Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Pervola in Rhodes, which was returned to the public after 75 years, highlighting culture as a driver of development.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the archaeological site of Pervola in the Medieval City of Rhodes, on the occasion of its reopening to the public after 75 years during which it remained essentially closed. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and the Regional Governor of the South Aegean, George Hatzimarkos, while the tour was led by the General Director of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage Olympia Vikatos and the Dodecanese Ephorate of Antiquities Eleni Farmakidou.
From the Neoria to the Palace of the Grand Master
The site, covering approximately 20 acres, includes the Hellenistic Neoria and the Roman Tetrapylon and, following restoration and enhancement work, connects to the Medieval Gardens of the Palace of the Grand Master, creating a unified route that highlights the timeless history of Rhodes from antiquity to the modern era.
Earlier, the prime minister visited the cemetery and the Murat Reis Mosque</, which have also been restored as part of the efforts to highlight the Medieval City.
“All historical periods coexist in Pervola”
In his remarks, Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted that for decades, both residents and visitors to Rhodes were unaware of the site’s existence, as it had been turned into a dumping ground for antiquities. As he emphasized, through an initiative of the Ministry of Culture and funding from the Recovery Fund, the archaeological site is now being opened to the public and visitors to the island.
The Prime Minister emphasized that in Pervola all the historical periods and civilizations that shaped the identity of Rhodes coexist, while also congratulating the Ministry of Culture’s departments on the project’s completion. He even invited the people of Rhodes to discover a place that had remained unknown for decades.
Cultural heritage – A Development Tool for Rhodes
The Prime Minister placed particular emphasis on the role of cultural heritage as a development tool, noting that its protection and promotion is not only an obligation to the past but also an investment in the future. At the same time, he referred to the effort to extend the tourism season, emphasizing that strengthening Rhodes’ cultural heritage can attract visitors throughout the year.
For her part, Lina Mendoni described the day “a day of joy and celebration” for Rhodes and the Ministry of Culture, noting that Kyriakos Mitsotakis was the first visitor to the new archaeological site. As she noted, Pervola reflects the long historical continuity of Rhodes, from the Hellenistic Neoria and the Roman road network to the medieval fortifications, the Ottoman buildings, and the more recent monuments.
George Hatzimarkos described Pervola a “gateway to memory and history,” as well as a point connecting the past with the future, describing it as one of the most vibrant and comprehensive walks through the history of Rhodes. At the same time, he thanked those who contributed to the revitalization of the site, emphasizing that “they restored the soul of the place.”
