License for building near Acropolis revoked by Greece’s Ministry of Culture

In October 2018, a building license was granted for a nine-story building near the Acropolis, on Missaraliotis Street in the area of Makrigianni. The decision caused major protests by locals who said the building obstructed the view of the Parthenon...and the license has just been revoked.

After an inspection by the Central Archaeological Council (KAS), the country’s top advisory body on the protection of antiquities, the Ministery of Culture found that the structure is not in harmony with the surrounding cityscape and will disrupt the view to the ancient citadel. The Ministry also found that the 2018 license was issued without a prior decision by the Environment Ministry on guidelines protecting a listed building inside the property.

The ministry said that any challenge to the decision by the property owner would require “an extensive archaeological survey,” as antiquities have been discovered on the site.