The way is paving the way for the major project to improve accessibility and upgrade infrastructure at the Dikteon Cave in Lassithi, where according to mythology Zeus was born, with the signing of the contract for the reinforcement of rocky slopes of the Cave with a completion date of January 2025.
Dikteon Cave is one of the most beautiful, important archaeological sites in Crete and attracts a large number of visitors. Over the years, however, exposure to the weather and years of tourist exploitation, the cave has suffered extensive damage that now needs restoration.
For this reason, projects and interventions were deemed necessary and were included in the Recovery and Resilience Fund of the Ministry of Culture, with a budget of 15,968,714.72 euros.
In fact, on 8 March, in the direction of the implementation of the major project, two additional programmatic contracts were signed in the Region of Crete, in the presence of the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, which concern, among other things, the design and construction of the anavatory, the landscaping of Europa Square, with the creation of a new parking area, the restoration of the access paths to the Dikteon Cave and the execution of rock stabilization works and lighting within the cave.
“With the signing of the contract, a project of high social importance for Lassithi is now on track for implementation.
The creation of a cable car on the eastern side of Dikteon Cave and the restoration of the monument, is a project included in the Recovery and Resilience Fund with a budget of 15.3 million euros , implemented through a contract, which includes work to upgrade the cultural area, the redevelopment of the square Europe and the restoration of the paths of the Cave.
The completion of the cable car is part of the wider policy of the Government and the Ministry of Culture for smooth accessibility for all citizens to the country’s cultural heritage sites.
At the same time, it will contribute decisively to the upgrading of infrastructure and the quality of services of the archaeological site, highlighting an important cultural point and creating a resource for the development of the wider region,” said Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni.
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The Mayor of the Lassithi Plateau, Mr. George Athanasakis expressed his satisfaction that after setbacks and a real risk of losing the funding of the project, finally, it found its way.
He thanked everyone and promised that the Municipality will ensure that not an hour is lost so that, within the prescribed times, the improvement of accessibility and the upgrading of infrastructure in Dikteon Cave.
“The place is in need of interventions that will upgrade the cultural and tourist wealth, for the benefit not only of the Municipality of the Plateau but of the entire Lassithi,” he stressed.
