Culture more than triples the returns of investments in the national product, Cultre Minister Lina Mendoni said at a one-day meeting, 'Athens Talks', held by the Region of Attica on Tuesday.

According to a ministry statement on Wednesday, Mendoni spoke of a new project to link Attica sites and encourage tourists to explore attractions beyond Athens. 

In Attica Region and in collaboration with Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias, a Comprehensive Spatial Investment (CSI) will be created to highlight a connection between the historical center of Athens with Elefsina (Eleusis) and Lavrion. The major works included (19+1) will complement the works completed under the NSRF 2014-2020 and be funded by the NSRF 2021-2027, she said, and the Recovery Fund, for those already included in the latter. The project is aimed at diffusing the number of visitors to other areas of Attica and highlight less visited but significant archaeological sites, linking them with natural sites as well.

The 19+1 projects in Attica include the National Archaeological Museum extension, the reuse of the old Acropolis Museum, connecting Aristotle's Lycaeum with the Athens Conservatory, promoting the archaeological sites of Eleusis, Ramnous, Aegosthena's Fortress, and Thorikos, refurbishing historial homes for public use in Athens and its Plaka district, completing works at Dafni Monastery and two churches in Eleonas at Megara, and completing phase III of buildings at the former royal residences of Tatoi.

"Today at the Ministry of Culture we are implementing the largest investment program," Mendoni said at the meeting of all projects in Greece. "Over 825 projects and actions - not including what we have already agreed with Regions will be included in the NSRF 2021-2027 - totaling 1.2 billion euros." The Culture Ministry never had such funding or did comparative projects, she underlined.

(Photo, L to R: Mendoni, Hardalias, Île de France President Valérie Pécresse)