Greece's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Could you name all 18?
Hi, and welcome to the latest of our email mini-magazines. If this is the first one you’ve seen, then…
UNESCO on Crete
A few days ago I added a new page to our website, about the four UNESCO sites on Crete. These aren’t World Heritage Sites but two Global Geoparks and two Biosphere Reserves. All four involve mountain ranges, and offer some protection to the landscape.
Greece’s World Heritage Sites
This set me thinking, wondering how many UNESCO World Heritage Sites there are in the whole of Greece. A quick look at the UNESCO website told me that there are 18 of them. Reading down the list made me appreciate how lucky I’ve been to have seen almost all of them, in my years of travel around Greece. I’ll have to put Patmos and Chios on my travel plans for this year!
Bassae
The first to be included on the list, which began in 1978, was the remarkable Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (or Vassae). This was added in 1986. It’s in a remote spot in the Peloponnese, and I was fortunate enough to see it while researching a guidebook to Mainland Greece. It’s covered in a huge canopy to protect it during restoration work, but you can peek inside it.
The Acropolis
The Acropolis in Athens was added to the list in 1987. Read more about it here. I’ll never forget my first visit to Athens, and to the Acropolis. I had lunch with a friend at a taverna in the back streets of the Plaka. When we left we asked the owner how to get to the Acropolis, which isn’t straightforward if you come from the Plaka side.
He gave us directions, and then said, with a laugh: ‘I must go and visit it myself some time. I’ve never been!’
Delphi
Delphi was also added to UNESCO’s list in 1987. Read our page about Delphi here. Nor will I ever forget my first visit to Delphi, on the same research trip when I visited Bassae. I’m sure no-one ever forgets that, and the magnificent views all around. No wonder the Ancient Greeks thought it was the centre of the universe. I stayed in the nearby mountain town of Arachova, rather than in Delphi itself, and I highly recommend it.
Medieval City of Rhodes
This was added in 1988, along with Meteora, Epidavros, Mount Athos, and the Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki. On our website we have a Walk In the Old Town of Rhodes, which you can download as a PDF to print out.
Mystras and Olympia
These were both added in 1989.
Delos and Chios
In 1990 it was the turn of Delos and the monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni on Chios to join Greece’s ever-growing list of World Heritage Sites.
Samos
In 1992 UNESCO recognised the ancient sites of Pythagoreion and Heraion on Samos.
Vergina
In 1996 the Archaeological Site and Royal Tombs at Vergina joined the list.
Patmos, Mycenae, and Tiryns
1999 saw three more places in Greece added to UNESCO’s list. They were the archaeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns, along with the Historic Centre (Chorá), the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian, and the Cave of the Apocalypse all on Patmos.
Old Town of Corfu
2007 was the year that the lovely Old Town of Corfu was added to UNESCO’s list. Anyone who’s spent time wandering round its streets will understand that. As with Rhodes Old Town, we’ve devised a Walk in Old Corfu Town that you can download from our website.
Philippi
The most recent addition to UNESCO’s list in Greece was in 2016, when the archaeological site of Philippi was included.
That’s quite a gap since the last UNESCO World Heritage Site listing. I’m surprised somewhere like Knossos on Crete isn’t on the list yet. So where will the next one be? If you’ve any suggestions, put them in the comments.
Thanks for reading, and receiving our mini-magazine, with a different Greek topic each week. Till next time…
Mike and Donna