Unfortunately, this workshop was a major disappointment for our entire group and did not match what was advertised on Viator. We booked the workshop well in advance and, through Viator, agreed with the organizer to change the start time from 7:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This change was confirmed several times by the organizer. However, when we arrived, it became clear that they had forgotten about our group and still had us scheduled for 7:00 PM. Only after our Greek tour guide spoke directly with the organizers was the situation resolved, causing an unnecessary delay that negatively affected the rest of our day's program. The workshop itself was another disappointment. Although it is advertised as a three-hour experience, the actual marble carving lasted only about one hour. Before that, there was a short introduction about creativity, and we were encouraged to express ourselves freely. In the end, however, everyone was given the same paper template to follow, so there was very little room for creativity. The biggest difference between the advertisement and reality was the final result. The photos on the Viator listing suggest that participants will create beautiful, detailed marble artwork. Unfortunately, the reality was completely different. Every participant ended up with a very simple piece that looked nothing like the examples shown in the promotional photos. The workshop felt more like a basic craft activity for children than an art experience designed for adults. Considering the price of nearly €80 per person, we believe the value for money was very poor. We expected a much higher-quality experience. This is not just the opinion of one person. All 12 participants in our group shared the same disappointment. We are sorry that the actual experience and the quality of the workshop did not match what was advertised. For that reason, we unfortunately cannot recommend this experience.
Dear Pavla, We are sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations. However, we consider it important to clarify certain facts that accurately reflect what happened, in order to provide future visitors with a more complete understanding. Indeed, on the day of the private workshop, an unforeseen technical issue occurred due to the extreme weather conditions (heatwave), which caused a short delay of approximately 15 minutes before the start of the activity. Your group was informed immediately, agreed to proceed with the workshop, and the experience continued as planned. As a gesture of goodwill, we offered all participants complimentary refreshments, bottled water, and traditional Greek souvenir gifts. We would also like to clarify that our experience is not advertised as a three-hour workshop, but as an activity lasting approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Your private workshop lasted significantly longer than the advertised duration. Furthermore, your review states that 12 participants took part in the workshop. In reality, your group consisted of 8 participants, who received continuous guidance and support from 4 instructors — meaning one instructor for every two visitors. Regarding the photographs displayed in our listing, they include both moments from the workshop itself and artworks from our museum and gallery collection, including pieces created by experienced sculptors. The purpose of this experience is to introduce beginners to the art of marble carving under professional guidance, and not to reproduce museum-level artworks within a single introductory session. The members of your group participated normally in the private workshop, took photographs with the artworks they created, and left without expressing any dissatisfaction or complaint. Finally, we would like to point out that the review was published after a request for a 50% refund of the total amount had been submitted, eleven days after the completion of the workshop. In closing, we would like to thank you for visiting us. If you visit Athens again in the future, we would be happy to welcome you back to our workshop. This experience is designed as an introduction to marble carving, and it would be our pleasure to guide you through a more advanced project, building upon the techniques you became familiar with during your first participation. We respect every sincere opinion and every constructive review. At the same time, we believe it is equally important that public reviews are based on accurate and verifiable information and facts. Kind regards, The Marble Carving Workshop Team
