Greece Aiming to Include Knossos on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

Knossos Palace, Crete.

The Region of Crete announced this week that all actions had been taken to include the world-famous archaeological site of Knossos on Crete on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The announcement followed a meeting between Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, Crete Region Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis, Heraklion Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos, and the head of the local archaeological service Vassiliki Sythiakaki for the formulation of an action plan in this direction.

Issues discussed included required interventions to the site’s exterior ahead of an inspection visit by an UNESCO delegation in the fall, the redevelopment and upgrade of surrounding areas of the site and the parking space, as well as the implementation of a new traffic management plan.

Crete Region Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis and Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. Photo source: Region of Crete

Mendoni underlined the importance of the interventions, adding that the surrounding area of Knossos must correspond to the importance of the monument. Knossos, she said, is not only significant for Greece but also an integral part of global cultural heritage.

Arnaoutakis added that the action plan for Knossos can in turn be applied to other Minoan palaces on the island.

Knossos, located near Heraklion, is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. The Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete was a major center of the Minoan civilization.

Last year, Greece welcomed the inclusion of Zagori, to the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it the country’s 19th entry on the list.