The Archaeologist

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Macedonian "Kasta Tomb" at Amphipolis, Greece: It welcomes visitors after many years of excavations

The Kasta tomb, which caused worldwide interest, was opened to a limited number of visitors, nine years after its discovery.

Special public groups can now visit the well-known grave site at the Kasta mound in the municipality of Amfipoli. In groups of five, guided by a guard or an archaeologist, scientists, researchers, educators, travel industry professionals, and members of the Serres regional self-government get the chance to tour the interior of the mound and have a close-up look at some of its decorations.

Entrance to the current phase requires a reservation but no ticket. The visits, which will last a short while, will be conducted in consultation with the Serres Ephorate of Antiquities until the beginning of June, after which they will temporarily cease while work to remove scaffolds from the monument's interior gets underway.The first visitors can see from a relative distance the burial trench, which is impressive in size and construction. Then, the burial monument will be fully opened to the general public in 2027, after the completion of all necessary infrastructure, restoration, and regeneration of the surrounding area.

According to what the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated on Holy Wednesday from the area, where she inspected the progress of the works, the visitors will have a satisfactory image of the monument, as they will be able to see the marble material that has been welded, the sphinxes in the entrance, and the preserved Caryatids.

In 2027, the monument can be fully visited.

With regard to the timetable when the burial monument will be able to be attributed in its entirety to the general public, this will be around 2027, once all the necessary infrastructure, restoration, and redevelopment of the surrounding area have been completed.

Only five or six individuals will be allowed to access the burial monument once it is made available to the public because of its small size. It is recognized that in order to keep the many visitors who will arrive at the mound entertained, an exhibition, a refreshment stand, and general activities must be constructed given the exceptionally high level of curiosity that exists.