The historic building of the Old Customs House of Nafplio is entering a new path of development, following the approval of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Nafplio.
The object of the cooperation is the ongoing cooperation of the two sides for the promotion and integration of the monument into the social and cultural life of the city, in terms of viable and sustainable development.
The Old Customs House, which has been characterized as a historical monument and a work of art, is a representative example of early neoclassicism with Renaissance origins. It is a ground-floor building of the 19th century, which is surrounded by Bouboulinas, Blessi and Othonos streets and occupies an entire building block.
In 2022, the study for the restoration and reuse of the monument as a space for exhibitions and cultural activities was approved. The restoration work, with a total budget of 1,328,447.69 euros, was financed by the NSRF and implemented by the Ministry of Culture. The project was completed in May 2025, including the conservation of the stone architectural elements, the painted decoration and the wooden frames of the building.
Within the framework of the memorandum, the western discrete part of the restored Customs House is granted to the Municipality of Nafplio for a period of five years, with the possibility of extension for an additional five years. This space will function as an information, dissemination and tourist promotion center of the Municipality, under the responsibility of the local government.
In particular, it is planned to operate a digital exhibition with themes related to the monuments of the Municipality of Nafplio, as well as the distribution of information material for residents and visitors. It is noted that in the event that the operation of the space is interrupted for more than three months or if the intended purposes are not met, the concession may be revoked. At the same time, the Municipality is committed to removing the existing kiosk from the square in front of the monument, in order to ensure the aesthetic and functional unity of the space.
In addition to the use of the western part, the cooperation of the two bodies extends to the remaining parts of the building that belong to the Ministry of Culture. The memorandum provides for the co-organization of exhibitions, educational programs, lectures and scientific meetings. Also, cooperation with cultural and local bodies is promoted to raise awareness of society in the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage of Nafplio and the wider region of Argolida.
This new agreement paves the way for a more extroverted and creative use of an iconic building, strengthening the cultural identity of Nafplio and enriching the experience of residents and visitors.
