Every time I visit a European city, there’s at least one major building that I can’t see because it’s being restored. Obviously this is important, but I wish I could schedule my visits to immediately **after **the restoration is completed.
I’m planning on my next destination to be Greece. I know there’s been some major restoration happening on Athens’ Acropolis in recent years, especially concerning the Parthenon. I have no idea whether the restoration is still going on, or whether it’s been completed, and Google hasn’t been any help. So does anyone know whether the Parthenon is still shrouded in scaffolding, or will at least be completed by next summer?
(Of course, it looked to be complete at the time of the Olympics, but for all I know they resumed the restoration right after the closing ceremony.)
According to a documentary on The History Channel (or somesuch), the Turks and Venetians were warring (in Greece!), and the Turks used the Parthenon to store ammunition. The Venetians scored a direct hit which blew the Parthenon to bits.
This wretched event occurred in 1687. Otherwise, Greece’s breathtakingly beautiful building might have survived, more or less intact, to this day.
None of this answers my question. I can’t believe none of you have been to Athens lately.
(An aunt of mine was in Athens for two days last year. She visited the Parthenon, but ***couldn’t remember ***whether it was covered with scaffolding. )
I’ll be there in October and I also want to know what’s going to be all scaffolded up (usually the whole city, whenever and wherever I go.) I’m also going to Rome and Florence - any major restorations there?
I Googled on Greece tourist information, and got hits that included
the site below, and even asked there if the Parthenon is currently scaffolded,
but, of course, there was no answer for that. If it’s yes, this is not good for
tourism.
Seriously, the one in Nashville is impressive. It’s an exact replica, and since it’s intact and properly “gussied up,” it’s closer to what the Athenians had than what’s in Greece now.
Right across the Agora from the Acropolis if the Temple of Hephistos, if you want to see a nearly intact, yet ancient, temple.
Speaking of Parthenon photographs, though. My parents have a picture of me, sitting on the steps of the Parthenon, playing with little toy cars, clearly unimpressed with the surrounding beauty. This was before the endless restorations started, so no scaffolding, and before they put the fence in, so you could actually walk around inside, and not all that long ago. This would have been about 1970.
I found tweo numbers and both, apparently are for the Visa Embassy Servuce, which seems to be the central number for the Embassues in Washington. I called both and got the same voice on the samew recorded message which is, all the whatevers are busy so leave your number and one of them will call you back.
1-202-234-4908
1-866-729-3434
I searched the online White Pages. Then I went back and found this
Greek Consulate Genl - Coml Div
150 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022
(212) 751-2404
and actually spoke to a Greek lady - after a lengthy automated answer in Greek, then in English and then after hitting the O button as in Operator.
This woman couldn’t say if the scaffolding is down - from her tone it almost certainly is not. But there are “visiting hours” she said. She also suggested simply to go there and see for your self. If it’s down, it’s down.
So…
Call that place and ask to speak to someone in tourism or whatever you can think of to get past this idiot…
This reminds me of my cousin’s son. He came back from his first visit to Paris, and told everyone they have an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas.
I went to Athens this summer, and they were still restoring it then - and I think they will be for a couple of years more (I’ve been there trice in the past 8 years and there’s ALWAYS been a scaffold on Acropolis - so even though I actually saw someone working on the restoration this summer (as a first time) I doubt they’ll be done soon. ). Yes, I am aware I have a problem with using parenthesis
That being said, it’s still well worth a visit. Also, as someone suggested the agora with the temple of Hephaistos is also close by. The temple of Zeus is not quite as well-preserved, but the coloumns still standing are amazing.
)
