The restoration project, with a budget of 6,800,000 euros, is scheduled for completion at the end of 2023
An autopsy on emblematic restoration projects in the city of Larissa was carried out by the Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni. In the Larissa Regional Unit, the Ministry implements projects with a total budget of 13,500,000 euros, with the restoration of the Ancient Theater and its performance in the local community as a cultural resource with significant added value for the city and more broadly for Thessaly, being a priority.
Regarding the progress of the restoration works at the Ancient Theater of Larissa, Lina Mendoni said: “We are once again here because we want to closely monitor the restoration process of the Ancient Theater. It was a project, which for many years was almost a vision for the city. With system and persistence, this vision has slowly become a reality, thanks to the close cooperation of the Region of Thessaly, the Ministry of Culture and the diligent effort of the competent Ephorate of Antiquities. The project is at an extremely good point and progressing according to the schedule. From what was almost a ruin in the center of the city, it has now acquired its geometry, is being restored according to the principles of science and ethics, and soon the monument along with its history will be attributed to the city. It is our aim that the monuments be attributed to the citizens because we believe that beyond the care of the Archaeological Service and the provision of the legislation, they are protected when the citizens love and respect them».
The Regional Governor of Thessaly, Kostas Agorastos, said: “For the first time, the restoration of the Ancient Theater is approached holistically and with a specific timetable for the execution of the works. The Ministry of Culture and the Region cooperate with consistency, responsibility and schedule. We believe that culture is a profound developmental tool. We are changing Larissa and giving the world monuments in which people’s desires penetrate, and this is the greatness of cooperation.”
The restoration project of the Ancient Theater of Larissa, with a budget of 6,800,000 euros, has a completion schedule of the end of 2023. After the completion of the support works and the installation of the scattered seats, the works are at the stage of the gradual installation of the new seats and the restoration of the scene.
Lina Mendoni also mentioned that the Ancient Theater is not the only monument in the planning of the Ministry as the strategy of the Ministry and the Region is to highlight important monuments of the city that represent all periods of time, such as Bezesteni, Geni Mosque, the Synagogue, Agios Nikolaos, in which restoration and enhancement operations are underway. Especially for Bezesteni, Lina Mendoni said: “Bezesteni is one of the set of monuments that document the long history of Larissa. With the important finds that came to light, Bezesteni was historically enriched. At the same time, it is an excellent example that the antiquities that are revealed in the context of a project, are not an inhibiting factor. When there is good cooperation, they can provide significant added value. Bezesteni together with the Ancient Theater, the surrounding interventions that have been made and those that are planned, Larissa acquires an extremely important cultural pole, which at the same time an extremely dynamic development resource».
In her autopsy at the monuments of the city of Larissa, the Minister of Culture and Sports was accompanied by the Regional Governor of Thessaly, Kostas Agorastos, the Deputy Mayor of Larissa, Deputy Mayor Giorgos Soultis, the MP of Larissa Stella Biziou, the head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Larissa Stavroula Sdrolia, officials of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Larisa and the Region of Thessaly, as well as officials of the Ministry of Antiquities.
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