A contract for conservation works at the Archangelos Michael Church in
the Geçitkale village of Famagusta in Turkish Cyprus has been signed.
The
Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and
the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have inked a contract to
start conservation works for the Archangelos Michael Church, the UNDP
announced on its website on Oct. 17.
Conservation works will
continue for eight months and are estimated to cost approximately
390,000 euros, which will be fully funded by the European Union.
With
this project the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage aims to
consolidate and stabilize the church to the maximum extent possible, in
order to bring the building back to its original state, the UNDP said.
The
church will undergo a major structural consolidation, during which the
frescoes and carved woodworks of the gynaikonitis inside the church will
be stabilized and preserved by a specialized conservator. Externally,
the portico roof will be reconstructed and the old school building
consolidated and protected. The yard and the perimeter wall will be
upgraded and improved, UNDP announced, without specifying when the works
would start.
Other conservation works will include the cleaning
of dressed stones surfaces, pointing, the removal of repointing and new
stone carving, as well as the removal and reconstruction of the
existing roof, doors and windows.
The UNDP also said informative
meetings would be held by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage
and the UNDP about chosen conservation methodologies and work plans.
