The Ministry of Culture is proceeding with the installation of a fire safety system at the archaeological site of the Mon Repos estate, in Corfu, and the upgrading of the existing fire protection system at the Paleopolis Museum, which is housed in the Mon Repos mansion.
The intervention aims to effectively protect the Museum and its Collections, the natural environment of the estate, but also the safety of employees, visitors and the residential area in the immediate vicinity. The project is part of the broader plan of the Ministry of Culture to strengthen fire protection and shielding measures against the climate crisis in archaeological sites and museums.
The fire safety project concerns a part of the Mon Repos estate, covering an area of approximately 60 acres. It includes the monumental core of the estate and the Museum with its surrounding area. The fire extinguishing installation in the villa and its surrounding area is also being upgraded. A new automatic and autonomous fire extinguishing complex is being constructed to protect the monuments and ensure escape routes in the rest of the archaeological site.
The intervention in the archaeological site provides for the maintenance of the existing fire extinguishing system of the Paleopolis Museum and the carrying out of targeted works to upgrade its security and supervision. For more effective protection, the installation of a permanent fire water supply network, the upgrading of the Museum’s infrastructure and fire safety equipment, the installation of a central loudspeaker system for announcing audio messages, the upgrading of the electrical installation of the existing fire brigade complex, the installation of a fire detection and alarm signaling system, fire hydrants, while portable fire extinguishing equipment is also provided.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “In the context of the memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, in 2023, Mon Repos was included in the list of places that are systematically examined and monitored, in terms of fire protection and fire safety equipment and measures. Relevant actions have already been implemented on the Mon Repos estate, as well as joint inspections and inspections by the two Ministries.
Immediate priorities were set to improve and strengthen the preventive fire protection infrastructure, as well as to complete the escape plans for visitors from the archaeological site. The estate is owned by the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontian Islands. However, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corfu has direct responsibility for the part of the estate occupied by antiquities, along with their surrounding area.
With this specific project, the monuments and their immediate natural environment are protected. With the completion of the fire protection study of the remaining part of the estate, which is being prepared by the Municipality, and the implementation of the associated work, the estate will be protected in its entirety, as a single forest and historical unit.
The Mon Repo estate, with a total area of 238 acres, is located on the Kanoni peninsula, which has been designated a place of historical interest and special natural beauty. It is located on the southern border of the UNESCO secondary zone and is included in Zone A of absolute protection, where construction is prohibited. At the same time, it is part of the declared archaeological and historical site of the Mon Repo estate, which is connected to the single archaeological site of the Old Town of Corfu and Paleopolis. The estate hosts important ancient monuments, such as the Temple of Kardaki (510 BC), the Heraion (400 BC), sanctuaries dedicated to Apollo Korkyraeus, as well as buildings from the Hellenistic period.
The excavations confirmed that in the area, identified with Thucydides’ “Meteora”, there were the sanctuaries of ancient Corfu, during the archaic to late Hellenistic times. In addition to the important monuments, important movable finds were also discovered, which are exhibited in the Museum of Paleopolis in Mon Repos and in the Archaeological Museum of Corfu. There are also later monuments in the area, such as the post-Byzantine church of Sotiros, ruins of the Venetian fortress of Agios Panteleimonas, the Gothic mansion of Mon Repos, various newer buildings, a theater and a conference hall. The supervision of the estate and its security, as well as the responsibility for deforestation, beautification and cleaning of vegetation, except for the areas under the jurisdiction of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corfu, is the responsibility of the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontian Islands.
