The iconic fountain at Athens’ Syntagma Square has been out of service for weeks due to ongoing maintenance and restoration by the Municipality of Athens, tovima.com, has reported.
Described as “a timeless point of reference for Athens’ political and social life,” Syntagma Square-once called “Palace Square”-was renamed after the 1843 revolution, when King Otto granted Greece its first constitution.
Installed in the late 19th century, the fountain bears the inscription “Municipality of Athens 1872” and was designed by famed German architect Ernst Ziller. Though simplified over time, it remains a historic part of the city’s landscape.
The restoration is part of a broader municipal initiative: the “Preservation of Outdoor Sculptures of the Municipality of Athens.” Given the fountain’s heritage status, the Municipality says the work is being carried out with “surgical precision.”
The project goes beyond basic cleaning. It involves structural repairs, waterproofing, and restoration of the two large marble basins—both inside and out. Made of Pentelic marble, each component has aged differently, requiring individualized treatment.
Restorers are meticulously removing layers of grime and decay by hand using surgical scalpels. The team includes five certified experts: conservators of antiquities and artworks, plus a marble technician.
This marks the first scientifically documented conservation of the fountain in its history. The city aims to complete the restoration and reopen the fountain by the end of August.
Source: tovima.com
