The facade of the Parthenon in Greece has been restored to its early 19th-century splendor.

This 2500-year-old temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena and located on a hill overlooking the Greek capital, welcomes more than four million visitors each year.

"Today we are contemplating the west pediment of the Parthenon as we have not seen it for two centuries," said Culture Minister Lina Mendoni in a statement.

"For the first time in about 220 years, the west side of the Parthenon is being presented by the Ministry of Culture in its most complete form possible (...), the spectacle is truly breathtaking," she added.

According to the ministry, a team of archaeologists, engineers and craftsmen used both preserved ancient fragments and new marble to fill gaps and reinforce the west facade of the monument.

According to the same source, the temple is now as close as possible - albeit with replicas of the sculptures - to the state it was in immediately after the removal of about half of its preserved statues, on the orders of Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

London insists that the sculptures, which were later sold by Elgin to the British Museum, were legally acquired, and successive British governments have made it clear that the decision rests with the museum.

The British Museum has long been in negotiations with the Greek authorities to find a way to exhibit the marbles in Athens.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has also repeatedly sought to raise this issue with his British counterparts.

Fragments of sculptures from the Parthenon are also kept at the Louvre Museum in Paris, as well as in Copenhagen, Munich, Vienna and Würzburg.