Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni inaugurates restored Saint John’s campanile in Symi

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni led a four‑day cultural tour of the Dodecanese islands from 10 to 13 June, stopping in Symi, Rhodes, Chalki and Kos. On 10 June she opened the restored stone campanile of the historic Church of Saint John the Forerunner in Symi, a landmark rebuilt with €800,000 from the EU Recovery Fund. The restoration, carried out by the Directorate for the Restoration of Byzantine and Post‑Byzantine Monuments, reinforced the structure, added modern lighting, lightning protection and documented traditional mortar techniques.

Mendoni highlighted the project as part of a wider Ministry strategy to protect and promote the Dodecanese’s cultural heritage, aiming to boost religious and cultural tourism and support local economies. The same tour included the reopening of the Retzé Pasha Mosque in Rhodes, the new Archaeological Museum in Chalki, and the Dettérdar monastery and early Christian baptistery in Kos. These initiatives collectively underscore Greece’s effort to preserve historic sites while fostering sustainable tourism across its islands.