Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni Inspects Aigosthena Fortress After Wildfire

On 31 July a large wildfire burned across four 24‑hectare plots in the Porto Germeño area of western Attica, threatening the ancient Aigosthena fortress and its Byzantine and post‑Byzantine monuments.

On 5 August Culture Minister Lina Mendoni visited the site to assess the damage. Officials said the historic walls, restored towers and interior temples suffered no major structural harm, though frescoes require immediate cleaning. The fire did damage modern facilities: wooden support beams for a crane bridge, the bridge itself, water and electricity networks, and the antiquities service’s on‑site offices were destroyed.

The ministry noted that the fortress, dating to the mid‑4th century BC and one of Greece’s best‑preserved fortifications, remains largely intact, but restoration work will need to address the affected stone blocks and the damaged infrastructure.