The Service for Modern Monuments and Technical Works of Central Macedonia of the Ministry of Culture recently approved the studies for the restoration and reuse of the old Courthouse of Veria, with the aim of converting it into an exhibition space and tourist information center. The building, characterized by the Ministry of Culture as a work of art and a historical monument, is located in Raktivan Square (Orologiou), near the protected neighborhood of “Barbouta” in Veria and belongs to the Public Property Company, ETAD S.A.
According to the Service, the implementation of the studies does not alter the form of the monument, nor the physiognomy of the protected surrounding area. On the contrary, it contributes to their promotion and protection. In this context, specific interventions are foreseen, such as the preservation of the existing morphology of the wooden ceilings inside the building, which dates back to the pre-1985 phase, the restoration of blocked internal openings and frames, as well as the preservation of the wooden decorative strips or passementerie, which highlight the typology and morphology of the monument’s spaces.
At the same time, the approval of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Imathia must be secured, in order to protect the Byzantine walls and the remains of the medieval tower located in the immediate vicinity of the monument. Interested parties are required to submit a complete study file, signed and sealed by a competent engineer, while the Service will monitor the start and completion of the works through photographic documentation. Failure to comply with the conditions will result in the cessation of work and the application of the prescribed sanctions.
The restoration of the old Courthouse is part of the broader strategy to upgrade the cultural heritage of Veria, combining the protection of historical monuments with the strengthening of the tourist infrastructure of the area. The project is expected to function as an important pole of cultural and tourist interest, contributing to the promotion of the historical physiognomy of the city and the further development of cultural tourism.
