Monemvasia: Upgrade Projects Worth €8m Become Official

Monemvasia. Photo source: Visit Greece/Merakos.

An upgrade project, which includes infrastructure improvements and the reuse of historical buildings, worth eight million euros has been approved for Monemvasia, a historic castle town in southeastern Peloponnese,

According to an announcement by the Greek Culture Ministry, the upgrade project aims to make the town more accessible, enrich its cultural footprint and enhance the tourist appeal of Monemvasia.

New cable car, museum and lighting system

Works will include the installation of a cable car connecting the lower to the upper Monemvasia town (Ano Poli); the transformation of one of Greece’s greatest contemporary poets and thinkers, Yiannis Ritsos’ home into a municipal museum; and the addition of new lighting to highlight the Monemvasia Rock and the town’s landmarks.

The project was officially announced earlier this week by Culture Minister Lina Mendoni at a signing event in Monemvasia.

“The upgrade works in Monemvasia will not only underline its historic and archaeological significance but expand the cultural and tourism experience it offers,” Mendoni said.

Monemvasia Castle, Peloponnese. Red indicates the cable car area and yellow indicates the trail area. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

More specifically, the project, which is part of a wider effort by the Greek government to preserve and promote the country’s rich history and cultural heritage, will include:

• The purchase, the installation and operation of a cable car that will allow unobstructed access to Monemvasia’s Ano Poli (upper town) as well as the creation of accessibility-friendly routes, connecting the upper town’s cultural interest spots.
• The design and installation of a lighting system that will highlight the Monemvasia Rock during nighttime and also improve safety and visibility.
• The transformation of Yiannis Ritsos’ residence into a contemporary museum, highlighting the poet’s work and life alongside the area’s history and evolution through time. The museum will incorporate the most up to date digital and interactive means creating a more enjoyable experience for the museum’s visitors.

Yiannis Ritsos house in Monemvasia. Photo source: Ministry of Culture

During the event, Mendoni praised the project, underlining it will boost the town’s local economy and create jobs in the area.

She added that works on the new museum and the Monemvasia Rock lighting are expected to be completed by the end of this summer.

The project, funded by EU’s Recovery and Resilience Fund, also sees the participation of the Peloponnese Region, the Monemvasia Municipality and the Parnonas regional development organization.