At the Athens City Hall, in February 1966, the first public discussion took place on a controversial urban planning issue, a process unprecedented for that time. Its subject: the problematic future of the old city, known as Plaka. 

Two conflicting perspectives - preservation and protection of the historic neighborhood or alienation and demolition for excavations - emerged as irreconcilable. The then authorities of Athenian thought, urban planners, archaeologists, aestheticians, as well as residents of the area, presented their views. The renowned researcher of the urban development of Athens, professor, architect-urban planner Alexandros Papageorgiou-Venetis, brings to light for the first time the extensive unpublished proceedings of that historic discussion, in which he himself participated as a session chair, along with an introduction and comments, as well as rare illustrative material. Thus, a forgotten debate and consultation are highlighted, at a crucial moment in the history of Plaka, a decade before its successful rescue intervention, offering us an exploration of the identity and unique entity of Athens.