The special cultural and developmental importance of projects to upgrade Thermopylaewith the consolidation and highlighting of the points of exceptional archaeological and historical interest, which the YPPOA is starting in collaboration with the Municipality of Lamia, the Minister of Culture and Sports emphasized yesterday Saturday, Lina Mendoniin her speech at the Thermopylae Forum 2023 Conference “Society and Culture at the Center of Regional Development”, as informed by today’s announcement of the Ministry of the Interior.

“The project “Utilization of the area of ​​the Panhellenic Exhibition of Lamia and regeneration – promotion of the archaeological site of Thermopylae” has already been included in the Recovery Fund, with the implementing body the Local Government Development Organization “AMFIKTYONIES SA” and a total budget of 21,000,000 euros. This project includes two interventions, with a total budget of 2,300,000 euros, related to archaeological works and works of reconstruction and promotion of the archaeological site of Thermopylae”, said the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni, among others.

According to the same “the first intervention has as its object the fixing and restoration of the “wall of the Phocaeans” mentioned by Herodotus. The wall, which was built in the 6th c. e.g. by the Phocaeans in the context of the Holy Wars to stop the Thessalians, which became known in history, as it was used by the Spartans during the battle of Thermopylae to defend against the Persians. The remains of this historic wall, near the “Column” hill, where the final phase of the heroic battle took place, are today difficult to recognize and not accessible to the public. This is expected to change following the planned fixing, filling, restoration and informational signage interventions.”

“Our second intervention”, continued the minister, “aims at the unification of the archaeological site of Thermopylae and at highlighting and facilitating the visitation of the individual points of interest through a network of walking paths and stopping, viewing and information areas, which will connect the area of ​​the battlefield, the height of the “Column” and the wall of Phokea and the buildings of the Ministry of Defense with the modern hero of Leonidas, the parking area and the adjacent Thermopylae Historical Information Center. Additional landscaping, lighting and phytotechnical configuration of the area, construction of a road junction and traffic regulation are foreseen. All of the above are in direct continuity and relevance with the project of upgrading the Historical Information Center of Thermopylae, which has been designed by the Municipality and concerns both the building facilities and the surrounding area, as well as the museographic and museological infrastructure and configuration of the exhibition spaces and lecture halls and educational programs”, added L. Mendoni, among others.

He also mentioned that in the Region of Central Greece, within the framework of the cooperation of the Ministry of Education and Culture with the Region, projects with a total budget of 6,000,000 euros have already been completed, projects of more than 43,000,000 euros are underway, while projects are being planned and matured for future implementation an additional 25,500,000 euros.