Light in the history of Thessaloniki, its cultural heritage and its large monumental reserve, it is going to be literally a new project by the Ministry of Culture. Sponsored by Metlen International Industrial and Energy Company and the lighting study of Liberty Deco, the 4.5 kilometers of the surviving Byzantine walls of the city are to be enlightened as a whole.

At a press conference today at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni recalled that the walls -as well as the rest of the Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988, All these centuries.

“The Ministry of Culture has been a constant care for several decades. However, in recent years, the protection and maintenance of the walls has been included in a specific program, designed with a system, methodical and based on the principle of science and ethics, in order to be restored to be rendered as a public free space in the city, “said Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, and he would not have been.

“Within the next year, the walls of Thessaloniki will now be enlightened and will be attributed to those who belong. First of all to the citizens of Thessaloniki, but also throughout Greece and thousands of visitors to the city, “the minister noted, adding that” through the lighting in the end all of us -special and less experts, we will understand all the intervention in the city, all of this huge and very important work “.

Press conference

For a “unparalleled visual experience”, which “will become the property of the citizens, but mainly to the visitors of the city”, for his part, the Mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis said. “With similar actions, I think Thessaloniki is re -established, regains its potential and creates a new dynamic image in the world,” Mr Angeloudis said.

The details of the project, which, both in the course of the study and its implementation, cooperate closely by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Thessaloniki, mentioned Eleftheria Deco, and explained that such a large project could not be done in one phase, so the western and most densely populated side of the city would start. “The purpose of the study is to highlight the walls, in a way that fully respects its historical character, but also to protect the monument itself, that is, not intervening on it, neither near it nor around it. Its photography is in such a way that it does not disturb the residents who stay close, but may also be distinct from the various viewing points, “Ms Deco said, and explained that green energy technology would be used so that the consumption is needed.

He also said that this project is a great challenge because of its size and due to the fact that many of the 4.5 kilometers of the walls that are preserved “are involved in the urban fabric, which needs different handling than light”.

Also, “many of these sections will illuminate them both from their external and inner side, such as Eptapyrgio,” concluded Eleftheria Deco.

The company operating in 40 countries does not forget its roots in Thessaloniki

Vivian Bouzali (Chief Corporate Affairs & Communications Officer) from Metlen spoke about the company’s choice to support the work of lighting on the Byzantine walls of the city. “Respect for history, culture, city, its people. Because the castles of Thessaloniki are identity, they are memory, it is the relief of time, but it does not wear out, on the contrary it unites. Just like Thessaloniki: A city with depth, intensity, with culture. We wanted to light up this experience. But not just to illuminate a monument, but to illuminate a part of the city’s soul, “he said.

For the lighting study -prepared by Metlen’s generous donation, the company addressed Eleftheria Deco, with whom he has worked with last year’s new lighting of the Temple of Poseidon Sounion.