The Project “PROMOTION OF ΑGIA MAVRA CASTLE IN LEFKADA”
(NSRF 2014-2020)

The castle, positioned prominently at the island’s entrance, draws in thousands of tourists annually. The monument received its first restoration and enhancement works during the years 1999-2001 from the Directorate of Restoration of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments of the Ministry of Culture and the 8th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, within the framework of co-funded projects. The initiatives encompassed various tasks, including clearance of vegetation, partial fortification reinforcement, excavations, construction of wooden frames and iron protective grids, the establishment of a two-room space intended for exhibitions (though this part was left incomplete), and the restoration of the British prisons for repurposing as a guard post, e.t.c.

Despite the efforts in the years 1999-2001, the monument continued to have many deficiencies that did not align with the image of an -οpen to the public-archaeological site. Taking into account the significant importance of the castle as a symbol of the island and, simultaneously, recognizing it as one of Greece’s most captivating monumental fortification complexes, our service has incorporated and implemented the project “Promotion of Agia Mavra castle in Lefkada” within the framework of the ESPA 2014-2020 program. This initiative has transformed the interior of the monument. The works commenced on December 29, 2017, and were completed in December 2023. The initial budget was €550,000, but during its course, there were modifications, resulting in a significant increase in both the physical and financial scope. Additional work was added, and the final budget amounted to €860,000.

As part of the project, the following initiatives were implemented: the construction of a circular tour path within the castle, designed to accommodate individuals with mobility issues, the establishment of a new guard post, and the construction of new sanitary facilities.

The gunpowder magazine underwent restoration with the purpose of converting it into a venue for digital projections. Additionally, the restoration of the two-room chamber within the northeastern bastion (casamatta) was adapted into a museum space. Restoration work was carried out for the British prisons, the sacred church of Agia Mavra, the cell of the Franciscan monks, the cannon embrasure of the half-moon bastion of Saint Francis, and the floor of a casemate. The archaeological artifacts intended for exhibition in the small museum underwent conservation, and casts of inscriptions were made, including a replica of a relief plaque featuring the Venetian lion designed for people with visual impairments.

The tomb of H. Davis in the Pantokrator bastion was also restored, along with the pebble floors that were revealed during the execution of the project. Rope barriers and guardrails were installed at various points of the castle, cannons were relocated to the western parapet of the walls, soil and stone piles were removed, lighting was installed along the tour paths as well as around adjacent ruins, and a fire protection system was implemented. Informative and directional signs were placed at crucial points, and aerial photography was conducted at various stages of the project execution.

Furthermore, the study on electromechanical installations saw adjustments, alongside separate studies such as for the restoration of the cannon embrasure (Mezzaluna), a museological-museographical study, a restoration and stabilization study for the church of Agia Mavra, and a study dedicated to modifying fire protection measures.

Upon completion of the project, a workshop was conducted for its presentation, a website was established, a trilingual archaeological guide was published, along with two educational booklets tailored for primary and secondary level students, while a Braille script brochure was also produced.