Those travelling to Athens, Greece, will get the chance to see a famous landmark that has not been fully seen in years. The Parthenon, the iconic temple of Athena, is removing its scaffolding that has been covering a part of the structure for 20 years.
The scaffolding was put up as an ongoing conservation project to restore and maintain the western facade of the temple. According to the Associated Press, it’s not only a chance for tourists to get an unobstructed view, but it’s also the first time in 200 years that the entire temple will be devoid of scaffolding.
“It is like [visitors] are seeing … a completely different monument,” says Lina Mendoni, Greece’s culture minister, to the Greek radio station Skai.
Anyone wanting to see the Parthenon in its full glory will need to act fast. Removal of the scaffolding is only temporary, as there are plans for more conservation work starting in November.
This time around, Mendoni assures that the scaffolding will have to be “lighter and aesthetically much closer to the logic of the monument.”
The conservation is expected to last until early summer of next year, before the scaffolding will be taken down again. Those visiting the iconic site will again be “able to see it truly free.”
There’s no denying that the Parthenon is one of Greece’s many historical landmarks and treasures. It was erected in the 5th century BC to honor Athens’ patron goddess, Athena, and is the centerpiece of the Acropolis.
To help preserve and avoid crowding, the Greek government enacted a cap on how many visitors can attend each day. Anyone wanting to visit has to schedule and pay for a timed entry slot, with 20,000 visitors allowed each day.
