The historic fountain in Syntagma Square, long considered the centerpiece of central Athens and a popular meeting point, has been restored and is once again flowing after weeks of conservation work. The project marks the first scientific restoration of the landmark in its 153-year history.

Unveiled in 1872, the marble fountain was designed by German-born architect Ernst Ziller, a leading figure in Athens’ 19th-century urban planning. Thousands of residents and visitors pass by daily, with many tourists pausing for photographs, though few notice the inscription at its base: “Municipality of Athens 1872.”

The restoration was carried out by specialized conservators and marble craftsmen, overseen by the Athens municipality. According to Mayor Haris Doukas, the project required “surgical precision” to clean, stabilize, and protect the fountain. “We return to citizens and visitors a historic monument in the heart of Athens, restored with professionalism and respect for its history,” he said.

The works included cleaning and repairing marble surfaces, filling cracks, securing fragmented sections, and protecting the structure with anti-graffiti coating. One of the most challenging tasks was removing a hardened black crust that had formed on the fountain’s outer basin due to past treatments and environmental exposure.

Although unofficial maintenance had been attempted in the past, this was the first documented conservation of the fountain as a protected modern monument. The project followed a detailed study by Greece’s Ministry of Culture, carried out after months of debate over whether the city or the ministry bore responsibility for the restoration.

Today, the fountain stands once again as a restored symbol of the Greek capital, linking modern Athens to its 19th-century past.