Knossos restrooms draw visitor complaints amid cleaning dispute
The restrooms at the refreshment stand of the Knossos Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Heraklion, are in poor condition, with visitors reporting a lack of basic supplies such as toilet paper and cleaning products, according to Cretalive.
Complaints from visitors have been increasing, and a strong odor has also been reported at the site, the outlet said.
Vasiliki Sithiakaki, head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion, told Cretalive that responsibility for the situation lies with the contractor operating the refreshment stand.
Contractor withdrew staff, cites lack of tips
According to Cretalive’s earlier reporting, the contractor abruptly withdrew cleaning staff and supplies in mid-August, reportedly judging that continuing was not financially worthwhile because it could not collect tips. Sithiakaki said the Ephorate would “unfortunately have to allocate our own staff” to address the gap, adding that the service was “running” to remedy the situation and warning that the restrooms could otherwise have to close.
The Ephorate is working to resolve the issue using its existing staff, materials and funding allocated since the start of the year, Sithiakaki said. The refreshment stand itself belongs to ODAP, the Organization for the Management and Development of Cultural Resources.
Sources cited by Cretalive said some interventions were expected within the day, involving one of the palace’s two cleaners, who is already responsible for cleaning the entire monument — a workload the outlet noted makes it difficult to cover every area.
Dispute traced to tip dish
Workers’ accounts relayed by Cretalive trace the dispute to a complaint over a small dish left out for optional tips. The two cleaners at the refreshment stand reportedly felt offended and left, and their positions were not filled, after which conditions worsened.
No concrete outcome has yet emerged on a decision by the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with ODAP, to assign restroom cleaning at the site to a private company — a plan Cretalive said it had first reported. The development comes after the site recorded fewer visitors in July, which tour guides described as one of the toughest years in recent memory.
