Achilleion Palace: 28 months of restoration — now a plan is needed for what comes next
CORFU. Ten proposals to ensure that the restoration goes beyond the buildings themselves and leads to the creation of a modern, vibrant museum and cultural centre of international standing.
The announcement of the new international tender for the restoration and enhancement of Achilleion Palace is, without a doubt, an important and positive development.
The project, with a total budget of approximately €14.2 million including VAT, includes the completion of works at the Palace and Gatehouse, structural and electromechanical interventions, upgrades to the utility networks, landscaping of the courtyard, new lighting, museum installations and specialised conservation work.
The planned duration is 28 months from the signing of the contract.
That is the technical side of the project.
But the bigger question is a different one:
When the work is completed, what kind of Achilleion Palace will reopen?
A beautifully restored building, or a modern, vibrant museum and cultural centre of international standing?
The 28 months should not simply be a construction period. They should also be a period of preparation for what comes next.
We cannot wait for the works to be completed and only then start discussing the operation of the museum, its new identity, exhibitions, education, international partnerships and cultural activities.
Achilleion Palace must be ready to operate from the very first day it reopens.
Achilleion Palace Is More Than Sissi
Achilleion Palace is a unique place of history and memory.
It is Empress Elisabeth, Achilles, Wilhelm II, the political upheavals of Europe, the wars, its subsequent uses, its history as a tourist attraction, as well as the people who worked and lived around it.
The new museum narrative should be richer and more diverse.
It should present not just one Achilleion Palace, but the many stories that make up its journey through history.
Three Years of Cultural Inward Looking Are Enough
Since September 2023, the interior spaces of the Palace have remained closed.
I have repeatedly highlighted the inward-looking approach and the drastic reduction in cultural activity during this period.
The new project must not lead to further years of cultural absence.
Even during the works, Achilleion Palace can remain present through events, lectures, educational activities, digital programmes and partnerships with cultural and academic institutions.
Ten Proposals for “Achilleion Palace 2030”
The discussion should not remain limited to criticism. What is needed is a plan.
1. An Operational Master Plan
A comprehensive museological, cultural and operational plan for the first years following reopening.
2. A New Permanent Exhibition
A modern and multifaceted narrative presenting all the major historical periods, rather than focusing solely on the era of Elisabeth.
3. A Research and Documentation Centre
An archive, library, digitised material and support for academic research.
4. A Permanent Partnership with Ionian University
For research, educational programmes, digital applications, exhibitions and conferences.
5. An Oral History Programme
The memories of former employees, local residents, tour guides and people connected with Achilleion Palace should be recorded.
6. An Annual Cultural Programme
Music, exhibitions, lectures, conferences and artistic events, based on a consistent programme.
7. An International Outlook
Partnerships with museums, universities and cultural organisations in Austria, Germany and the rest of Europe.
8. Digital Achilleion Palace
Multilingual applications, digital collections, virtual tours and new technologies integrated into the museum experience.
9. Merit-Based and Specialised Management
Management positions should be linked to clear and transparent criteria of professional and administrative competence.
10. Community Participation
An advisory body comprising academics, representatives of the university, cultural organisations, employees and the local community.
The 28 Months Must Be Counted Twice
From the day the contract is signed, two countdowns should begin.
The first for the restoration of the buildings.
The second for the creation of the new museum.
28 months for the new museum identity.
28 months for international partnerships.
28 months for the digital archive.
28 months for educational programmes.
28 months for preparing the workforce.
28 months to rebuild Achilleion Palace’s relationship with Corfu.
That way, when the project is handed over, we will have more than just a restored Palace.
We will have a museum ready to operate.
The Real Challenge
The €14.2 million investment is significant.
But Achilleion Palace is something far greater than a technical project.
It is part of Corfu’s history and cultural identity. It is a place with a European profile and enormous potential in culture, education, research and high-quality tourism.
That is why the real question is not simply when the works will be completed.
It is:
What kind of Achilleion Palace do we want to hand down to future generations?
The tendering of the project is an important beginning.
Now the next step is needed: vision, planning and preparation.
Because Achilleion Palace does not simply need to reopen.
It needs to come back to life.
ANASTASIOS T. DIAVATIS
Anastasios T. Diavatis, Tourism Entrepreneur, Historian, former Director of Achilleion Palace
