Nafplio: The Bourtzi Fortress reopens its gates to the public
Nafplio: The Bourtzi Fortress reopens its gates to the public
Gradually, a refreshment bar-restaurant, shop and exhibition space will also operate in the monument
An internationally renowned landmark of the city of Nafplio, the Bourtzi Fortress, reopens its gates to the public after the completion of restoration works carried out by the services of the Ministry of Culture. The monument will be open to visitors from the first week of August, with free entry for the public until the 17th of the month, while the refreshment bar-restaurant, the shop and the exhibition space will gradually operate.
"We dedicate an emblematic monument to the citizens of Nafplio and to the thousands of visitors to the city. Bourtzi, the work of a renowned architect of the Renaissance, with all the characteristics of its time, is one of the most remarkable examples of fortified architecture in Greece, inextricably linked to the collective memory of the inhabitants, as well as to the most recent historical period of the Greek Nation. Bourtzi is given to the citizens and visitors of the city with an enhanced monumental role and with new recreational uses" noted the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni after the signing with the Public Real Estate Company (ETAD) of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation for the organization and operation of the Bourtzi fortress as a visitable monument with cultural and recreational uses.
For his part, the Authorized Advisor and Acting CEO of the Public Real Estate Company (ETAD), Panagiotis Balomenos, characteristically stated: "We are particularly happy because the completion of the restoration works at the iconic Bourtzi and the Memorandum of Cooperation that we are signing today with the Minister of Culture marks the utilization of a historical monument by ETAD and the Ministry of Culture. The goal of this collaboration is none other than the promotion of our cultural heritage and the tourism development of Nafplio, the Prefecture of Argolis and our country as a whole. As ETAD I must say that we have gained a significant experience from the operation of such historical and cultural places and using this experience we are ready to make the best use of another monument in a way that is beneficial for all visitors, but also for the local community. We firmly believe that culture is, among other things, an important driver of economic and social development for our country and our role is to support all institutional bodies, such as in this case with the Ministry of Culture, in order to maximize the value of such important properties of the Greek State. I would like to thank the Minister, the services of the Ministry and all the local bodies involved for the perfect implementation of this project and the perfect cooperation we had and we look forward to welcoming the public in a few days to this emblematic space".
The YPPO project, in brief, included extensive maintenance and restoration of all the original parts of the fort. In addition, repair and reconstruction was carried out in all the functional parts of the interior and exterior of the fortress (floors, walls, stairs, frames, railings, coloring, accent lighting) and a radical renovation of all networks (water supply, drainage, electrical installation, heating, cooling, telecommunications).
A small exhibition space and a shop were created in the bastions. In addition, the old use of the small restaurant and refreshment bar was preserved. Auxiliary uses were installed in the northern buildings and access conditions for the disabled were ensured with the construction of an elevator that allows access to the main level of the Fortress. Inside the south tower, its layout as a hotel room has been preserved and its furniture and mobile equipment have been restored, as a display of the fortress's earlier use.
The total budget of the project amounted to 2,784,899.54€ with implementing bodies the Ephorate of Antiquities of Argolis and the Directorate of Studies and Execution of Museums and Cultural Buildings Projects.
Read more about the history of Burtzi fortress
