Two iconic monuments in Thessaloniki, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List—the Eptapyrgio fortress complex and the Crypt of the Church of Saint Demetrius—are being fortified against fire by the Ministry of Culture.
The fire protection study for the Eptapyrgio covers 12 buildings and outdoor areas within the archaeological site of the fortress complex. It includes three sub-studies according to the use of the spaces.
The fire protection study for the Crypt of the Church of Saint Demetrius includes emergency exit lighting, portable fire extinguishers, a simple water-based fire suppression system, an automatic fire detection system for all areas of the Crypt, and a manual fire alarm system. The study is aligned with the approved deviations by the Fire Service from the proposed general and specific fire protection measures, both preventive and active. There are three emergency exits, two of which lead inside the Church and the third to the outdoor area.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “The protection and promotion of UNESCO monuments are our absolute priority. The adoption of fire protection measures for Thessaloniki’s monuments, which are global landmarks, is not only a formal obligation of the Ministry of Culture but also a self-evident necessity. After the fire protection project at Panagia Acheiropoietos, which is currently underway, we are proceeding with fire protection for the Eptapyrgio fortress complex and the Crypt of the Church of Saint Demetrius. The Eptapyrgio and its surrounding area are designated as an archaeological site. The Fortress, located at the northern edge of Thessaloniki’s acropolis, was the last refuge for the city’s defenders during sieges. The Church of Saint Demetrius, a major Christian pilgrimage site, is Thessaloniki’s most prominent and popular destination. The Crypt was originally the eastern section of a Roman bath linked to the imprisonment and martyrdom of the Saint. The site was buried during the Ottoman period and was discovered after the 1917 fire when part of the floor collapsed. Our goal is to protect the city’s iconic monuments while also ensuring safe visitation conditions for their visitors.”
Eptapyrgio The interventions of the first study concern the exhibition building and the Church, which are public gathering spaces. The second study covers the buildings for archives, findings, conservators, administration, archaeologists’ and engineers’ offices, accounting, isolation, kitchen, and guard posts. The third study focuses on outdoor event and public gathering spaces. The objective is to establish specific fire protection measures and equipment (general, specific, preventive, active). The buildings were examined for fire protection either individually or collectively, depending on whether there is a functional dependence between them. Given the monumental character of the buildings and their age, increased active fire protection measures have been taken, which have been approved by the Fire Service.
In the 1890s, the first written record indicates that the Fortress functioned as an Ottoman prison. Even after 1912, it continued to operate as a Greek prison. The history of the Eptapyrgio Fortress is overshadowed by its history as a prison up to the present day. In 1989, the Fortress, along with the surrounding land, was transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Culture. In 1996, extensive interventions at the monument began and continued until 1999. Since then, stabilizing works have been carried out on specific parts of the monument, with only emergency restoration work being undertaken. The current use of the eight newer two-story buildings within the archaeological site originally served the operation of the prison. Four of these were used as prisoner chambers, while the others served as offices for state officials. Additionally, there are single-story buildings for isolation, the kitchen, the church, and the external and internal guard posts. Since 2019, the “Eptapyrgio Festival” has been hosted at the Fortress in two internal courtyard areas, with designated entry and exit routes for the audience. For the needs of the Festival, scaffolding with a capacity of 800 people is assembled.
Crypt of Saint Demetrius The Church of Saint Demetrius is designated as a historic preserved monument. The exhibition space of the Crypt was created in 1985. The exhibition consists of nine areas arranged around the fountain and is organized thematically, based on the existing partitioning of the Crypt. The layout of the individual rooms guides the visitor’s path. After the completion of long-term restoration work on the Church, the Crypt was converted into an exhibition space for archaeological finds. The Crypt has an area of approximately 450 square meters and is underground, except for the eastern section, which protrudes from the ground.
