Three projects at Ancient Olympia — restoration of the Roman Octagon ("House of Nero"), the third excavation phase of the Gymnasium, and stabilisation of the Treasuries’ retaining wall on Mount Kronion — are under way as part of a multi-year plan to protect and open more of the site.
Three linked projects with a combined budget of about €4 million have begun at Ancient Olympia.
Work focuses on the Roman Octagon (the so-called House of Nero), the Gymnasium’s third excavation phase, and stabilising the Treasuries’ retaining wall at Mount Kronion.
Interventions combine archaeological conservation (partial masonry and vault reconstruction, mosaic protection) with new visitor routes, shelters, and landscaping to improve access while protecting original material.
# What's happening now Olympia. About €4 million finances three projects that are already under way: the restoration and showcasing of the Roman Octagon (the so-called "House of Nero"), the third phase of excavation and presentation of the Gymnasium, and protection and restoration of the retaining wall for the Treasuries of Mount Kronion.
# Why these projects The stated aim is to protect, restore, and display monuments while expanding the area open to visitors and upgrading the visitor experience. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni framed the work as part of a comprehensive, long-term plan for Ancient Olympia following recent completions and openings of other restored monuments on the site.
# The Roman Octagon / "House of Nero"
Project activities listed for this monument include:
Surviving material to be conserved includes architectural members, marble slabs, a stone foot basin, and ceramic elements tied to hypocausts and conduits.
# Gymnasium: third excavation and showcasing phase The Gymnasium project advances excavation and presentation work already in progress. The new phase aims to reveal additional structural elements and to integrate them into the visitor route. Work will focus on archaeological excavation methods and measures to stabilise and interpret newly exposed remains for public viewing.
# Treasuries of Mount Kronion: retaining wall protection The third project addresses the retaining wall that supports the Treasuries on Mount Kronion. Conservation and stabilisation work has begun to protect the built fabric and prevent future collapse or damage that could threaten both the Treasuries and the terraces below.
# Visitor access and services The Ministry says the programme does more than conserve monuments. Recent work on the site already opened the Early Christian basilica (Workshop of Pheidias), the complex of the Southern Baths, and the Baths of the Leonidaion. Alongside the conservation projects, authorities have upgraded visitor accessibility and on-site infrastructure and developed advanced digital services, including tools for people with hearing and visual impairments.
# What to expect on site Visitors should see a phased opening of newly conserved areas accompanied by defined visitor routes, protective shelters over sensitive surfaces like mosaics, and landscaped approaches. Interventions are designed to provide immediate protection while allowing future conservation work and research.
# Bottom line The current €4 million phase at Ancient Olympia follows earlier restorations and aims to extend public access to additional monuments while applying targeted conservation measures. Work balances archaeological preservation with practical visitor access and service upgrades that have already started to be implemented across the site.
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