Earlier this fall, visitors arriving at the summit of the Acropolis witnessed an exceptionally rare sight. After 20 long years, the Parthenon was entirely free of scaffolding, showing off its full facade in a way most travelers, and even many Athenians, have never seen in their lifetimes.

Considered the crowning glory of Doric architecture , the Parthenon briefly stood in its purest form, its proportions and marble surfaces fully visible without interference.

It was built in the mid-5th century B.C. to honor the city's patron goddess, Athena, and today remains the centerpiece of Greece's most visited historic site, which welcomed around 4.5 million visitors in 2024, according to national tourism data .

For the first time in two decades, and, according to Greek cultural officials, th

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