Athens’ southern coastal area of Faliro is undergoing a major transformation with the development of the AENAON Mediterranean Park at Faliro Bay. Officially unveiled to the public on November 28, the project was presented during a high-profile ceremony at Plateia Nerou, the popular open-air venue hosting concerts and festivals.
The event was attended by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Attica Region Governor Nikos Hardalias, and other dignitaries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Mitsotakis highlighted the “Athenian paradox,” noting that despite being a coastal city, Athens had been disconnected from its waterfront “for decades.” He described the AENAON park as a transformative “window to the sea,” with the potential to redefine not only the Attica region but the Mediterranean as a whole.
Mitsotakis also framed this “unique destination” adjacent to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation as part of his administration’s vision of a coastal walkway. This future walkway will connect Piraeus, and the southeastern Athenian neighborhood of Voula, extending all the way to the archaeological site of Sounio.
European Commission Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira, who signed off on AENAON, lauded the project as “the biggest urban regeneration project taking place in Athens,” and “an example of excellence of public investment, not just for Greece, but for all of Europe, integrating harmoniously people and nature, citizens and their environment.”
In his speech, Regional Governor of Attica Nikos Hardalias highlighted AENAON as a prime example of urban regeneration projects designed with “sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusivity” in mind. Hardalias also spoke about the “strong symbolism” of the name chosen for the park – “aenaon is what always lives, interacts, the circle of life which never stops.”
Spanning 133.5 acres, the €370 million AENAON park is co-funded by the European Commission through the Cohesion Fund. It will be designed according to New European Bauhaus principles, consist of more than 73% green spaces, feature over 2,800 trees and 352,000 shrubs, walking and cycling paths, sports facilities, pools, and dining and nightlife venues. Popular landmarks such as the Tae Kwon Do complex and Plateia Nerou will be integrated into the AENAON park as well.
Once a beach haven for Athenians, the waterfront fell into disrepair in the 1970s after coastal engineering projects artificially extended the coastline, destroying the area’s natural beaches.
Scheduled for completion in 2028, AENAON will integrate with the nearby redevelopment project of Ellinikon, which is transforming the former Athens airport into a sprawling residential and commercial hub. Together, both of these projects aim to position Athens as a leader in urban renewal and sustainable development in the Mediterranean region.
