List of World Heritage Sites in Greece in the context of "Pillar crypt"

⭐ In the context of Minoan palaces, which are included in the List of World Heritage Sites in Greece, what is a consistently found architectural element across these structures?

Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: List of World Heritage Sites in Greece

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to cultural or natural heritage which have been nominated by countries which are signatories to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. Greece ratified the convention on 17 July 1981, making its natural and cultural sites eligible for inclusion on the list.

Greece has 20 properties in Greece inscribed on the World Heritage List, 18 of which are cultural sites and two (Meteora and Mount Athos) are mixed, listed for both their natural and cultural significance. The first site added to the list was the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, in 1986. The next two sites listed were the Archeological site of Delphi and the Acropolis of Athens, in the following year. Five sites were added in 1988, two in 1989 and 1990 each, one in 1992, one in 1996, two in 1999, and one in 2007. The most recent site added was the Minoan Palatial Centres, in 2025. In addition, there are 12 sites on the tentative list, all of which were nominated in 2014.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<
In this Dossier

List of World Heritage Sites in Greece in the context of Minoan palaces

Minoan palaces were massive building complexes built on Crete during the Bronze Age. They are often considered emblematic of the Minoan civilization and are modern tourist destinations. Archaeologists and the UNESCO World Heritage generally recognize six structures as palaces, namely those at Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zominthos, Zakros and Kydonia. Minoan palaces consisted of multistory wings surrounding an open rectangular central court. They shared a common architectural vocabulary and organization, including distinctive room types such as the lustral basin and the pillar crypt. However, each palace was unique, and their appearances changed dramatically as they were continually remodeled throughout their lifespans.

The palaces' function is a topic of continuing debate in Minoan archaeology. Despite the modern term "palace", it is generally agreed that they did not primarily serve as royal residences. They are known to have contained shrines, open areas for communal festivals, industrial workshops, as well as storage magazines for large agricultural surpluses. Archives of Linear A and Linear B tablets suggest that they served in part as local administrative centers.

↑ Return to Menu

List of World Heritage Sites in Greece in the context of Kydonia

Kydonia (/sɪˈdniə/ or /kˈdniə/), also known as Cydonia (Ancient Greek: Κυδωνία, Kydōnía) was an ancient city located at the site of present-day Chania near the west end of the island of Crete in Greece. The city is known from archaeological remains dating back to the Minoan era as well as literary and historical sources. It was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025.

↑ Return to Menu

List of World Heritage Sites in Greece in the context of Zagori

Zagori (Greek: Ζαγόρι; Aromanian: Zagori) is a region, a municipality, and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the Pindus mountains in Epirus, in northwestern Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Asprangeloi. It has an area of some 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi) and contains 46 villages known as Zagori villages (or Zagorochoria or Zagorohoria), and is in the shape of an upturned equilateral triangle.

Ioannina, the provincial capital, is at the southern point of the triangle, while the southwestern side is formed by Mount Mitsikeli (1,810m). The Aoos river running north of Mount Tymphe forms the northern boundary, while the southeastern side runs along the Varda river to Mount Mavrovouni (2,100m) near Metsovo. The municipality has an area of 989.796 km. The population of the area is about 3,400, which gives a population density of 3.4 inhabitants per square kilometer, very sparse when compared to an average of 73.8 for Greece as a whole.

↑ Return to Menu

List of World Heritage Sites in Greece in the context of Tholos of Delphi

The Tholos of Delphi is among the ancient structures of the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia in Delphi. The circular temple, a tholos, shares the immediate site with other ancient foundations of the Temple of Athena Pronaia, all located less than a mile east of the main ruins at Delphi, in the modern Greek regional unit of Phocis. The tholos is part of the Delphi UNESCO World Heritage Site.

↑ Return to Menu