On the dusty ridges above the valley where Crete’s new Kastelli airport is rising, Papoura Hill sits quietly, carrying within its soil the memory of a Minoan world. What might appear to be an ordinary rise in the land has already revealed traces of an ancient monument—fragile, irreplaceable, and now caught in the storm of modern development.
Heraklion’s municipal council has now stepped firmly into the debate, issuing a resolution in support of Minoa Pediada’s long-voiced demand to shield Papoura from the installation of a radar system for the airport. The Region of Crete had already spoken unanimously in July, urging that the hill be safeguarded. Heraklion follows, reminding that while the island needs new infrastructure, no airport should rise at the cost of silencing its oldest voices.
The Council’s Resolution
The resolution, introduced by council president Pantelis Ryakiotakis on August 25, 2025, draws a careful line between progress and protection. While acknowledging the new airport’s strategic importance for Crete’s growth, the council emphasized that heritage must remain the guiding compass for that progress.
Specifically, the council called for:
- Official designation of Papoura Hill as an archaeological site of major significance
- Selection of an alternative site for the airport radar installation
- Prevention of modern construction on the hill
- Completion of excavations and research on the broader area
- Recognition and promotion of Papoura as a visitable archaeological landmark
- Suspension of all works on the hill until final decisions are made
The resolution also highlighted the broader cultural wealth of the region, including Galatas, Lyttos, Arkadia, the Prophet Elias site near Arkalochori, the Smari acropolis, and the traditions of Minoan pottery that continue to shape local identity. The council warned that these layers of history must not be overshadowed by expedience.
The fate of Papoura Hill now hangs in the balance between urgency and patience: the urgency of an airport meant to open Crete further to the world, and the patience required to uncover and preserve the secrets of an ancient civilization. Heraklion’s voice adds weight to a growing chorus that insists the two futures can coexist—if heritage is given the first word, not the last.
