The events celebrating the inscription of the Minoan Palatial Centres on the UNESCO World Heritage List continued on Thursday in Knossos in the presence of the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the archaeological site. During her address, Mendoni reiterated that the inscription constitutes “a landmark moment of international recognition for Greek culture,” noting that UNESCO’s decision “confirmed in the most official manner that Minoan civilization forms an integral part of the world’s cultural heritage and the collective memory of humanity.”

As she stated, the Minoan Palatial Centres are “the most emblematic element of the identity of Minoan Civilization,” one of the most important prehistoric civilizations of the Eastern Mediterranean, which “managed to transform Crete’s geographical position into a bridge of communication between peoples and cultures.”

She further emphasized that UNESCO recognized “the authenticity, integrity, and outstanding universal value of the Minoan Palatial Centres,” while highlighting their importance as administrative, economic, and religious centers of the Minoan era, providing “material evidence for the development of early economic systems such as agriculture, livestock farming, and maritime trade.”

During the event at the Palace of Knossos, attended by institutional representatives, local government officials, and a large crowd, the Minister of Culture also made special reference to the obligations arising from inclusion on the World Heritage List, clarifying that it “does not merely constitute an honorary distinction,” but rather represents “the recognition and acceptance of a binding responsibility for the continuous and effective protection” of the monuments.

Within this framework, she announced that projects are beginning at Knossos for the protection and structural reinforcement of the monuments, the modernization of visitor infrastructure, improvements in accessibility, and the upgrading of visitor management. She linked these interventions to Crete’s broader cultural development strategy, noting that the inscription of the Minoan Palaces strengthens the island’s international cultural footprint and creates prospects for “high-quality sustainable tourism development.”

Concluding, Mendoni underlined the universal character of the Minoan monuments, stating that “the Minoan Palatial Centres do not belong only to Greece. They belong to the global community, and for this reason their protection and promotion are a shared responsibility for all of us,” reiterating that close cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, the Region of Crete, and the Municipality of Heraklion is considered essential toward this goal.

She also spoke about the government’s view of culture, noting that the network of projects being implemented or planned “forms part of the strategic choice and applied policy of the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which treats culture not as a luxury, but as a critical strategic resource for development, social cohesion, and the country’s international presence.”