In its heart, an eternal open-air museum is formed Medieval city of Rhodesin the context of the archeological site lighting and shaping projectPervola“, covering the ancient youth and the medieval gardens of the Palace of the Grand Masters.
The completion of the museological survey for the unification of the areas, which was unanimously approved by the Central Archaeological Council, marks the end of the first phase of the project and the beginning of the second phase with a total budget of 4,500,000 euros. , implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Dodecanese Antiquities Ephorate with funds from the Restoration and Sustainability Fund.
As the Minister of Culture said Lina Mendoni, “Pervola” is a very important archaeological site in direct contact with the gardens of the Palace of the Great Masters, which preserves archaeological remains dating back to millennia. To date, the site has not been opened or visited. This is the only monument where the ancient tram of the city of Rhodes can be seen and which saves construction material to a great extent. These are the remains of the ancient neorios and the procession with the monumental Tetrapilos. Illumination of this monumental ensemble and its functional connection with the gardens of the Palace of the Great Masters spread over different platforms, creating a permanent open-air museum with an area of ​​about 18 hectares is the visionary goal of the Ministry.
Culture, which we implemented based on an integrated design to promote the medieval city of Rhodes. In our 2021 survey, we explored the framework for shaping and highlighting a specific archaeological site and continued to develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan. On the basis of a specially approved Plan, all the necessary studies are being prepared to connect the archaeological site of “Pervola” included in the UNESCO zone and the remains of ancient buildings of the youth with the medieval gardens of Castello. The only eternal historical monumental nucleus in the medieval city. Our constant goal is the further preservation and use of its cultural heritage, its promotion in the historical period. Through soft interventions, the project emphasizes the archaeological and historical importance of the area, protects individual monuments and increases its legibility. By connecting the different levels, accessibility is improved by creating a new timeless archaeological space for local and local character sightseeing, walking and leisure.”
The archaeological site of “Pervola” is in direct contact with the northern part of the walled Medieval city of Rhodes – between St. Peter’s Tower and the newer Gate of Liberty – defined by the Street of the Knights and the medieval fortifications. The medieval gardens of the Palace of the Grand Masters. The museological research involves the organization of an exhibition in the area of ​​the ancient youth and medieval gardens of the Palace of the Grand Master and the creation of an open-air sculpture gallery in the medieval city of Rhodes.
The aim is to preserve, shape and highlight the wider timeless archaeological site and to link important monuments together through a documented educational leisure route. The center of the tour route, the secondary routes and the route for visitors with mobility problems, as the area is mainly accessible to the disabled, are the proposed stops at different levels: Medieval fortifications, Church of Saint Demetrius of Piossasco, External Sculpture Gallery, Ancient Neoria – “Little Port”, Ancient Military port of Rhodes (now Mandraki), one of the five ports of the city – Tetrapylo. All levels are connected by stairs, ramps and two elevators.
At the entrance, there is also a service and information facility for visitors in Simi Square. Outdoor seating is available at select locations. The production of informational and control materials and the production of informational signs is also envisaged by the Braille alphabet. It is proposed to design and build shelters where perishable and other important finds will be revealed.
The tour covers an area of ​​about 18 hectares and is designed on five different platforms. It starts at the level of the archaeological remains of the Hellenistic and Roman periods – the level of the ancient neoria of the battle port of Ancient Rhodes and the Roman Tetrapylos complex with intersecting streets – and ends at the “Governor’s Gardens”, the highest level. , as during the reconstruction of the monument. Medieval sculptures will be exhibited there. At the lowest level of the archaeological site is the Knight’s Hospital. In order to improve the legibility of the ancient stairs of the Tetrapylos, it is proposed to partially restore it and build a new surface staircase that will restrict the movement of visitors to the upper platforms towards the palace. The visitor will be given the opportunity to continue the tour to the west, passing outside the Palace, and reach Ramachon, which today is undisclosed and inaccessible to the public. The second and third levels are dominated by restored medieval historical buildings, such as the Knight’s Mint, with their surrounding areas.
The archaeological walk consists of 17 stops corresponding to specific thematic units, integrating ancient, medieval and more recent building ruins, monuments and also mobile monuments. Mobile finds to be used make up 345 exhibits individually or as a whole.
These are stone finds consisting of columns, tombstones and non-tombstones, sarcophagi and ossuaries, lids, pedestals, altars, architectural elements, statues and other materials belonging to the category of public life and funerary ceremonies. Archaeological material supports 11 out of 17 thematic units. The material in question is only a small sample of the vast amount of material – more than 12,000 finds – collected during the excavations of the Ephorate of Antiquities over the past 80 years.
A part of Pervola, especially the Governor’s Gardens, was dedicated to the people of Rhodes and the thousands of visitors to the island on Tuesday, June 4, by Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture.