Today, at the archaeological site of the Acropolis, the new Gift Shop, the landscaped plateau to the south of the Areopagus rock, as well as the pine-covered slope to the south of the plateau, and the restored route on the North Slope of the Acropolis—which leads to significant monuments such as the Klepsydra, the sacred caves, the end of the Panathenaic Way, and the sanctuary of Aphrodite and Eros—were officially opened to the public, accompanied by music and celebration. The opening of these areas marks a new era for visitors’ experience on the Sacred Rock, offering new opportunities for exploration and improved accessibility to areas that had remained closed for decades. Instead of the usual inauguration ceremony for the opening of new spaces, the music group “Encardia” performed songs and dances from the Greek-speaking regions of Southern Italy, culminating in a musical walk to the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Eros.

The minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated:

“The Ministry of Culture and the Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources are presenting to the public and visitors of the Acropolis a new gift shop, which meets the construction and aesthetic criteria required for the highly sensitive area of the Acropolis, in order to better respond to the increased demand for souvenirs and gifts from visitors. The new gift shops, the stores of archaeological sites and museums that are being constructed by the Organization and will gradually be delivered, are not only about increasing the Organization’s revenue. The souvenir or gift that each visitor takes with them—especially those from abroad—whether it is an exact replica or an inspired and more popular item based on the findings from the Acropolis, serves as an ambassador for the culture of our country, and this is extremely important.

At the same time, the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens, which is also responsible for the management of the Acropolis, has landscaped the plateau in front of the gift shop and to the south of the Areopagus, so that the overall appearance is compatible with the routes that have been created on the Acropolis. Also, thanks to the care of the Ephorate, visitors can enjoy a route to the northwest of the Areopagus towards Apostolou Pavlou Street. Although the area does not have special walkways, it has been cleaned and arranged in such a way that visitors can safely stroll through this pine and olive tree-covered area. Additionally, a very beautiful route, which had remained closed for many years, is now open to visitors on the North Slope, at the foot of the Acropolis Rock, giving visitors the opportunity to discover monuments such as the Klepsydra, the Sacred Caves, and the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Eros.”

I believe that around this time of year we will have delivered the renovated Old Museum on the Rock, complete with new exhibitions. This will be a new museum space that will host temporary archaeological exhibitions, advanced technology digital programs, and contemporary art exhibitions inspired by our cultural heritage. At the same time, the area surrounding the Museum, which has never been accessible to visitors before, is being developed. The Sebasteion, a large part of the Mycenaean wall, and several other points are being restored, allowing for an extension of the archaeological timeline and a longer stay for visitors on the Rock. The Ministry of Culture places the appropriate importance on the archaeological site with the highest visitor numbers in our country—a global cultural and historical landmark—through projects that facilitate accessibility and optimize the experience of the millions of visitors from Greece and abroad.“

The upgrade of the Areopagus plateau, as well as the opening of the North Slope, allows visitors to discover monuments such as the Klepsydra, the sacred caves, the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Eros, and the end of the Panathenaic Way, offering new routes that integrate the natural beauty of the area with its historical significance. The implementing body for these projects was the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens. The upgrade of the area south and northwest of the Areopagus was funded by national resources amounting to 140,000 euros from the Ministry of Culture, while the restoration of the route on the North Slope was made possible thanks to a donation from the Onassis Foundation, which has supported the Ministry of Culture’s work at the Acropolis since 2020.

At the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni was accompanied by the Artistic Director of the National Opera, Giorgos Koumentakis, the President of ODAP, Nikoleta Valakou, the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens, Elena Kountouri, and many officials from the Ministry of Culture. A large crowd followed the musical walk to the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Eros.