Culture Ministry Announces Expansion of Rhodes’ Medieval City

The Medieval City of Rhodes, which includes the highly visited Palace of the Grand Master, will be extended by 18,000m2 as part of Greek Culture Ministry efforts to protect and showcase the site.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni announced the news during her recent visit to the island. The ministry, she said, will be allocating 4.5 million euros in RRF funds for restoration and upgrade works which will focus on creating “a wider, timeless archaeological site and connecting monuments to each other through a documented, pleasant and educational route”.

The minister underlined the importance of the Medieval Town, which is an UNESCO World Heritage site, adding that as a major attraction it offers comparative advantages to Rhodes, the Dodecanese Islands and Greece.

“The unified project concerns an ​​18,000m2 area in the heart of the Medieval City, which preserves archaeological remnants dating back thousands of years and which are still cut off from the city. The project through mild interventions highlights the archaeological and historical importance of the site, protecting the individual monuments and enhancing the understanding of the island’s history,” said Mendoni.

The project will be expanded into five levels and will include Hellenistic and Roman era finds, ancient ports and streets, restored medieval buildings, such as Zecca: The Mint, the Grand Master’s Palace (Castello), and the Governor’s Garden.

The ministry is aiming to create a new archaeological site in the heart of the historic center of the Medieval City, where visitors will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the island’s history from ancient times to the present day, the ministry said, adding that the area will be accessible to people with disabilities.