A CITY in Europe is set to be transformed by a huge £10billion project, with a five-star hotel, marina and a 1km beach being built.
Even though Athens is normally associated with ancient buildings, the city is set to benefit from a huge modern development that’s been likened to Dubai.
The Ellinikon Project is a huge $13billion (£10.2billion) real estate project that’s being built on the site of the former Ellinikon International Airport.
Located 20 minutes from Athens city centre, and 35 minutes from Athens International Airport, the site has been dubbed a “15-minute city” by Lamada Development boss Odisseas Athanasiou.
This is because it will take visitors just a quarter of an hour to walk from one side of the complex to the other.
Dubbed Europe‘s biggest real estate project, The Ellinikon Project will be home to five-star hotels, 8,000 homes, multiple shopping centres, restaurants, a casino, and a marina with moorings for mega-yachts.
Over 300 yachts and boats will be able to dock at the huge marina.
The 620-hectare site will also be home to a long sandy beach that will stretch for an entire kilometre.
There will also be extensive leisure facilities on the site, including a 600-acre public park that will connect the sprawling development to the beach.
The site’s main attraction will be Riviera Tower – the country’s first residential skyscraper, according to local newspaper Neos Kosmos.
Standing at 200m tall, Riviera Tower will be home to 200 apartments that will be spread across 45 floors.
Roughly, 10,000 people, from 78 countries, registered their interest in purchasing a property inside the huge building.
All of the apartments have already been sold, including two penthouse suites.
Visitors will be able to take in panoramic views of the Athenian Riviera and the Acropolis from the 200m tower.
Cars will be banned on the site, with the exception of emergency vehicles.
Instead, the site will instead be served by several public transport routes, including a tramline and two metro stations.
The building work is expected to be completed within the next ten years, with the first phase of the project nearing completion.
Once the construction work is complete, the site is expected to bring in one million tourists each year.
The Ellinikon Project will also help create 85,000 jobs in the city.
Lamda boss Odisseas Athanasiou told Neos Kosmos: “It’s about providing a full life-style solution which sets new global standards. It is destined to become the ‘smartest’ and greenest city in Europe.”
Odisseas previously said: “The Ellinikon will have a transformative effect on both Greece and the world, providing a new benchmark for smart, inspiring indoor and outdoor spaces that excite people, while also significantly advancing sustainability in the places we live, work, and enjoy ourselves for the long term.
“Despite global economic challenges, we are on track with timings and look forward to completing the first phase in 2026.”
Until the huge site eventually opens, there are plenty of other places to visit in Athens, including Anafiotika – a neighbourhood in the Greek capital that’s been likened to Santorini.
Located on the northeastern side of the Acropolis Hill, the picturesque neighbourhood was built during the reign of Otto of Greece in the 19th century.
The island-like houses were built by construction workers from from Anafi – a tiny Cycladic island located near Santorini and Ios.
While Anafiotika has flown under the tourist radar on most travel bucket lists in Athens, several holidaymakers have gone out of their way to visit the tiny village in recent years.
“With its white walls, blue doors, narrow streets, plants everywhere, it really reminds you of a typical Cycladic island.”
There are plenty of Greek islands to visit, including several little-known spots that are free from the crowds.
The little-known area has even been reviewed by holidaymakers on TripAdvisor, with one person saying: “It’s just like being on Santorini!”
If you don’t want to go this far, then a beautiful UK seaside town has been compared to a Greek island.
