Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-08-03

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Upgrade of Plato's Academy site approved

[01] Upgrade of Plato's Academy site approved

"This is an incredible project, which had greatly delayed," said culture and tourism minister Pavlos Geroulanos, who attended the last meeting of the KAS before the summer break, adding that "this is an area that maintains the characteristics of the old Athenian neighborhood.

The study approved by the KAS involves the transfer of four old storage spaces currently situated inside the archaeological site, which contain a plethora of finds from older excavations in the 1930s to the 1960s.ana-mpa

The artifacts will be relocated to new prefab warehouses to be set up outside the archaeological site proper, while the old warehouses will be demolished and the spaces they occupy will be regenerated and will open to the public.

Plans include a 50 sq.m. enclosed shelter where marble sarcophagi from the Hellenistic period from the site and other areas will be hosted. The surrounding area will be planted, while paths will be designated around the site, and informational signs will be put up.

The site will be open free to the public, and will close at night.ana-mpa

The project is estimated at one million euro, which will be covered under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).

According to KAS, the project is a forerunner of a planned Archaeological Museum of Athens, which will be built following an international architectural tender in the same procedure as that followed for the New Acropolis Museum. Financing has already been secured, with a 2 million euro grant from the City of Athens.

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