Greek World Heritage sites Delos and Daphni to get restoration funding

The site of Delos island and the Byzantine church of Daphni, both World Heritage Sites, will be provided with funding under the EU's NSRF funds for 2014-2020, phase 2, the Finance Ministry said on its web page.

Aerial view of Delos [Credit: Oak Taylor Smith/ΝΕΟΝ]

Delos will be granted 4.5 million euros from public funds to restore antiquities and the museum complex, create visitor walkways, and produce information brochures, among others. The site has been inhabited at least since 2,500 BC.

The Daphni monastery church, built in the 11th century AD northwest of Athens, will receive 1.2 million euros to strip later additions, restore the surrounding area, prepare information brochures and hold a one-day conference to present the project.

General view of the Daphni Monastery [Credit: The Athens Key]

A total of 13 million has been set aside for the protection and promotion of important antiquities listed by UNESCO, under the NSFR phase 2 program.

The Finance Ministry said the monuments listed by the UN's cultural organisation "play an emblematic role in the value of Greek tourism because of their global recognition" and help the development of their surrounding areas through tourism.

Source: ANA-MPA [June 11, 2019]