The fencing of the area which used to be the parking lot at the open-air market, bears witness to the setting up of the construction site for the restoration works of the Seven Winds rampart at the New Fortress.
In response to the newspaper's inquiry, responsible sources confirm that, indeed, the necessary machinery and materials for the project will soon be installed in the area. Thus, with some delay, the state is implementing its commitment to maintain the infrastructure for which Corfu is listed as a world heritage site.
The programme for the town also foresees a distribution among the participating members for the fulfillment of our commitments to the international community for the restoration of our heritage so that the inclusion in the list is justified. As part of this distribution, the Ministry of Culture is obligated to involve itself with the monuments, in this case, the castles.
The delay is attributed to the preparation needs, according to the speed at which the services respond. After all, the painful public works process in Greece does not exclusively concern those of culture and monuments. Examples, especially in Corfu, can be seen everywhere. But even so, even now, the moment has finally come. The Programme Administration, the Town Committee, has the say on supervision and timelines. This specific project is expected to be delivered in two years, by the end of 2025.
It should be noted that it is planned that the Piraeus Bank Foundation Printing Museum will be established in the rampart area, which has sparked reactions and intense public dialogue. The construction of an outdoor theatre has also been announced in the space next to the open-air market now fenced off for the installation of machinery. The protection and enhancement plan of the old town, developed to be presented to the UNESCO assembly, outlines obligations in a broad supportive zone of the town/monument, from Kanoni to Potamos.
Securing and Restoring the Seven Winds Rampart
According to a previous relevant publication from the Ministry of Culture, the project for the restoration of the southern wall of the Seven Winds Rampart at the New Fortress involves documenting the existing condition, recording the damage and faults, and formulating proposed works.
Taking into consideration the monument's condition, due to natural and human factors that have negatively impacted it over time, the restoration of the collapsed section of the wall was deemed an urgent necessity. This is to ensure that the monument, one of the most significant landmarks of Corfu Old Town, is returned to the local community and island visitors.
The project
The project is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund. The implementing authority is the Directorate of Restoration of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments, with a budget of €2.5 million and is to be completed in the 4th quarter of 2025.
Brief historical overview
With the construction of the New Fortress in the late 16th century, the Venetians completed the massive fortification of the town. By the first half of the 18th century, a new defensive line had been established, isolating the town from the countryside and the sea. The New Fortress is located near the commercial port and stands as one of the most significant and well-preserved monuments of fortification architecture from the 16th to the 19th century in Greece. To the west, the two ramparts of the "Six and Seven Winds" were constructed, connected by a curtain wall (cortina). The barracks were built on the upper level of the fortress in 1845.
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
