Fortresses require greater care
CORFU. The image of the collapsing fortifications on the southern side of the Old Fortress is concerning, although the Antiquities Inspectorate is reassuring: "We are aware of it, and we will fix it."
The situation is well known. However, it is being stated for the record. The stones of the Old Fortress wall, in the area just below St. George, are falling—one after the other. One does not need to be an expert to predict that the southern winds will continue to "harass" the castle, causing further erosion and degradation of the fortifications at the waterline over a considerable length.
This has raised concerns among those who approached the fortifications from the sea and noticed the damage. The journalistic perspective simply formalises the observation.
Today, interest in the fortifications is evident through the ongoing restoration projects at both the Old and New Fortresses, as well as the study for the revival of the old British hospital, part of whose roof has collapsed. The study was conducted by engineers from the School of Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens and is expected to lead to the hospital’s reconstruction and its repurposing as a cultural facility (?).
However, since the initial announcements and interviews on the subject, three years have already passed. Ideally, the best possible collaboration between the Inspectorate of Antiquities and the Central Corfu Municipality would be the obvious course of action—but Corfu, it seems, is not a place where the obvious always happens...
Meanwhile, restoration work is being carried out on the Seven Winds Bastion at the citadel of the New Fortress, as well as geodetic and stabilisation work on the larger rocky mass of the Old Fortress. These projects are funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund.
When asked about the matter, the Ministry of Culture refers to the master plan for the protection of Corfu’s Fortresses, which has been completed and serves as the framework for the state's obligations regarding their preservation.
Let us also add the journalistic perspective from the sea, south of the wall, as a public reminder—especially since the details of the master plan regarding necessary interventions have not been made public. The local Inspectorate of Antiquities assures us that they are aware of the situation and that there is no cause for concern!
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
