As from 22nd June the first phase has been under way of a study for the restoration of Gramvousa Fortress, the ruined Venetian monument which stands on Gramvousa Island opposite one of Crete’s most famous attractions, the Balos lagoon. The aim of the study, as described in its title, is the analysis and documentation of the whole and “the incorporation of the monument into the natural, historical and cultural landscape of western Crete”.

The work will include historical documentation, recording of the existing state of the monument and planning for measures which will ensure its protection and safety of access for visitors. Speaking to Haniotika Nea, the project’s scientific leader, Professor Amalia Kotsaki of the School of Architecture at the Technical University of Crete, said that work on the site has already started.

The aims of the study
The first phase, which will last three months, comprises historical documentation of the fortress, architectural analysis, recording of damage and its structural state, as well as assessment of access routes and infrastructure. At the same time an initial proposal will be drawn up for the overall management of the fortress and the identification of points which require immediate attention.

According to Professor Kotsaki, the state of the fortress makes its restoration possible, since “it is not in a dire state, but it needs some interventions in order to maintain it in the best possible way.” As she explained, special attention will be given to the creation of safe pathways for visitors and to improving access to the monument, which is particularly difficult.

Modern technologies
The process of documentation is being carried out with modern technological means such as drones, laser scanners and high resolution photogrammetric methods: “all the most up-to-date methods of topographic documentation”. The number of visitors to the fortress presents a particular challenge, since it receives thousands of visitors every day during the summer period.

As Ms Kotsaki says, “It constitutes a palimpsest of quite a few different cultures, and there is also the aesthetic question, i.e. the exceptional dialogue which the monument develops with the natural environment. And finally, the issue of management is a very serious one, since there are large numbers of people climbing up to the fortress on Gramvousa island. … We cannot control the number of people going to Gramvousa, that is not our responsibility. However, we can manage access routes and movements within the monument in such a way that they show it off and do not adversely affect it.”

The second phase, as Ms Kotsaki explained, will comprise a more detailed study, “that is to say, once we have decided on the parts which should be highlighted, or those which require special care in their restoration, we will proceed with planning for those particular areas, and possibly – although that is not certain – for new, very minor constructions or the removal of existing ones, so that we can have some supporting operations at the point of access.”

The study forms part of a wider plan to promote the Venetian fortresses of Crete and is expected to be supported by collaboration with the Research Institute for Tourism and Cultural Heritage at the Sorbonne, with the aim of implementing international best practices in monuments management, which combine cultural heritage, tourism and the natural environment.
(Haniotika Nea, 10/07/26)

The history of Gramvousa Fortress
Www.kastra.eu, is a website run by Manolis Papathanassiou, which aims to provide a comprehensive catalogue of 1,500 castles, towers and fortresses in Greece. Of these some 1,200 have been catalogued so far.

According to the entry for Gramvousa, the fortress was built by the Venetians between 1579 and 1584 to help protect Western Crete against the Turks. In 1588 it was destroyed when lightning struck the gunpowder store, which contained 350 barrels of explosive materials, but was rebuilt by the Venetians in 1630. Despite its large size – the fortress had a garrison of 3,000 men – it appears that it was never used in any major battle.

Following the conquest of Crete by the Turks in 1669, the Venetians retained control of Gramvousa until 1692, when the Turks managed to bribe the Venetian commander to hand it over. The latter retired to Constantinople on the proceeds and thereafter lived a life of luxury, being known throughout the city as “Captain Gramvousa”.

The fortress was captured by Cretan fighters in 1825, and became the seat of the Revolutionary Committee of Crete. For three years it was the base of more than 3,000 rebels, who, after running out of provisions were forced to become pirates, attacking both Turkish and European ships. Such was their success that Gramvousa became known all over Europe as “the Pirate island”.

This state of affairs was against the interests of the European powers, and with the agreement of the Greek government under Ioannis Kapodistrias, in January 1828 Anglo-French forces attacked the fortress, impounded several ships and arrested some of the suspected pirates and occupied the island. A multi-national force under the revolutionary commander Hatzimichalis Dalianis was installed, and controlled the island until 1830, when the fortress was handed over to the Egyptians, who had been given control of Crete by the Ottomans. From then on, the fortress was effectively deserted.
(www.kastra.eu/castlegr.php?kastro=gramvousa)