Two Top Floors of Athens Hotel Blocking Acropolis View Shut Down

A suite of the hotel with an Acropolis view. Photo source: Photo source: Coco-Mat Athens BC

The Greek Tourism Ministry announced this week that it had sealed off the two top floors and the rooftop bar of a hotel in the center of Athens which were blocking views to the Acropolis.

The ministry had announced last July that it would be shutting down the Coco-Mat Athens BC hotel after it was found to be in violation of building and zoning laws. The company however appealed to the Administrative Court of First Instance of Athens, which decided to suspend the decision ruling instead that only the part of the hotel that is in violation be sealed off.

The building, erected in the Makrygiannis neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis, exceeded the 24-meter building limit of the area by 12.5 meters.

Last year, Greece’s highest court had ruled that the hotel was blocking the view to the Acropolis and that owners proceed with relevant studies and the demolition of the two last floors.

Photo Source: secure.avaaz.org

The construction of the hotel spurred a public uproar in 2019 supported by Europe’s federation for the protection of cultural heritage Europe Nostra, forcing the environment and culture ministries to investigate gaps in zoning laws that allowed the project to proceed. Although they later suspended all building activity in the area, the project was completed.

The two top floors and the rooftop bar will remain cordoned off until the Greek courts reach a final decision later this year.