‘No time to waste’: Greece bids for Mount Olympus to be included on Unesco list of world heritage sites

Greece is making a concerted effort to have its iconic Mount Olympus officially inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. The campaign to secure this coveted designation for the mountain, which rises 2,918 meters above sea level, has been ongoing for decades. Officials are now intensifying their lobbying efforts to achieve this goal.

Mount Olympus holds immense cultural and mythological significance, widely regarded as the home of the ancient Greek gods. Evangelos Geroliolios, who now serves as the mayor of Dion-Olympus, recounted a profound experience from his first ascent of the mountain in his youth. He described an "unalloyed awe" and a "unique feeling" atop the peak, which he called "the throne of Zeus."

The push for UNESCO recognition aims to elevate the mountain's global profile and ensure its preservation. The designation would bring international attention and potentially boost tourism, while also underscoring the site's unparalleled historical and natural importance. The process involves demonstrating the mountain's outstanding universal value to the World Heritage Committee.

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I’ve never forgotten that unique moment, that unique feeling up there on the throne of Zeus.