Mejoras de acceso en el centro histórico de Atenas y la Acrópolis. Pasos hacia un destino turístico accesible

Abstract

The City of Athens has made great improvements to the accessibility of its historic, cultural centre in the past ten years. This development was largely prompted by the need to make the city accessible for the athletes and spectators attending the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2004. This paper presents key improvements in public transport, in public spaces including a 5 km. accessible pedestrian route joining the archaeological sites and access to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum. The so called “unification programme”, which began in 2001, aimed to restore the historic continuity of the city, and to create poles of attraction for its residents, also providing a better quality of life in an overall space with upgraded environment and functions,
highlighting the historic face of Athens. The new Metro, train and tram lines, all of which are accessible for people with mobility and sensory impairments, and the pedestrian routes linking the cultural sites have given wider benefi ts to the city as a tourist destination by stimulating greater use of the sites and the central area of the city by both tourists and locals alike. In conclusion, it is shown that by paying attention to the accessibility of archaeological and historical monuments, cities can develop in a more sustainable way, creating
new opportunities for tourism and improving the quality of life for residents.

Keywords:

Greece, Athens, tourism, destination, archaeological sites, culture, heritage, historical monuments, Acropolis, museum, accessibility, urban planning, design, pedestrians, pedestrian route, disabilities, public transport, social media, business, quality of life