Dikastirion Square, one of the historic landmarks of central Athens, has been given a renewed identity following a major refurbishment project carried out by the City of Athens with the support of Visa.
Located on Panepistimiou Street between Arsaki and Santaroza Streets, the square has undergone extensive restoration and landscaping works aimed at restoring its role as an active public space within the city centre. The intervention forms part of the “Visa for Athens” initiative, a collaboration between the City of Athens and Visa focused on projects that improve urban life and public infrastructure.
Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas described the project as an important step towards reconnecting the square with the everyday life of the city.
“Dikastirion Square, a landmark in the city centre, is returning to the map of everyday life in Athens,” he said. “For decades, it was linked with public life, democratic expression and the movement of the city itself. Yet for many years it remained neglected. With the valuable support of Visa, we moved forward with the substantial restoration of the square, demonstrating how partnerships with a social impact can create real value for the city.”
Antony Cahill, CEO and Regional President of Visa Europe, highlighted the broader social dimension of the collaboration.
“Visa supports seamless and secure transactions every day for citizens and businesses,” he noted. “Through our partnership with the City of Athens, we are turning our commitment into action by supporting local commerce, improving accessibility and enhancing the daily experience of both residents and visitors.”
The works completed at Dikastirion Square included the replacement of damaged marble steps and paving, restoration of planters, cleaning and maintenance of marble benches and monuments, as well as anti graffiti protection for the bronze statue of Alekos Panagoulis by Achilleas Vasileiou and the sculpture “Nike IV” by Kyriakos Kabadakis.
The project also introduced significant planting and environmental improvements, including the installation of an automatic irrigation system, lawn seeding and the planting of 18 new trees, 17 shrubs and 300 flowering succulent plants provided by the City of Athens Green Directorate.
The refurbishment is part of the municipality’s wider strategy to upgrade squares, parks and public spaces across Athens. Previous projects implemented through the “Visa for Athens” programme have included the creation and renovation of playgrounds, alongside improvements to school and nursery facilities throughout the city.
