Plaque unveiling marks completion of upgrading to Kyrenia Shipwreck Gallery

October 10, 2019

Photo: UNDP.

Nicosia, 7 October 2019 – The completion of upgrading work to the Kyrenia Shipwreck Gallery in Kyrenia Castle was marked with a site visit and plaque unveiling on Wednesday October 2, 2019.

The work was completed by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH) and funded by the European Union within the overall 14.7 million Euro Cultural Heritage Programme that the European Commission is implementing through UNDP in Cyprus.

Attending the site visit were Renaud Henoumont, Deputy Head of Unit, Cyprus Settlement Support, European Commission, Takis Hadjidemetriou, Greek Cypriot Representative of TCCH, Ali Tuncay, Turkish Cypriot Representative of TCCH, Tiziana Zennaro, Senior Programme Manager/Head of Office UNDP, as well as experts involved in the project.

Following the plaque unveiling, Laina Swiny and Robin Piercy, who were involved in conserving the Kyrenia Shipwreck between 1967-69 and 1970-1974, shared their accounts and information about the Kyrenia Shipwreck, which dates back to 300 B.C. via a video conference call.  

Upgrading work, which started in April 2019 and ended in August 2019, includes the replacement of decayed stones with new sand stones, repair of external masonry, renewal of wood walling and wooden doors, renewal of water insulation works, and various other interventions to decrease the humidity in the gallery.

For further information and media enquiries please contact UNDP at: media.cy@undp.org or Tel. +357 22874733 or +90392 2200027.

Project Background

Further information on upgrading works to the Kyrenia Shipwreck Gallery can be found here.