A thematic tour of the archaeological site of Polyrrinia is being organised by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania on Friday 26th September at 11.00 am. The event is part of the annual European Heritage Days (EHD), a Europe-wide event aiming to raise awareness of the need to protect architectural and environmental heritage. Participation in the tour and entrance to the archaeological site are free. The tour starts at the entrance to the village.
According to an announcement by the organisers: “Through the tour, visitors will have the opportunity to discover and understand the infrastructures of water supply and housing, to see how these were incorporated into the life of the city, as well as appreciating their value as an integral part of the place’s identity. The aim is not only to highlight the past, but also to raise public awareness about the need for protection and preservation of this priceless piece of cultural heritage.”
European Heritage Days
European Heritage Days (EHD) is a joint programme of the Council of Europe and the European Union involving all 48 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention. The annual programme offers opportunities to visit buildings, monuments and sites, many of which are not normally accessible to the public. It aims to widen access and foster care for architectural and environmental heritage, raising awareness among the public and the authorities for the need to protect cultural heritage against new threats and challenges.
European Heritage Days are one of the most important participatory cultural activities in Europe, having been held under the aegis of the Council of Europe since 1985, while the European Union has also participated in them since 1999. The common theme of this year’s celebration is “Architectural Heritage – Bridging the past with the future”. The choice of theme is connected with the 50th anniversary of the European Charter of Architectural Heritage (1975) and the 40th anniversary of the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (the Granada Convention of 1985). These, together with the Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (the Faro Convention of 2005) lay emphasis on architectural heritage as a key element in the shared history of Europe and in the identity of local communities, which must be protected and preserved.
It should be noted that on the weekend of 27th and 28th September, in celebration of European Heritage Days, entrance to all the museums and archaeological sites in the Regional Unit of Chania will be free. (Ertnews.gr)