Athens’ Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis has announced the commencement date of the highly-anticipated makeover of the lower part of Athens’ popular Syntagma Square- scheduled to begin in early August 2021, following final approval by the Athens City Council.
The revamp is part of a huge urban regeneration project that was launched by the Athens Municipality. The overall aim is remodelling the Greek capital, with an emphasis on the historic city centre. According to authorities, the purpose is to improve everyday life for both residents and visitors of these areas.
As part of this project, Syntagma Square will see the widening of pedestrian walkways near Ermou Street; these sidewalks will be extended for pedestrian use, and the area will be made more accessible to locals and international visitors who visit this part of Athens year-round.
There will also be fresh landscaping (including 28 tall trees), the installation of smart road crossings, new shaded areas, and modern lighting. There will also be a new public space that will become an entrance point to Athens’ retail and historical centre.
An emphasis has also been placed on allowing people with disabilities to explore the city more easily- as there will be an increase in new accessibility ramps.
The project also aims to increase road safety, and reduce noise and air pollution levels, thus making Syntagma Square more sustainable for current and future generations.
According to Bakoyannis’ statement, the design will blend in nicely with the area’s rich historic past, “Once completed, we will wonder why this project took 20 years to be approved,” says Bakoyannis.
