The stunning new Acropolis Museum sits just 300 metres from the Acropolis and 2 kilometres from central Athens, providing extensive facilities and an exhibition space covering more than 14 000 square metres.
- 17 August 2011
Projects such as this are helping the EU to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020, as set out in the EU 2020 growth strategy. The EU is facing some tough challenges, including an ageing population, an insufficiently qualified workforce, the need for greater innovation, striking a balance between economic growth and environmental degradation, and ensuring secure, clean energy supplies. Regional policy projects across the EU are playing an active role in dealing with these and many other challenges, by undertaking projects designed to generate employment, raise educational achievement, develop renewable energy sources, boost productivity and give all citizens access to opportunities. The projects and the regions play a pivotal role in this, as they generate real results that contribute to achieving the strategy’s key goals.
While showcasing Greece’s rich history to the growing numbers of tourists and locals attracted by the vast collections, information and educational opportunities on offer, it is also contributing to the development of ‘poles’ around which local businesses are thriving and growing.
Developing synergies for growth
The Museum’s construction began in 2004 and was finally completed in 2007. On 20 June 2009, this spectacular piece of modern Greek architecture finally opened to the public. The New Acropolis Museum project was not undertaken in isolation. Various other projects at archaeological sites and museums across Greece were carried out in an effort to tap into the wealth of its cultural assets (e.g. Benaki Museum, Byzantium Museums in Athens and Thessaloniki) and use them to contribute to growth, employment and tourism, some of the key goals in the EU 2020 strategy. Synergies involving the cultural, tourism, entrepreneurship, education, medical and gastronomy sectors, are helping Greece rise in the ranks as a high-quality tourist destination.
A venue to educate and enthral
The Museum offers modern exhibition spaces for showcasing, explaining and educating about the archaeological, historical, symbolic and aesthetic value of the Acropolis monuments, with a special focus on the Parthenon. With a total surface area of 25 000 square metres and an exhibition area of over 14 000 square metres, 10 times the size of the old museum on the hill of the Acropolis, the new Museum offers all the amenities expected of a 21st century international museum, including a press room, permanent and temporary exhibitions, shop, cafe and restaurant, full accessibility for disabled people and special education programmes for teachers and pupils.