Who really decides if you are protected? Seaside archeological site is it possible to accommodate sun loungers or have a party? The state and its services would be the obvious answer. However, in Greek reality, this rarely happens, as at least the history of exploitation of Bufos beach, located in the traditional fishing village of Sisi Lasithiou, shows. This small beach, with an estimated usable area of ​​around 2 acres, has in recent years become a bone of contention between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Lassithi, the municipal authorities of Agios Nikolaos and a private individual who has been exploiting it since 2012. In 1976, the beach was declared an archaeological site, and 30 years later, in 1996, it was designated Zone A of absolute protection. In other words, any kind of activity is prohibited without the consent of the Central Archaeological Council.

However, since 1986, the simple use of the beach has been granted either to private individuals or to the relevant municipal enterprise – places for umbrellas are placed under certain conditions. And since 2007, excavations have been carried out on the Kefali hill bordering the beach, funded by American, French, and Belgian funds as part of the Sisi archaeological project. Over the years, semi-permanent facilities have appeared on the beach, as well as the organization of musical events with foreign DJs by the Dutch company Sunweb, whose partner in Greece is the tenant of the territory, who created the company IKE for the purpose of this.

Currently, the company, under its Gogo brand, sells tickets mainly to Dutch tourists for music events. scheduled for July and August. “It’s like having a party with a DJ in Knossos, which is an archaeological site of absolute protection,” sources told K, who believe that this type of tourist product does not correspond to the unique archaeological value of the area.

With these data in 2017, according to complaints, The quality of life committee of Agios Nikolaos did not approve of the operation of the medical services store that operated on the beach. At the same time, it was unanimously decided to close the business operating there. Shortly thereafter, in 2018, the Lasithi Ephorate of Antiquities denied another request to open a store on the property and ordered that all arbitrary structures (e.g. kiosks, bars) on the beach be removed. The particular decision, which was put in a box, was communicated to both the Lassifi Misdemeanor Prosecutor and the Lassithi Criminal Court of Naples, while it is to be executed under the supervision of two co-competent Ephorates. All these actions, perhaps, should be enough to stop any activity on the beach, which owes its name to the characteristic noise (“violence”) that water makes as it rushes into nearby caves.

“There are random buildings in the area”

“On the hill of Kefali, surrounded by the beach, the Belgian School of Athens is carrying out very important excavations, during which traces of a Minoan palace complex have been discovered. However, neither the proper respect for the Minoan culture, nor the measures for the restoration of the monument, which were introduced the authorities. To clarify, the mere use of the beach, seashore, shore, etc. is permitted in the archaeological sites of zone A’ only after the necessary Joint Ministerial Decision (JMA) has been issued, which explicitly states that places under umbrellas are allowed. Bufos Beach is not included in any of these types of EIAs, which are usually issued every year. Given that the placement of seats and umbrellas does not cause aesthetic damage to the archaeological site, in order for the exploitation of the beach to be possible, the opinion of the Central Archaeological Council is required so that an exceptional permit can be issued if and as long as certain conditions are met. These types of conditions do not apply because there are arbitrary buildings on the site, such as a bar, a restaurant, and a shelter, and musical events are organized in the evening hours,” Lassithi Ephorate of Antiquities told K. . For all these reasons, last week, according to K, spontaneous detentions of workers who were working at the site were carried out.