While in Sparta—to attend the unveiling of conservation and enhancement projects and museum exhibitions at the Palace of the Despots in the Castle Town of Mystras—Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni conducted on-site inspections the ongoing projects being implemented by the Ministry of Culture’s departments in Sparta.

Lina Mendoni visited the ancient theater of Sparta, the archaeological site of the Sanctuary of Apollo Amyclaeus, the Old Archaeological Museum, and the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia.

The first phase of restoration work on the ancient theater of Sparta, located on the southern slope of the ancient acropolis hill and facing the Eurotas Valley and the modern city, was recently completed. The monument stands out for its size—the diameter of the cavea is 114 meters—as well as for the quality of its construction using grayish Taygetos marble. The project, with a total budget of 1,600,000 euros from the Regional Operational Program “Peloponnese” -NSRF 2014-2020, concerns the protection, restoration, and enhancement of the lower section of the cavea and the orchestra of the ancient theater. Structural and morphological restoration and reconstruction work was carried out on the first three rows of seats in all the tiers. At the same time, earthworks and excavation cleanups were carried out to locate and uncover the monument and the Byzantine structures that occupied its lower section. A fully functional stormwater drainage system was installed, featuring two open flow-control ditches, which also utilized the restored sandbar, ensuring the preservation of its ancient drainage path. This system performed flawlessly during the severe weather events of last winter.

Lina Mendoni asked the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia to work closely with the Directorate of Restoration of Ancient Monuments of the Ministry of Culture in order to set the process in motion for the preparation of the next phase. Given the monument’s complexity and the site’s use during the Byzantine era, a comprehensive and robust research program is required to determine the next steps in the monument’s restoration. The program is funded by the Ministry of Culture.

The Minister then visited the hill of Agia Kyriaki in Amykla, where one of the most important Spartan sanctuaries, that of Amyclian Apollo, has been excavated in a prominent location in the Eurotas River valley. The project to restore the sanctuary site, with a total budget of 530,000 euros funded by the “Peloponnese” Regional Operational Program (ROP) – NSRF 2014-2020, was carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia. The enhancement of the site has created a clearly identifiable archaeological complex. Excavations, backfilling, clearing, and cleaning were carried out, along with protective measures that included minor stabilizations, grouting, and shoring. At the same time, the modern church of Agia Kyriaki underwent aesthetic restoration.

The entrance area was redesigned to include visitor services, and walking paths, viewing platforms, and information signs were added, while outdoor exhibitions of architectural works were also organized. The site is fully accessible to people with mobility impairments and people with disabilities.

Next, Lina Mendoni visited the ongoing project at the Old Archaeological Museum of Sparta, the first museum institution established outside Athens in 1875. The Minister was briefed on the temporary shoring work required for the Museum’s underground expansion. The work, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture’s Directorate of Museum Studies and Projects, will be completed within the coming weeks and is funded with 713,000 euros from the Ministry of Culture’s National Development Program. The project to expand the Museum—from 360 square meters to 1,090 square meters—is supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation through an active Grant Agreement in the amount of 4,550,000 euros. It should be noted that the restoration of the Old Museum building has just been included in the “DIATERO Public Sector Buildings” program – NSRF 2021-2027, with a budget of €5,150,000 and the Ministry of Culture and Sports as the implementing agency.

The new architectural approach calls for the creation of two new underground exhibition halls with artificial lighting, the installation of modern support infrastructure, and the functional revitalization of the listed garden-sculpture gallery. In this way, all subsequent unauthorized alterations are removed, highlighting the authentic monumental character of the neoclassical building. The new permanent exhibition is enhanced with interactive digital media, transforming the Old Museum into a contemporary museum and an international attraction. As Lina Mendoni emphasized, “the infrastructure will operate in complete harmony and synergy with the other major projects in Laconia, establishing a model for sustainable development for the entire Region.”

Finally, the Minister visited the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, one of the most important and recognizable religious centers of ancient Sparta. This archaic sanctuary played a central role in the Spartan state, as it constituted the very heart of the famous Spartan education of the youth. Given the monument’s exceptional historical and archaeological value for the ancient world, Lina Mendoni issued clear instructions to the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia for the immediate cleaning and complete restoration of the archaeological site, work that is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of summer. Furthermore, with the aim of substantially improving the site’s visibility and seamlessly integrating the monument into the broader tourist routes of ancient Sparta, the Minister asked the competent Ephorate to immediately proceed with the drafting and installation of modern informational signs and comprehensive information systems.

The Minister of Culture was accompanied by the Mayor of Sparta, Michalis Vakalopoulos; the Deputy Regional Governor of Laconia, Theodoros Veroutis; the Deputy Regional Governor for Spatial Planning and Real Estate Management, Spyros Tzinieris; the President of the Sparta City Council, Stefanos Vrettakos; the General Director of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, Olympia Vikatos; the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia, Evangelia Pantou; and officials from the Ministry of Culture and Sports.