New era for the Minoan Palace
Record year was 2024 for her palace Knossouafter visitors exceeded the number of visitors of 2019, which was up to last year. The number of visitors exceeded one million, with the Head of the Heraklion Antiquities Office, Vassiliki Sythiakakis explaining that the palace of Knossos, as the most famous Minoan palace, is still particularly attractive to all visitors to the island.
“I think Knossos is attractive, because it is Knossos! It is clear that if one is on the island and chooses to see a point, this will be the palace of Knossos, “the Head of Heraklion Ephorate of Antiquities told RES-EIA, clarifying that the myth that surrounds it, the way it was found, but also The way it was excavated still “sparking” the interest. So is the restoration work by Evans, who help the visitor to have a more illustrative picture of the palace.
“Perhaps Evans was accused of the restoration work done, but visitors due to these restorations and, unlike other palaces, have the ability to see what the palace was when he stood up. This is also an element that fascinates visitors. “
According to Ms. Sythiakakis, the palace of Knossos chooses to see visitors of all categories every year. From cruise visitors to the island for a few hours, beach visitors who choose to see very specific points, as well as visitors of special interest, who visit Knossos and see the palace as part of their training.
“It is very important that in recent years, very often, we also have school visits not only from Greece but also abroad, in the context of educational excursions. Universities come, scientists, archaeologists from all over the world come, repetitive visitors are coming. In Knossos, we have all kinds of visitor, who often chooses to be in this area for a second or even third time, ”said Vassiliki Sythiakakis.
However, the bet on the part of the site for this year’s season is, according to the Head of Heraklion Antiquities, to operate smoothly, to have no problems and over-conscience, as well as to make a proper management that will leave its visitors satisfied. space. For the Ephorate of Antiquities, the big bet, as Vassiliki Sythiakakis added, is to proceed with a number of projects related to the definitive upgrading of the site, bringing a new era for the Knossos palace.
New era for the palace of Knossos
Speaking to RES-EIA, the Head of Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion, referred to the projects planned to be done in the area, greatly upgrading the services provided and the experience he is experiencing within the Knossos palace, the visitor.
Specifically, he referred to the abolition (already in the fall of 2024) of the old western parking lot and to convert it into a paved and bounded courtyard that will be connected to the northern parking through a bridge to the extension of the current sidewalk of the provincial road so that the visitors can They enter the palace comfortably and safely, without having to go down the road.
“Inside the western courtyard it is foreseen to build new modern buildings, such as tickets, luggage storage, guard spaces, a small clinic and sanitary facilities. In the next stage, the western courtyard will be transferred to the shop and the refreshment room, while the interior will create a space of “multimedia” applications where the visitor will be able to receive information on the site before even entering it, “said Ms. Sythiakakis.
The first phase projects to be funded by the current NSRF are based on a already approved study prepared by the Architectural School of the Technical University of Crete with assignment by the Ministry of Culture. Indeed, according to the Head of the Ephorate, their implementation will begin soon.
“This is a holistic upgrade that will make the visitor friendly and more contemporary in its infrastructure,” she said, adding that at the same time the Ephorate of Antiquities has carried out a series of studies to restore the palace. Indeed, after the restoration of the so -called “King’s Apartment”, work will continue with the restoration of the “Queen’s Apartments”. In addition, there is a promotion of visitor routes, replacing cuts, creating a disabled in the central courtyard, creating a new route to the theater, as well as upgrading of security facilities. “A new era for the palace of Knossos” as Ms. Sythiakakis concluded.
