The pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, Europa Nostra, and the European Commission, runs the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage every year. This is commonly known as the Europa Nostra Awards, and is used in order to promote and support the quality of heritage conservation practice. Europa Nostra and the European Commission reward not only projects that primarily deal with the conservation of archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, townscapes, and endangered monuments, but also people who have contributed to the protection and enhancement of cultural and architectural heritage. In 2005, Greece and Cyprus participated in the category of conservation of architectural heritage with 3 projects. Cyprus was awarded the top prize for the safeguarding of the authenticity and adaptation to contemporary needs of the Omeriye Ottoman Baths in Nicosia. A Diploma was awarded to the program for the Unification of the Archaeological Sites around the Acropolis in Athens, as well as to the program for the accurate anastylosis and functional restoration of Arcadian Gate and City Wall in Ancient Messene.

The 2006 Awards will be announced at the beginning of summer.


External links:

www.europanostra.org
www.nicosia.org.cy

www.culture.gr

www.ancientmessene.gr