Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-04-16

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Former leper colony of Spinalonga, now a UNESCO-listed site, gets improvements

[01] Former leper colony of Spinalonga, now a UNESCO-listed site, gets improvements

Two studies were approved by the Central Archaeological Council at its latest session, on Tuesday, involving both the propping of buildings and improvements on tourist accessibility, following a surge in tourist arrivals on the island and its inclusion in the list of UNESCO's cultural monuments.

The island and its history have served as background for films and books, the latest being a historical novel ("The Island") by Victoria Hislop, which was made into a TV series by a private Greek channel.

The buildings that will be reinforced and cleaned up are currently in a state of ruin. They are single-storey and two-storey buildings and one preserves graffiti from the 50-year era the colony existed.

As of this year's tourist period, the island will be receiving visitors from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the framework of the Culture ministry's pilot programme that includes 33 archaeological sites and museums.

Spinalonga is situated at the northern entrance of the gulf of Elounda, in the prefecture of Lasithi. Ancient and medieval remnants compose the turbulent history of the island, which operated as a leper colony from 1903 until 1957.

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