The Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Athens and the Academy of Athens on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement that paves the way for a radical overhaul of Akadimia Platonos, a 135,000-square meter recreational park and archaeological site in western Athens that was the site of Plato’s Academy.

Once the revamp is complete, the area will also host a museum. Much of the expanse belongs to the Academy of Athens thanks to a donation by architect Panagiotis Aristofron, who began buying up buildings in the area – one of the poorest parts of Athens – in 1929 to demolish them and allow the excavation of the academy founded by Plato around 387 BC and which was attended, among others, by Aristotle.

This article was previously published at ekathimerini.com.