- The University of Crete has secured €5.563 million for the restoration and repurposing of Heraklion’s historic Evangelismos building.
- The early 20th-century listed building has suffered years of deterioration and requires extensive structural and architectural work.
- The funding follows €744,000 allocated in 2023 for assessment, redesign and restoration studies.
- The project aims to return the long-neglected building to the University and the wider Heraklion community with a new use.
A Historic Heraklion Building Gets a Second Chance
A long-awaited step toward the restoration and reuse of one of Heraklion’s most distinctive historic buildings is finally moving forward.
The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports has approved €5.563 million in funding for the University of Crete to restore, reinforce and change the use of the historic Evangelismos building in the heart of Heraklion.
The funding was at the center of a meeting between Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki and University of Crete Rector Professor Giorgos Kontakis, as part of ongoing cooperation over the university’s infrastructure and property.
The objective is straightforward, even if the building’s history is anything but: stabilize and restore the listed property, preserve its architectural character, and give it a new function serving the university and the local community.
A Building from the Cretan State Era
The Evangelismos building was constructed in the early 20th century, during the period of the Cretan State, and occupies a prominent location in Heraklion’s historic center at the junction of Georgiou Chronaki, Panteli Prevelaki and Theotokopoulou streets.
The building covers approximately 1,198.58 square meters, extending across a basement, ground floor, and two upper floors.
Years without adequate maintenance, combined with deterioration over time, have left the property in need of comprehensive intervention. The planned works are intended to address both its structural safety and the restoration of its architectural features.
In other words, this is not simply a matter of giving an old building a fresh coat of paint and hoping for the best.
From Long-Term Problem to Restoration Project
The Evangelismos building is property of the University of Crete, but its future has remained unresolved for years.
The building has also been associated with one of Heraklion’s longest-running occupations, while its deterioration and safety problems have repeatedly concerned the university authorities.
That makes the restoration significant on two levels. It is an investment in a historic part of Heraklion, but it is also an attempt to turn a long-standing liability into a functioning university asset.
The latest funding follows an earlier €744,000 allocation in 2023, which supported the assessment, redesign and preparation of the necessary restoration studies, as well as planning for the surrounding area.
With the new €5.56 million allocation, the project moves from preparation toward implementation.
More Investment in University Infrastructure
The Evangelismos project is part of a wider infrastructure investment programme for the University of Crete.
For the 2026–2030 period, €6 million has been earmarked for maintenance and repairs at university facilities in Heraklion and Rethymno. Additional funding approved during 2026 covers repairs, maintenance of electromechanical installations, and upgrades to university and laboratory infrastructure.
The Evangelismos project is being financed through the Ministry of Education’s 2026–2030 Sectoral Development Programme, using resources from Greece’s National Development Programme.
“We Want Evangelismos to Return to the Life of Heraklion”
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki described the building as a historic part of Heraklion and stressed that the new funding provides the financial foundation needed to move from studies to restoration works.
She said the aim is for Evangelismos to regain a role in the life of the city, acquire a new use and once again serve the University of Crete and the wider community.
University of Crete Rector Giorgos Kontakis likewise welcomed the funding, describing Evangelismos as a newer historic monument of Heraklion that is expected to return to the university and local society.
He credited the Ministry of Education with supporting both the preparation of the restoration study and the securing of funding for the building’s reconstruction.