Akropoli metro station

Athens Metro station
Preceding station Athens Metro Athens Metro Following station
Syntagma
towards Anthoupoli
 Line 2 Syngrou–Fix
towards Elliniko
Location
Map

Akropoli (Greek: Ακρόπολη) is a station on Athens Metro Line 2. The station serves Plaka, Koukaki and Makrygianni.

Location

The station is located under Makrygianni street in the Makrygianni neighbourhood of Athens. It is located on the east side of the Acropolis Museum and south of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street.

History

The station appeared in the original Athens Metro plan which was funded in 1991 and when construction began it was to be named Olympieion after the Temple of Olympian Zeus. During construction the name was changed to its current name. The station opened on 15 November 2000 along with the Syntagma-Dafni extension, 10 months after the first section of the system opened.[2]

Station Description

The station can be accessed by three ground-level entrances. Two are located on the eastern wall of the Acropolis Museum, one of which is elevator-only, while the third entrance is located on the other side of Makrygianni Str., at the finishing point of Athanasiou Diakou Str. Both entrances lead to the concourse level, which is decorated with antiquities. A big diagonal escalator leads from the concourse level to an intermediate level from which other escalators lead to the platforms. Both the concourse and intermediate levels' walls are covered with polished marble tiles. The platforms' walls are decorated with a curved-plastic-panel pattern, the same that can be found at Line 2's Omonoia and Panepistimio and Line 3's Syntagma and Ambelokipi stations. Parts of the platforms are covered by posters of Melina Merkouri and reproductions of the Elgin Marbles of Parthenon. The station is among the deepest of the system and is one of the very few that have three underground levels.

  • Sign on Makrygianni street
    Sign on Makrygianni street
  • The station's concourse level
    The station's concourse level
  • Station's sign on the platforms
    Station's sign on the platforms

Exits

Exit Location Image Accessibility Coordinates
Makrygianni Str. 37°58′08″N 23°43′46″E / 37.968983°N 23.729536°E / 37.968983; 23.729536
Makrygianni Str. 37°58′07″N 23°43′46″E / 37.968592°N 23.729386°E / 37.968592; 23.729386
Ath. Diakou Str. 37°58′07″N 23°43′47″E / 37.968645°N 23.729821°E / 37.968645; 23.729821

Exhibits

  • Reproduction of a part of the Parthenon's frieze, exhibited on the platforms. The original part of the frieze is exhibited at the British Museum as part of the Elgin Marbles.
    Reproduction of a part of the Parthenon's frieze, exhibited on the platforms. The original part of the frieze is exhibited at the British Museum as part of the Elgin Marbles.
  • Ancient pottery discovered during construction, exhibited on the concourse level.
    Ancient pottery discovered during construction, exhibited on the concourse level.
  • Sculptures exhibited on the concourse level. The sculptures depict Helios' chariot, Dionysus, Demetra, Persephone and Hebe or Artemis.
    Sculptures exhibited on the concourse level. The sculptures depict Helios' chariot, Dionysus, Demetra, Persephone and Hebe or Artemis.
  • Picture from the building process of the station depicting several antiquities found during construction works, exhibited on the level that links the concourse and the platforms.
    Picture from the building process of the station depicting several antiquities found during construction works, exhibited on the level that links the concourse and the platforms.
  • Archaeological section exhibited on the level that links the concourse and the platforms.
    Archaeological section exhibited on the level that links the concourse and the platforms.

Bus Connections

Only stops that are within 200m. from any of the station's exits are listed. Special bus routes are not included.

Stop Route Coordinates
Number Destination
Makrygianni  1  Moschato 37°58′05″N 23°43′52″E / 37.968005°N 23.730982°E / 37.968005; 23.730982
 5  Tzitzifies
 15  Petralona
 A2  Voula
 040  Piraeus
 230  Acropolis
Makrygianni  1  Attiki 37°58′04″N 23°43′52″E / 37.967794°N 23.731065°E / 37.967794; 23.731065
 5  Lambrini
 15  El. Venizelou
 A2  Akadimia
 040  Syntagma
 230  Zografou

Vandalism

On the night of March 4, 2020 a group of about 30 persons entered the station, spray-painted on the station's walls and sculptures and broke ticket-vending machines as a form of protest. The messages written on the walls included "EAT COPS NOT MEAT", "FIRE TO ALL PRISONS" and "HIT SEXISTES [sic]". The group tried to flee the scene by entering a passing train, the driver of which refused to leave before the police arrived. A total of 43 arrests were made for obstruction, criminal mischief and domestic disturbance.[3]

Nearby Points of Interest

References

  1. ^ "Metro and Tram Map" (PDF). STASY S.A. (in Greek). Athens. 11 October 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b Delezos, Kostas; Renieris, Antonis (14 November 2000). "To… Dafni by Metro". Ta Nea (in Greek). Athens: Alter Ego Media. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022. The source reported that the opening ceremony took place at 12:00 on 15 November 2000, with the public being able to use the extension from 18:00 the same day.
  3. ^ "Akropoli metro: 43 arrests for the vandalism". iefmerida.com (in Greek). Athens. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
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