EVENTS

The works required for the restoration of the forest landscape, the palace gardens, and the cemetery at the former royal estate of Tatoi were presented by the Minister of Culture, Mrs Lina Mendoni, and the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Theodoros Skylakakis, at a joint press conference held on  Tuesday 6 February at the amphitheatre of the National Gallery of Greece.

Four studies were presented, two from each Ministry, on the actions under their responsibility concerning the implementation of the overall project in Tatoi.

The Ministry of Culture is responsible for the restoration of the gardens of the Palace, as well as for the work on the Holy Church of the Resurrection and the cemetery of the Paleokastro hill on the Tatoi estate. The relevant studies for these projects were carried out with the sponsorship of Athanasios and Marina Martinou’s “Aigeas” Non-profit Cultural and Public Benefit Society. The presentations of these studies were made by Maria Mertzani, Head of the Department of Preservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments and the landscape architect and scientific collaborator of the Ministry of Culture Elli Pagalou.

                                         

Εξωτερική άποψη του Μαυσωλείου

The Ministry of Environment and Energy, respectively, is responsible for the implementation of projects related to the restoration of the forest ecosystem, as well as the restoration of vegetation and the enhancement of the cemetery. The presentations of these studies and actions were made by the Head of the General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environment, Mr  Evangelos Gountoufas, and by the architect and scientific manager of the second project, Mr Thomas Doxiadis.

                                           

Ξέφωτο

The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni,, among others, said: “Restoration and regeneration works have been progressing systematically over the last five years at the former royal estate of Tatoi, within a specific timetable. They are part of the integrated planning promoted by the government for the creation of an integrated and multi-thematic peripheral green, cultural and recreational area that will fully exploit its cultural and social development potential, for the benefit of the citizens of Attica and our national economy. A previously and for decades abandoned estate, with a total area of 42,000 acres, consisting of a historic core of 1,600 acres and about 1,200 acres of crops, is protected and revived as a new pole of multiple activities of culture, historical memory, recreation, education, environmental education and knowledge. Our common goal, with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, is to promote the restoration and regeneration of the estate through environmentally friendly infrastructure and interventions within the protected natural landscape. For all categories of citizens, they will make it attractive and keep it attractive throughout the year. At the same time, it will respect and protect its historic character and natural environment. Once again I want to thank Theodoros Skylakakis because if it was not for him who pushed through the Recovery and Resilience Fund the core funding for the Tatoios, it is certain that the Ministry of Culture would not be at the level it is.”

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, stressed: “Aiming at the full restoration of the forest landscape in Tatoi, some of the coordinated initiatives we are implementing have already borne fruit, while at the same time we are launching a series of important additional actions. After the fire in August 2021 in the Forest of Parnitha, i.e. in the wider area of Tatoi, we have now entered the regeneration phase and where necessary we are intervening with artificial reforestation in selected areas. Among other things, the Forestry Service has already implemented erosion control works to protect the soil, as well as maintenance of the forest road network. Utilizing resources from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, we are implementing forest fire prevention projects, with the creation of sheltered firebreaks and the removal of logging residues, while initiatives are also taking place to take back burnt timber. The “new Tatoi”, as it will be shaped by the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, will be a “momentum” project for our country, as it combines the promotion of our cultural heritage with the sustainable management of the environment and gentle and qualitative tourism development.”