitute a set of interventions funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund, aimed at enhancing the experience and improving the service for the thousands of visitors to Athens’ archaeological sites. The interventions we have planned for the Ancient Agora involve a complete upgrade of the visitor facilities, including those for special needs. They consistently and rigorously support our strategy for universal accessibility to archaeological sites and the necessary conditions for strengthening the ‘silver economy’ in the cultural tourism sector. The central idea of our design is the subtlety of the constructions, the dialogue with the landscape and monuments, and the organization of existing and new uses that support the operation, visitation, and accessibility of the Ancient Agora.”
According to the Ministry of Culture, the project includes upgrading the appearance and functionality of the entrances to the archaeological site, with priority given to the main entrance on Adrianou Street for managing entry and exit flows, as well as addressing the functional needs of visitors with disabilities. This includes connecting entrances to stopping points, viewing areas, and information points, upgrading sanitation facilities, including water and sewage networks serving the site while considering access and service for disabled visitors. Additionally, suitable urban equipment will be installed at the entrances to enhance the visitor experience.
Regarding ticket booths, the existing booth at the main entrance on Adrianou Street will be replaced with a new one that meets modern needs. This new facility will organize the waiting area and entry-exit paths, and provide shade for visitors and staff. To enhance the archaeological site and better organize the entrance area, certain sections of the existing entrance platform will be removed and others filled in. At the entrances on Asteroskopeio and Apostolou Pavlou Streets, the existing ticket booths will be restored and aesthetically upgraded.
At the Asteroskopeio entrance, the existing ticket booth will be maintained with an aesthetic upgrade and related to the new main booth on Adrianou Street. A new metal canopy will be proposed to serve visitors, house the water vending machine, and the e-ticket booth. A new staircase parallel to Panathinaion Street will be proposed for access to the archaeological site, along with a pathway indicating the continuation of the Panathinaic Road, on Asteroskopeio Street, suggesting its continuation into the southern part of the archaeological site towards the Acropolis.
At the Apostolou Pavlou entrance, the existing ticket booth will be upgraded, and a canopy will be constructed for shading visitors during ticketing, the water vending machine, and the e-ticket booth. The sanitation facilities will undergo a complete renovation, with the addition of new facilities meeting specifications for disabled visitors, and the replacement of old water and sewage networks. New stanchions, informational signs, seating, and railings will also be proposed.
