Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni has highlighted the enduring cultural identity of Amorgos, saying the island’s local traditions and Cycladic way of life have continued from ancient times to the present day.
Mendoni inaugurated the restored “Tholos” and “Kato Lakkos” sites at the Castle of Chora, following restoration works carried out by the Municipality of Amorgos as part of the regeneration of the island’s traditional Byzantine settlement.
Located near the centre of the island, the Castle of Chora stands on a natural rocky peak crowned by the white chapel of Saint George and remains a defining symbol of the town.
The residential core around the northern and eastern sides of the Castle dates back to the early Byzantine period, when Arab raids forced many Aegean island communities to move inland from coastal settlements. The natural rock was later fortified during the Venetian occupation between 1206 and 1537.
Among the few remaining Venetian-era structures are Kato Lakkos and a vaulted arched water cistern dating from the 15th century. After restoration by the Municipality of Amorgos, the cistern has reopened as a publicly accessible monument.
The nearby Tholos, a historic building within the traditional settlement, had remained abandoned for decades. Restoration works have transformed it into a cultural venue for exhibitions and a space dedicated to showcasing traditional island professions that are gradually disappearing.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mendoni praised the cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Amorgos Municipality, saying the island represents a unique example of how environmental conditions, geography and history shaped a distinctive local culture.
“Amorgos demonstrates how these elements have shaped local culture and the Cycladic way of life from the distant past until today,” Mendoni said.
She added that restoring Tholos and Kato Lakkos preserves valuable historical evidence from the late medieval period to modern times, while strengthening the island’s cultural development potential.
Mendoni also announced that the Ministry of Culture will soon complete the agreement process for accepting a property provided by the municipality to establish a diachronic archaeological museum on the island.
The existing archaeological collection has grown significantly in recent years following new discoveries, making the current museum facilities insufficient to house the full range of important finds.
During her visit, Mendoni, accompanied by Cyclades Antiquities Ephorate Director Dimitris Athanasoulis and Conservation Directorate head Maria Mertzani, inspected three important churches in Chora.
The Ministry has completed restoration and conservation work on several important post-Byzantine wooden icon screens and religious artworks, including:
- The icon screen of the Church of the Holy Apostles, dating from 1901, created by sculptor Ioannis Magiasis.
- The icon screen of Zoodochos Pigi, dating from the second half of the 17th century.
- The right aisle icon screen of the Metropolitan Church of Saint John the Theologian, created in 1903 by Amorgian woodcarver Konstantinos Prasinos.
Mendoni noted that Amorgos experienced economic growth and an “ecclesiastical renaissance” during the Ottoman period, with the island’s religious architecture reflecting its prosperity from the early 17th century onwards.
The Ministry has also ordered the restoration of additional church icon screens beginning in autumn, including those of Saint Eleftherios, the Ascension Church and the Annunciation Church.
Further conservation work is scheduled for 2027 on the northern aisle icon screen of the Metropolitan Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, which contains significant artworks and layers of frescoes dating back to the Palaiologan period of the 14th century.
During her stay on Amorgos, Mendoni attended a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Church of Chora, led by Theodoros II of Alexandria.
She also addressed a municipal event honouring Archimandrite Thomas Synodinos, praising his contribution to both religious service and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Finally, during a working meeting with Cyclades MPs, Mendoni announced the start of the first phase of restoration works at the Tower of Cheimarros in Naxos, funded with €300,000 from the Ministry of Culture’s National Development Programme 2026–2030.