The Greek Ministry of Culture is restoring the watermill at the archaeological site of Gortyn to function as an open museum, part of broader restoration efforts for the Roman complex and visitor infrastructure.
The Ministry of Culture in Greece is undertaking the restoration of a historic watermill located at the archaeological site of Gortyn, aiming to revitalize it as an open museum. This initiative is being coordinated by the relevant Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion and is part of a larger program to restore and promote the Roman theater complex and improve visitor access and infrastructure.
The restoration project is funded through the Regional Operational Program "Crete" from the National Strategic Reference Framework 2021-2027, signifying a commitment to preserving Greece's cultural heritage while enhancing the tourist experience. The project's primary goal is to ensure the sustainability of the monuments and to make them more accessible for all visitors, highlighting the importance of historical sites in contemporary society.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni emphasized that the restoration aligns with the broader mission of maintaining, promoting, and increasing the infrastructure of archaeological sites. By converting the watermill into an open museum dedicated to pre-industrial heritage, the project aims to present historical artifacts both from written sources and oral traditions, thereby enriching the cultural narrative and fostering greater public engagement with Greece's rich historical landscape.
