Omonia Square’s makeover to be revealed next week

Omonia Square’s makeover is almost complete and will be presented to locals and visitors by the end of next week, announced Athens’ Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis on social media on Thursday.

The square's fountain has been filled with water, the Mayor said, adding he is "Very happy that Omonia square (reconstruction) has entered the final stretch and will be delivered to the Athenians." He uploaded a video accompanying the social media postings showing the fountain in operation and commenting, "the last time we see the fountain empty of water".

Omonia Square forms the centre of Omonia and marks the northern corner of the downtown area defined by the city plans of the 19th century. It is one of the city’s principal traffic hubs and is served by Omonia train station.

This famous spot is one of the oldest squares in the Greek capital located at the center of the city at the intersection of six main streets: Panepistimiou, Stadiou, Athinas, Peiraios, Agiou Konstantinou, and 3rd Septemvriou.

Reconstruction included reinstalling the fountain at the center of the square in honour of the iconic landmark that has been there from its redesign in the late 1950s to the early 1990s.

New hotels are also set to open on Pireos and Stadiou streets, as the historic Bageion and Alexandros hotels are will reopen. The four-story Bageion Hotel, on the corner of Athinas Street, was constructed between 1890 and 1894 based on plans by the architect Ernst Ziller.

The municipality is also creating a seating area and repairing the square’s waterproofing system and upgrading its drainage infrastructure.