Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, head of the echelon of officials of the Ministry of Culture, is on a working visit to Rhodes. In a meeting with the regional governor Giorgos Chatsimarkou and his colleagues at the headquarters of the South Aegean region in Rhodes, to highlight the progress of the iconic projects, the modernization of the castle of the medieval city of Rhodes and the actions taken. Citadel of Lindos. The progress of the culture projects financed by the Regional Operational Program ESPA 2014-2021 of the South Aegean Region and the Recovery Fund managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the projects already funded or to be included. PEP – ESPA of the Aegean region were discussed for 2021-2027.
As mentioned by Mrs. Mendoni.The Aegean Sea is not only a blessed place, but the place that collects a little more than 30% of our country’s monumental fund. This is a huge comparative advantage and at the same time a huge responsibility, because we have to manage it and, above all, pass it on to the next generations with absolute respect for the principles of sustainability. In the southern Aegean islands, the Ministry of Culture is implementing multi-million euro projects, while in the Dodecanese in particular, the cultural sector will additionally absorb more than 50 million euro from the Recovery Fund. In particular, the restoration fund finances the reconstruction of the National Theater of Rhodes, as well as a series of interventions in the medieval city of Rhodes. Among them is the reconstruction of the Pervola site near the Grand Master’s Palace, which will be completed by the end of 2025, when a new archaeological walk covering an area of about 20 acres will open. It is huge in size, it is unimaginable. Therefore, once again I want to thank the governor for all the support and cooperation“. It is noted that the medieval city of Rhodes has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.
Then the minister and the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited the programs implemented in the medieval city of Rhodes. The archaeological site of Pervola, which spans the northern part of the walled medieval city of Rhodes, is in direct contact with the medieval gardens of the Grand Master’s Palace, which opened to the public last June. The museological study plans to organize an exhibition in the area of the ancient youth and the medieval gardens of the Grand Master’s Palace and the creation of an open-air sculpture gallery in the medieval city of Rhodes. Lina Mendoni visited the site of the ancient Neorios, where the records of the finds are recorded and is planned to be moved to free up the area of Neorios and Tetrapylos to emphasize the wider eternal. archaeological site and connect important monuments through a documented recreational learning trail. Mapping of the Cardo Quadrangle has already been completed, while cleanup is ongoing. The Minister has given instructions to speed up all the necessary procedures and adhere to the timelines so that the area can be returned to the local community and visitors to the island by the end of 2025.
It was followed by the autopsy at the Murat Reis Mosque, a complex and symbolic project, in which the works are proceeding according to the schedule. The monument has been closed since 2000. The Murat Reis Mosque, built in 1636 and given its current appearance in 1797, is a very important monument of local Muslim history. At the same time, it is a special example of architecture that combines the characteristics of the Ottoman Baroque era with Egyptian and Neoclassical elements. The eight-acre Murat Reis complex is an international pilgrimage site. which was created in the 17th century, outside the medieval walls, on the sea front, near the administrative center of the city. It includes the tomb of Murat Reis and the mosque of the same name, the spring of purification, the “tekken” (hermitage, dervish hermitage), the guardian’s residence and the cemetery, in which 7 domed tombs (tombs) are distinguished. With the implementation of the project, the static and structural problems of the mosque and tombs are comprehensively solved. In addition, special attention is paid to the design of the surrounding area of the monument. In this context, the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Dodecanese, taking advantage of the program of classification and registration of archaeological materials in Pervola, carries out an exhibition of columns of Ottoman tombs inside the monumental complex. The recording of 400 columns has already been completed, they have been transferred to the website.
Finally, Lina Mendoni visited the Recep Pasha Mosque, built in 1587-78 and a designated historical monument in Dorios Square in medieval Rhodes Town. It is one of the most important monuments of Ottoman architecture on the island. in honor of General Recep Pasha. Restoration works are fully underway at the monument, which includes the discovery, preservation and aesthetic restoration of its design decoration, the removal of fragile coatings inside the dome, and the construction of new ones after sanitizing the background, and if necessary, preservation. restoration of marble elements and their original arrangement. The promotion of the surrounding area includes the exterior configuration of the mosque complex and mausoleum. Plumbing facilities in the back of the mausoleum and storage are also being built.
G. participated in the meeting and the autopsy of the works. Giorgos Didaskalou of Culture, Olympia Vicatos, Director General of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, Dimitris Athanasoulis, Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities, Antonis Voutsinos, Head of the South Aegean Division, and Head of the Dodecanese New Monuments and Technical Works Service. Paraskevi Moraitu and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the district.