EVENTS

The Ministry of Culture is proceeding with the protection and restoration of the access bridge to the Old Fortress of Corfu, as well as the reinforcement of the western embankment (controscarpa).  The bridge restoration project is being carried out on the basis of a comprehensive architectural, structural, and geotechnical study prepared by the Ministry of Culture, through the competent Directorate for the Restoration of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments.

This intervention is included in the Strategic Management Plan for the protection and promotion of Corfu’s fortification systems, which was drawn up by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens in 2022. The first projects outlined in the strategic plan, such as the restoration of the Seven Winds bastion and the reinforcement of the rocky slopes at the Old Fortress, are already being completed in 2025 with funding from the Recovery Fund.

The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated: “The Fortresses of Corfu are an emblematic fortification complex and part of the Old Town, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007. The bridge of the Old Fortress is the only access to the interior of the monument. It serves pedestrians and vehicles, meeting the needs of the services and bodies housed in the Fortress, such as the Historical Archive, the Public Library, the Department of Music Studies of the Ionian University, the Ephorate of Antiquities, the ODAP refreshment bar, and the Sailing Club. The pathology of the bridge and the parapet was recorded in the approved, since 2022, Management Strategic Plan for the fortification complex, approved in 2022. As part of this plan, a study was proposed for the complete restoration of the bridge and the enhancement of the parapet. During our recent inspection, we determined that the restoration of the bridge and the parapet was an immediate priority, following the removal of the temporary structures from the moat. Upon completion of the project, the safe use of the bridge will be ensured and access to the iconic Old Fortress of Corfu will be aesthetically enhanced.”

The Old Fortress dominates a rocky peninsula at the eastern end of the Old Town. The bridge, which connects the western counterscarp (controscarpa) with the eastern scarp (scarpa) and the central gate (Porta Maggiore), is located above the moat (fossa). It was originally built by the Venetians in the 16th century, after the peninsula was converted into an artificial island as part of the modernization of the fortifications. The existing bridge rests on six stone piers, with a composite metal deck. However, years of exposure to a corrosive environment and inadequate maintenance have led to serious damage to the metal structure and the concrete reinforcement.

The restoration project includes:

1. The reconstruction of the deck with a new metal structure, lighter and aesthetically improved, with integrated electrical and drainage infrastructure.
2. Τη στερέωση και συντήρηση των βάθρων, με στόχο τη μακροχρόνια αντοχή της κατασκευής,
3. The removal of incompatible structures in the moat zone, such as the wide steps and the newer concrete floors,
4. Cleaning and restoration of the parapet, filling in the masonry where necessary, and construction of a rainwater drainage channel.
5. The redesign of the staircase leading down to the moat, with dimensions that are both ergonomic and historically compatible.