Restoration of Koules
The Venetian Fortress of Heraklion is in danger
Work has begun on the restoration of the Venetian fortress of Koules, which has defended the entrance of Heraklion harbour for centuries. Koules, one of Crete’s most famous monuments, was in danger of collapse, its foundations undermined by the storms of the Sea of Crete. Although it has been noted for some time that violent waves have excavated deep cavities, weakening the structure’s stability, work began only recently after a long delay.
The first step will be to drill four test boreholes to get an idea of the subsoil, one on land and the others in the seabed around Koules. The boreholes will be 15-20 metres deep and provide valuable information for the restoration project study, to be completed by the end of January.
The second step is to build an underwater wall around the fortress and fill in the cavities in the foundations. The overall project funding is €500,000.