The Ministry of Culture has announced a comprehensive restoration and enhancement project for three Early Christian monuments in the broader Analipsi (Maltezana) area of Astypalaia. On this island, the Aegean meets the Dodecanese.
The €500,000 project will be financed through the South Aegean Regional Operational Program (ESPA 2021–2027) and the Integrated Territorial Investment for Small Dodecanese Islands (ΟΧΕ). Completion is planned for 2027.
The works will focus on:
- The Late Roman–Early Byzantine Baths of Tallaras
- The Basilica of Kareklis
- The Basilica of Agia Varvara
These monuments date back to the 4th and 7th centuries, a period when Astypalaia flourished as a maritime hub, connecting the Cyclades and Dodecanese.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni emphasized the island’s dual identity — maritime and sacred:
“The geographical position of Astypalaia, between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, and its natural harbors for safe anchorage, played a decisive role in its rise as a major commercial station in the Aegean from antiquity. The three monuments under restoration are characteristic examples of Early Byzantine architecture. The works planned at these sites — which have so far received little care — are absolutely necessary for their protection and preservation. At the same time, the creation of access routes and visitor paths highlights a vital part of the island’s historical and archaeological identity, unknown to the wider public,”
Mendoni stated, adding her thanks to South Aegean Governor George Hatzimarkos for “his always excellent and effective cooperation.”
Baths of Tallaras
Located north of Maltezana’s harbor, the Tallaras Baths were first unearthed during Italian excavations.
The site preserves the foundations of a hall with a magnificent mosaic floor, depicting:
- The personification of Time
- The Zodiac cycle
- The Seasons and Months
Other remains include a hearth, a well, cisterns, and a bathing basin.
Planned works include:
- Structural restoration and protection upgrades
- Natural planting of a protective hedge
- Excavation before drainage channel construction
- Stormwater management to safeguard the mosaics
- Installation of accessible signage for visitors with mobility difficulties
Basilica of Kareklis
North-east of the harbor, close to the sea, lies the three-aisled Basilica of Kareklis with a narthex and aisles built on uneven terrain.
A protective wall currently shields the monument from erosion by the sea.
Restoration measures include:
- New excavations around the monument
- Cleaning and reshaping of the access path, connecting it to the nearby Bisson monument
- Construction of a low wall and terrace for safe access
- Replacement of fencing and repair of retaining walls
- Creation of an information area with traditional stone steps and signage
Basilica of Agia Varvara
Also, north of Maltezana’s harbor, the Basilica of Agia Varvara stands on rocky ground.
It is a three-aisled church with mosaic floors in all aisles and the narthex, marble thresholds, and the foundations of the apse and column bases.
A small chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara was later built inside the main nave, during the British occupation of the Dodecanese.
Key works planned:
- Replacement of the makeshift south-side entrance with a new metal gate
- Reconstruction of dry-stone walls and traditional wooden door installation
- Full cleaning and enhancement of the surrounding area
The Astypalaia project forms part of a broader national effort to preserve the spiritual and architectural heritage of Greece’s smaller islands, where many ancient treasures remain hidden under the salt and sun of centuries.
By 2027, three monuments — once left to weather and time — will again stand as testimonies of faith, craftsmanship, and continuity in the southern Aegean.
