Restoration work is set to begin on the Tower of Prosforios in Ouranoupoli, the iconic gateway to Mt Athos in northern Greece, following the signing of a funding agreement between the Greek Ministry of Culture and mining company Hellas Gold, according to amna.gr.
The agreement was formalized on Friday in Chalkidiki by Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, who emphasized the growing trend of businesses reinvesting in local communities. “It is very important that more companies now feel – and this is not typical – that they must return part of their dividend to local communities,” she said. “Culture is not something that occurs in vitro. It does not exist in isolation from the society it belongs to and which created it.”
Hellas Gold Chairman Christos Balaskas noted the company’s broader commitment, having allocated $80 million for corporate social responsibility initiatives over the lifespan of its Skouries mining operations. Eldorado Gold executive Louw Smith added that the partnership offers a chance to build a “socially inclusive and economically resilient future of mining.”
Dating back to the 12th century, the Tower of Prosforios is the best-preserved medieval tower in Chalkidiki. Damaged by a 1585 earthquake and possibly fire during the 1821 uprisings, it underwent major repairs in later years. It became a home to humanitarian workers Joice and Sydney Loch in the 1920s, who aided in settling Asia Minor refugees in nearby Ouranoupoli.
Restoration work will include fire protection and structural stabilization, aiming for completion within 24 months, though Minister Mendoni expressed optimism for an earlier finish. Aristotelis Mayor Stelios Valianos said the municipality chose to channel the funding toward preserving this landmark.
Source: amna.gr
