Signing of the contract for the execution of the project: "Elevation of part of the crossroad of the Prefecture of Potidaia and shaping of the surrounding area"
The contract for the execution of the project was signed: "Elevation of part of the intersection of Potidaia Prefecture and shaping of the surrounding area", study budget €3,250,000 by the Mayor of Propontida Prefecture Emmanuel Karras and the representative of the contractor company "AXION TECHNIKI SA", Alexandra Ioannidou. The project is implemented within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan "Greece 2.0" with funding from the European Union - NextGenerationEU.
The total construction period of the project is set at eighteen months and starts from the signing of the contract.
The play:
It extends to a length of approximately 1200m. from Toroneos gulf in the east to Thermaikos in the west. In this area the scholars place the existence of the ancient Potidea, the later Hellenistic Kassandreia and finally the Byzantine "polychnion or castle of Kassandreia".
It is a historical preserved monument (Government Gazette 871/Β/24-10-1991) and constitutes one of the most important monuments of Halkidiki, which impresses by projecting in the middle of the densely built settlement of Nea Potidaia. In the Revolution of 1821, it functioned as a line of defense for the rebel Halkidikians, led by Emmanuel Pappa, in order to hold back the advance of the Ottoman army. The purpose of the partition was to close the narrow entrance to the Kassandra peninsula, in order to protect its productive area from enemy raids. Today, the highest surviving height of the crossing reaches 8m. and its thickness varies between 1.50 and 3 m., while 17 towers are still preserved.
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Halkidiki and Mount Athos, responsible for the protection of the monument, in collaboration with our Municipality, prepared the preliminary study for highlighting part of the crossroad of the Prefecture of Potidaia and shaping the surrounding area. The purpose of the study is to create a mild environment, where the monument is a dominant element, so as to ensure its prominence and at the same time the overall image contributes to the upgrading of the wider area.
In view of the urban regeneration of the area, an attempt is made to integrate the monument into the events of the settlement, either in the context of a tour of archaeological interest, or a simple leisure walk. It is a thorough tour of the specific area of the wall, which alternates between sitting rooms and landscaped green areas and includes three areas:
• The first area proposed to be shaped is the section from tower Π12 to tower Π15, with a total length of approximately 200m.
• The second area that is proposed to be shaped is the part that surrounds the P19 tower. The total intervention area has a surface of approximately 650 sq.m.
• The third area included in the proposal is the section where, in the existing situation, there is a square in the section of land between the fishing shelter located north of the intersection and the western sea boundary of the area, which, while having direct visual contact with the sea section of intersection (P17-P18).
The materials used are materials with good thermal behavior and aesthetically compatible, but not competitive with the materials of the partition and other archaeological finds.
Furthermore, it is proposed to enrich the planting with endemic species of trees and small bushes in order to emphasize visual escapes, to shade local areas of standing and movement, to improve the microclimate and to upgrade the aesthetic of the section under construction.
The highlighting lighting of the monument is done from the ground level with in-floor projectors of asymmetric beam and lighting of the monument with linear in-floor LED lamps. The general lighting will be discreet and will not compete with the lighting highlighting the monument, but capable of guaranteeing the proper functioning and safety of the space, avoiding glare. Also, the night lighting of towers Π17-Π18 with floodlights from land is proposed.
The walk along the ramparts of Kassandreia is not a purely archaeological proposal to highlight the monument, isolated from the urban environment. Additionally, there is a systematic effort to urban regeneration of the settlement, with the creation of quality recreational areas, where of course the monument remains the protagonist. Thus, in addition to being highlighted, the Kassandreia rampart is naturally integrated into the events of the settlement, either in the context of a complete tour of archaeological interest, or a simple walk.
The proposal also includes the digital virtual representation of the ongoing events of the revolution of 1821, which took place in this area, with the projection of the material on the crossing, thus creating a virtual reality that will impress, but also inform the viewer of historical facts.
*We warmly thank the Ephorate of Antiquities of Halkidiki and Mount Athos and especially its head, Mr. Georgios Skiadaresi, for his undivided help and support in this effort.
Municipality of Nea Propontida