Hotel in the center of Athens to be closed due to refusal to demolish two floors blocking the view of the Acropolis.
In the center of Athens luxury hotel to be demolished
The five-star Coco-mat Athens BC hotel, located in the center of Athens, will be closed by the Greek Ministry of Tourism. The reason for the closure is due to the hotel's refusal to demolish two floors and a rooftop bar, which obstructed the view of the Acropolis, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site.
The hotel is next to the Acropolis Museum and the Antiquities Authority. The height of the building is 36.5 meters and exceeds the permitted limit of 24 meters. On the roof of the hotel, which will also need to be demolished, there is a swimming pool and a bar overlooking the Acropolis.
In 2020, the Central Archaeological Council of Greece ordered the demolition of two floors after receiving thousands of complaints from citizens who considered the construction an “urban planning crime in the Acropolis.” The Council of State, the country's highest administrative court, found the claim legal. Previously, the State Council has repeatedly pointed out violations in the construction process. The deadline for the demolition of two floors and the roof of the hotel is February 14.
In April of this year, the Attica Regional Tourist Office asked the hotel to explain the reasons for the lack of changes in the tourist accommodation notice. According to the reservation system, the hotel has “budget rooms” booked for the coming weeks; at €200 per night, with suites remaining for around €450 at the end of July.
Several locals have previously complained that the hotel is taller than other buildings in the area. As soon as the construction was completed, authorities from the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Council launched an inspection, residents say.
Unauthorized structures often violate laws protecting archaeological sites and the environment. However, they are generally treated with disdain by the authorities, and action is rarely taken to demolish such illegal structures of this magnitude.