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Feasibility study for the restoration project of the Venetian arsenals at Chania

Sofiou Panagiota-Maria

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Summary

The Venetian shipyards, or Arsenalia, first appeared at the port of Chania in the early years of Venetian colonialism in the 16th century when the Venetian fleet dominated the Mediterranean basin. The need for the construction of facilities such as the Arsenalia became imperative forthe Venetians, as their long warships needed to be maintained and kept in good condition on a permanent basis. This ensured the protection of the fleet, allowing it to be on standby at all times, while offering additional security to the inhabitants of the city of Chania. Over the years, the degradation of the original role of the harbor, in combination with its poor maintenance, led to the abandonment of the original use of the Arsenalia and their reuse for other purposes, causing deformations and significant damage to their structure and morphology. Today, only 9 out of the 23 Venetian Arsenalia complexes have survived, including 7 consecutive domes, the Great Arsenal (Centre for Mediterranean Architecture), and 2 Arsenalia from the Moros complex, in the form of a historical monument, whose condition has deteriorated throughout the years. Given the importance of this World Heritage Site, which contributed not only to the development of shipping and maritime trade but also to the history of the wider Mediterranean region, the need for its conservation and restoration is becoming increasingly urgent. The present thesis deals with the project for the restoration and promotion of the Arsenalia in Chania. The aim of this project is to upgrade both the emblematic historical monument itself and the overall image of the Venetian port of Chania, creating a special cultural tourism perspective in the wider region. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to investigate the feasibility of the project for the restoration of the Venetian Arsenalia and to check the viability of the investment. This thesis, which is divided into 5 thematic sections, firstly reviews the history of the Arsenalia, focusing on the most characteristic examples of them. Then it describes the importance of the restoration and rehabilitation of historical monuments, focusing on the individual parts of the restoration project of the Arsenalia in Chania. Finally, it analyzes the estimated scenarios of the use and operation of the project, as well as the socio-economic benefits, leading to the conclusions of the study.

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