PRESS RELEASE
Opening of the Exhibition “Medieval Ports in the Maritime Routes of the East:
North Aegean – Black Sea – Caspian Sea”.
Athens, 16 October
The Exhibition “Medieval Ports in the Maritime Routes of the East: North Aegean –
Black Sea – Caspian Sea” was inaugurated in Athens within the framework of the
Hellenic Chairmanship – in- Office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation . It is hosted, thanks to the kind disposal of the Mayor of Athens, in the
Museum of the City of Athens, one of the historic buildings in the city center. The
Exhibition forms part of the project “OLKAS: From the Aegean to the Black Sea –
medieval Ports in the Maritime Routs of the East” which is funded by the European
program: “Joint Operational Programme BLACK SEA 2007-2013” and national
resources and is coordinated by the European Centre of Byzantine and PostByzantine Monuments (EKBMM) based in Thessaloniki.
The aim of the project “Olkas” is the documentation and the promotion of the
medieval ports of North Aegean and Black Sea as a modern tool of development of
cultural tourism in the regions of the Aegean, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
The Exhibition that has, in the past, been presented in Ukraine, in Romania and in
Turkey includes rich optical material (photographs, engravings, post cards etc.) from
numerous historical harbors in the North Aegean, the Black Sea as well as the
Caspian Sea. Organized by EKBMM and with the support of the Hellenic Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, it has been included in the program of cultural events of the Hellenic
BSEC Chairmanship – in – Office.
The importance of the specific event gains significant dimensions for it is the result
of common efforts by BSEC Member – States to promote their rich cultural past and
to form a common “touristic identity” able to attract the interest of international
visitors.