The area in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Hellenic Parliament is set for a makeover. A redevelopment plan now in the works calls for replacing the existing asphalt with gray Aliveri marble.
The project comes 94 years after the monument was unveiled and aims both to improve the site’s appearance and to fix practical problems with the current surface.
The centerpiece of the plan is a new surface for the square in front of the monument. The asphalt, which has covered the site for decades, will give way to marble paving, changing the look of one of the capital’s most symbolic spaces.
Why the asphalt is being replaced
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According to the plans, the new paving responds to problems caused by the current state of the ground. The worn asphalt hampers the movements of the Evzones, the ceremonial guards who stand watch at the sentry posts in front of the monument. The surface also traps heat, raising temperatures at the site, especially in summer.
The gray Aliveri marble is expected to noticeably transform the square while drawing attention to the monument and its connection with the Parliament building.
Restoring the monument
The plan goes beyond new paving. It also includes conservation and cleaning of the monument itself, focusing on the relief, the marble sections, and the metal elements at the back.
Officials consider the work necessary because of nearly a century of weathering and wear since the monument was unveiled.
According to reports, additional changes to the square are also being considered, including more plants and greenery. The details, however, have not yet been finalized.
The Ministry of National Defense has now taken responsibility for guarding, maintaining, and redeveloping the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as part of a broader plan to upgrade and protect the site.