Palace of Aigai, residence of Alexander the Great and Philip II, opens after 16-year restoration

After sixteen years of restoration, the palace of Aigai in Vergina, Greece—the residence of Philip II of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great—has opened to the public. Built 2,300 years ago, it was the largest building in the region at the time, covering approximately 15,000 square meters. The palace was the site of Alexander the Great's coronation in 336 BCE. Visitors can see original mosaics and portions of the colonnade surrounding courtyards, alongside later replicas. The palace was discovered in 1855, and in 1977 archaeologist Manolis Andronikos unearthed the tombs of the Macedonian dynasty nearby, including that of Philip II. The restoration was led by archaeologist Angeliki Kottaridi, who also conceived the new Museum of Aigai, funded with €20.3 million. Work focused on the great peristyle, propylon, facade arches, wall vaults, and banquet hall mosaics. Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni stated the project aims to transform the site into a vast archaeological park with modern infrastructure. The palace ruins and royal tumulus are now a UNESCO World Heritage site.