- Gortyna’s Roman Odeon restoration funded under the Crete 2021–2027 program
- €500,000 budget co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund
- Project to preserve Europe’s oldest legal code — the Great Inscription of Gortyna
Crete Gives Gortyna Its Voice Back
In the heart of Crete’s Messara plain, the Roman Odeon of Gortyna is set to rise again — quietly, methodically, and with a budget of half a million euros. Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis has officially approved the project’s inclusion in the Crete 2021–2027 development program, ensuring that one of Europe’s most fascinating ruins receives the care it deserves.
The work, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, focuses on both protection and visitor experience. Crete is not only preserving its past — it is also making it more accessible to the present.
Where Law Met Performance
Inside the Roman Odeon, carved into stone, lies the Great Inscription of Gortyna — Europe’s oldest surviving legal code, dating back to the 5th century BC. The inscription, etched along the curved wall of the ancient theatre, has long faced erosion and structural threats.
The new restoration project will tackle exactly that:
- Conservation and stabilization of the Great Inscription.
- Restoration and waterproofing of the vaulted gallery.
- Improved accessibility and interpretation, with new railings, updated signage (including Braille), and a tactile replica of part of the inscription for visually impaired visitors.
Breathing Life into Ancient Law
Arnaoutakis described the initiative as part of Crete’s broader effort to protect its cultural heritage while strengthening local identity and promoting tourism development. Once completed, the project will not only secure the monument’s physical structure but also reintroduce visitors to a time when laws were literally written in stone.
If Crete’s Minoan palaces gave Europe its myths, then Gortyna gave it its justice system — and soon, thanks to this restoration, both will stand prouder than before.
