Strengthening Cultural Heritage in Greece’s Border Islands
The new Diachronic Archaeological Museum of Agathonisi was officially inaugurated in a ceremony attended by President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas and Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni. It is the 33rd new or fully renovated museum delivered by the Ministry of Culture since 2019, reinforcing the state’s commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage in Greece’s remote Aegean islands.
Minister Mendoni described the project as an investment in history, culture and the sustainable development of Greece’s border regions. She noted that planning began in 2013 alongside excavations at the Kastraki archaeological site, while the museum’s completion was made possible through funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Located within the Kastraki archaeological site, next to a 4th-century BC fortress, the museum presents the island’s history from the 3rd millennium BC to the present day. Its permanent exhibition features archaeological finds, multimedia displays and interactive exhibits highlighting ancient fortifications, daily life, trade, religious practices, the Byzantine era and Agathonisi’s modern history.
With a total budget exceeding €2.8 million, funded through the INTERREG Greece–Cyprus programme, the National Development Programme and the Recovery Fund, the new museum is expected to become a major cultural, educational and tourism landmark for Agathonisi and the wider Dodecanese region.
