International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Stamatios Th. Chondrogiannis
Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Ephorate of Antiquities, Thessaloniki, Greece; 
[e-mail]
The Rotonda of Thessaloniki: 
Completion of Restoration and Enhancement Works of a Unique Monument
The Rotonda, a monument emblematic of Thessaloniki, built at the beginning of the 4
th
century, when the pagan world was giving way to the Christian, finally opened its doors to the public 
in December 2015. After nearly four decades of serious, highly specialised restoration work on 
several different levels, which began after the earthquake that struck the city in 1978, the imposing 
monument which records in its fabric 17 centuries of the turbulent history of Thessaloniki, has now 
regained its ancient majesty. 

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The final phase was studied and executed in 2015 by the new Ephorate of Antiquities, 
Thessaloniki, whose primary aim, from the day it was established, in October 2014, was to complete 
the restoration of the Rotonda and return it to the public. Carried out decisively and with targeted 
interventions, this final phase of the project displayed a new approach conceived in a new spirit, 
designed to preserve the whole history of the monument and its particular nature as monument, 
museum and place of worship.
In this final phase the last steps in the conservation of the roof and the mosaics were completed 
and the sanctuary was restored. This included the cleaning and lighting of the mihrab built when 
the monument was converted into a mosque (1591) and remaining in use until the liberation of 
the city in 1912. This intervention combined the possibility of liturgical use with the immediate 
archaeological experience of an open archaeological cut and a simple but striking presentation. 
Special lighting was installed to spotlight the unique mosaic decoration of the monument, and 
explanatory notices written for a non-specialist public were posted. The south side of the enclosure 
and the Early Christian additions were landscaped, as well as the monumental main entrance and 
the buildings around it, and the opening in the modern enclosure widened to improve visual contact 
with the Arch of Galerius and the palace complex to the south. The study, which was unanimously 
approved in its entirety by the Hellenic Central Archaeological Council, also calls for the conversion, 
in the immediate future, of one of the outbuildings into a multimedia centre relating to all 15 
UNESCO monuments in Thessaloniki and the use of virtual and augmented reality applications as 
a means of information for the public, in what is essentially a totally contemporary approach to the 
use of the new technologies. The Ephorate has already proposed the implementation of this project 
through a funding programme within the EU CSF 2020.
Restoration and enhancement works continue on the archaeological site around the Rotonda, 
but this does not interfere with the daily operation of this unique monument as an extended-hours 
museum, ensuring that it is always open and accessible to the public. Once a month, significant 
cultural events are hosted in the Rotonda, thanks to the collaboration of the Ephorate with renowned 
musical ensembles that specialise mostly in the classical repertoire. In addition, music events are 
hosted in the monument’s courtyard in the summer months. Its ecclesiastical character is also 
preserved, since a Sunday service is held here once a month, following recent UNESCO guidelines 
concerning the protection and continued use of religious monuments as well as respecting the 
sacred character of the monument throughout its seventeen centuries life.