The monuments included in the World Heritage List are selected and approved based on their value as the best examples of human creative intelligence. They are evidence of a significant exchange of human values and provide a unique or at least exceptional testimony of a cultural tradition or a culture that is still alive or has disappeared. They are directly connected with important stages of human history and for this reason they have outstanding universal value and are part of the common heritage of mankind. Greece has co-signed since 1981 the UNESCO Treaty for the Protection of Monuments and World Heritage Sites. The goal of UNESCO is to protect against all kinds of decay and destruction, so that they can be inherited by future generations. Greece has inscribed 18 monuments and sites in the UNESCO World Heritage List

     ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF THE ACROPOLIS

                             (Date of accession 1987)

 Depicting the cultures, myths and religions that flourished in Greece

  for a period of more than a thousand years, the Acropolis includes

  four of the most important masterpieces of the classical Greek

  period, the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum and the

  temple of Athena Nike , which can be considered symbols of the idea

  of world heritage.

 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF DELPHI

 (Date of accession 1987)

 The Panhellenic Sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of

 Apollo was given, was considered the "navel of the earth".

 Harmoniously adapted to the exquisite landscape and

 imbued with sacred significance, the archaeological site of

 Delphi was in the 6th BC. century religious center and the

 symbol of unity of the ancient world.

                                       METEORA

                          (Date of accession 1988)

In an inaccessible area of Meteora, on the tops of steep cliffs,

 monks installed "the pillars of heaven", as they called them, their

 sacred monasteries from the 11th century until today. 

During the revival of hermitage under extremely difficult

 conditions in the 15th century AD, 24 monasteries were built. 

The frescoes of the monasteries, which date from the 16th century,

 are a reference point for the development of Post-Byzantine

 painting.

      THE TEMPLE  OF ASCLEPIUS IN   EPIDAURUS    

                                (Date of accession 1988)

In a small valley of the Peloponnese, the archeological site of

 Epidaurus extends to different levels. 

The  temple of Asclepius began there for the first time in the 6th

 century

 BC. century, but the main monuments, especially the Theater

 which is considered one of the purest masterpieces of Greek

 architecture date from the 4th century. 

The wide archeological site is a tribute to the thermal cults of the

 Greek and Roman period with temples and hospital buildings

 dedicated to their gods.

                             MOUNT ATOS - ATHOS

                        (Date of accession 1988)

  Orthodox spiritual center since 1054, Mount Athos has enjoyed a status

  of autonomy since the Byzantine era.

  "Mount Athos", the entrance to which is forbidden to women, has also

   been recognized as a landscape of artistic value.

  The layout of the monasteries (a total of 20, inhabited by about 1400

  monks) has affected monasteries far away (such as  those in Russia)

  and their school of hagiography has significantly  influenced the

  history of Orthodox art.

CHURCH OF  APOLLO – VASSES (Date of accession 1986)

The famous temple dedicated to the god of healing and the sun, was built in the middle of the 5th century in the steep mountains between Ilia, Arcadia and Messenia.

The church, with the oldest Corinthian capital ever found, combines

 the Archaic style with the Doric one, with some bold architectural

 features.

   EARLY CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE MONUMENTS 

                             OF   THESSALONIKI     

                               (Date of accession 1988)

Rotunda, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Church of Agios

Dimitrios, Latomos Monastery, Church of Agia Sophia, Panagia 

Chalkeon, Church of Agios Panteleimon, Church of Agios Apostolos,

Church of Agios Nikolaos Orfanos, Church of Agia Aikaterini,

Church of Pantokrator, Pantokrator Elias, Byzantine Baths AND the Walls of Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki, the second most important city in Greece, was founded in 315 and was one of the first centers of the spread of Christianity. Its Christian monuments include pre-Christian temples and three-aisled royal churches. They were built from the 4th to the 15th century and constitute a timeless typological series, which significantly influenced the Byzantine world. The mosaics of the Rotunda, St. Demetrius and St. David are among the most important masterpieces of early Christian art.

                        MEDIEVAL CITY OF RHODES

                          (Date of accession 1988)

The  Battalion of St. John of Jerusalem occupied Rhodes

 from 1309 to 1523 and turned the city into a stronghold.

 Later, the city came under Italian and Turkish occupation.

 With the Palace of the Great Lords, the Hospital and the road

 of the Knights, the Upper Town is one of the most beautiful urban

 centers of the Gothic period. 

In the Lower Town, Gothic architecture coexists harmoniously with

 mosques, public baths and other buildings of the Ottoman period.

              ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF OLYMPIA

                              (Date of accession 1989)

The archeological site of Olympia, in a valley of the Peloponnese, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. In the 10th century BC. Olympia became the center of worship of Zeus. 

The monument of Alti - the sanctuary of the gods - gathers important masterpieces of the ancient Greek world. In addition to the temples, there are the remains of all the sports facilities created for the Olympic Games and which were organized in Olympia, from 776 BC, every four years

           ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE MYSTRA

                    (Date of accession 1989)

The miracle of Moria was built as a fortress in 1249 by the King of Achaia William Villehardouin. 

It was recaptured by the Byzantines, later conquered by the Turks and the Venetians. 

The city was abandoned in 1832 leaving fascinating medieval ruins standing in a location of exceptional beauty.

                      ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF DELOS  

                              (Date of accession 1990)

According to Greek mythology, Apollo was born on this small island in the Cyclades.

The sanctuaries of Apollo attracted pilgrims from all over Greece and Delos was a thriving commercial port. 

The island has influences from the successive civilizations of the "Aegean" world, from the 3rd millennium BC. to the Early Christian era.

The archeological site is extremely extensive and rich and gives the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port.

             EARLY CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE MONUMENTS 

                                      OF  THESSALONIKI

                                    (Date of accession 1988)

Rotunda, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Church of Agios Dimitrios, Latomos Monastery, Church of Agia Sophia, Panagia ton Chalkeon, Church of Agios Panteleimon, Church of Agios Apostolos, Church of Agios Nikolaos Orfanos, Church of Agia Aikaterini, Church 

of Pantokrator, Pantokrator Elias, Byzantine Baths, Walls of Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki, the second most important city in Greece, was founded in 315 and was one of the first centers of the spread of Christianity. Its Christian monuments include pre-Christian temples and three-aisled royal churches. They were built from the 4th to the 15th century and constitute a timeless typological series, which significantly influenced the Byzantine world.

The mosaics of the Rotunda, St. Demetrius and St. David are among 

 the most important masterpieces of early Christian art.