Cart 0
A different, more welcoming and functional appearance will be given to the archaeological site of Knossos in the coming years through a series of restoration and enhancement projects. Among the significant interventions is the redesign of the entrance to this important archaeological site, which is the second most visited in Greece, after the Acropolis.
According to the relevant studies, the current area where tickets are checked, and the path that begins and ends the tour, will be maintained along with the visitor movement route within the Palace. However, the entire area will be redesigned, from the southern boundary of the large parking lot (north of the “Royal Road”) to the employee parking area in the south, and from the access road (west) to the starting point of the tour. A new, larger plaza will be created at the entrance area, separating the flow of incoming and outgoing visitors, and three new ground-level service buildings will be constructed in two phases. The pedestrian walkway from the northern parking lot to the entrance area, which passes alongside the edge of the underlying “Royal Road,” will be widened.
The project, set to be completed in two phases by 2030 with a total budget of €3.5 million, aims to make the site more accessible to visitors with sustainable, durable, and energy-efficient infrastructure, while respecting the historical significance of the area.
The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated: “The promotion of the Minoan Palace of Knossos – and five other palace complexes of the same era – is a priority for the Ministry of Culture. The Minoan Palaces are Greece’s candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025.” She added: “With the aim of integrating the Minoan Palaces into a cultural route that highlights and assimilates the developmental potential of this unique heritage, we have designed a series of interventions to restore and showcase these unique architectural ensembles. At the Palace of Knossos, restoration work is underway on significant monuments of the archaeological site, along with projects to improve the tour experience and accessibility. This study is part of an overall project to reorganize the archaeological site and the broader urban area, aiming to resolve functional and aesthetic issues related to visitor flow, movement, and services. Our goal is the comprehensive redesign of the wider area and the enhancement of the visitor experience in line with the archaeological and historical value of this palace. I would like to thank the Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, and the relevant regional services for their close and highly constructive collaboration in shaping the Integrated Spatial Investment of the Minoan Palaces and including it in the actions planned for funding under the Regional Operational Program of Crete – NSRF 2021-2027.”
