Culture Minister Rejects Parking Plan for Heraklion's Venetian Walls

Wednesday, 27 May 2026/Source: CretaOne/1 min read

Greece's Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, has rejected proposals to allow parking around Heraklion's Venetian walls following an on-site inspection of the area. The minister visited the historic fortifications, which are a UNESCO-listed monument and one of the best-preserved Venetian defensive structures in the Mediterranean, and determined that vehicles should not be permitted in the surrounding zone. During the same visit, she also inspected the Cathedral of Saint Minas, one of the largest churches in Greece and a landmark in Heraklion's city center. The decisions reinforce the protection of the old town's heritage sites. Visitors exploring the Venetian walls and the cathedral should plan to park elsewhere in the city and approach both sites on foot, as access restrictions around these monuments are expected to be maintained or strengthened.