Ownership battle erupts over Serifos’ mining heritage

A conflict has arisen on the Aegean island of Serifos between the municipal authority and a private owner over the preservation of the island's 19th-century mining sites. 

The local government recently submitted a plan to create an open-air museum, developed with the National Technical University of Athens, to the Ministry of Culture. However, two months earlier, the Central Council of Modern Monuments approved a private proposal to develop a mining park on land whose ownership, according to the municipality, is disputed.

The area, which saw significant mining activity in the Aegean during the 19th century, includes preserved buildings, tunnels, and loading docks.

The clash highlights the tension between preserving historical sites and private development interests. While the municipality's proposal aims to enhance the island's cultural heritage, the private...