Last updated: October 2024
The green belt regeneration project along the Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki aims to revitalize the neglected green spaces surrounding these historic fortifications, which span 4 kilometers and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for their remarkable Byzantine architecture. The walls are located in Thessaloniki’s densely populated Upper Town, a factor that contributed to their environmental degradation. As such, the project focuses on restoring the degraded space surrounding the walls, improving the urban microclimate, and strengthening urban resilience while maintaining the area’s traditional character. By integrating heritage conservation with sustainable green infrastructure, the initiative seeks to provide both environmental and social benefits to the local community. Proposed by the Municipality of Thessaloniki and approved by the Greek government as part of a program that focuses on Central Macedonia, the project envisions a revitalized green zone along the walls, with vegetation and different types of trees being planted. However, some local families have expressed concerns, as the project involved the demolition of certain homes in the officially designated green belt area. (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 14).
Byzantine Walls
https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/562742857/oi-teleytaioi-kastropliktoi-tis-thessalonikis/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Parks and urban forests
- Green corridors and green belts
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Noise reduction
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Social interaction
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
- Disconnection from nature
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of green corridors (including connectivity between urban and rural ecosystems), Creation of any other green urban spaces, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality
Project objectives
- To showcase the walls and create a ‘green zone’ along them
-To improve access to green spaces in a city characterized by a dense urban structure and limited open areas, thereby enhancing overall livability and recreational and social interactions opportunities (Ref 2, 3).
-To address climate change challenges, particularly the impacts of natural phenomena such as high summer temperatures and intense winter rainfall and to improve the urban microclimate (Ref. 5, 6)
-To improve the urban environment through the regeneration of degraded areas, including sites slated for reconstruction, while reducing air pollution and implementing noise reduction measures (Ref 3).
- To provide both environmental and social benefits by enhancing public spaces, improving urban resilience, and promoting heritage conservation (Ref 2, 3, 4).
Implementation activities
The revitalization of the area focuses on creating and enhancing green spaces, with the implementation of a clean network of walking paths featuring designated stopping points and open green areas for relaxation. Rest and play areas have been integrated into the landscape, with benches designed to encourage social interaction. Green zones have been maintained along the Byzantine Walls, preserving natural slopes to enhance the visual appeal of the surroundings.
The landscaping plan includes a mix of low plants throughout the area, while specific spots are designated for tall trees, providing shade for seating areas. Efforts have been made to preserve all valuable existing trees, ensuring they remain an essential part of the landscape. Where feasible, paths along Eptapyrgiou Street have been widened to improve accessibility, and modern lighting has been installed to illuminate pathways and highlight the architectural features of the wall.
An archaeology sub-project has also been implemented to explore and celebrate the historical significance of the area. Additionally, a public bidding process was conducted to select construction contractors, ensuring a transparent and efficient revitalization process.(Ref. 2, 4, 7, 8)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Municipality of Thessaloniki proposed and co-operated the project , while the Ministry of National Economy and Finance was the co-funding authority. ΤΑΚΟΥΔΗΣ ΑΕ was selected as the contractor for the main project through a public tender process. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture was responsible for the archaeological sub-project, with formal contracts signed between the respective parties. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). (Ref. 3, 4, 5, 6, 9)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(It is implemented within the framework of the local Sustainable Urban Development Strategy of Thessaloniki (Ref 5, 6).)
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Support from transitional governance actors, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- EU funds
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Expected lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Reduced noise exposure
- Expected reduced noise exposure
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Expected more sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Achieved improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Achieved protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Social justice and conflicts, Displacement of vulnerable or marginalized communities, Loss of cultural heritage (e.g. culturally significant sites, traditional practices, and indigenous knowledge systems)
References
1.
Architecture Centre of the Municipality of Thessaloniki (2011). Μελέτη ανάπλασης ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των Βυζαντινών Τειχών. Architecture Centre of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Municipality of Thessaloniki (2021). «Ανάπλαση ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των βυζαντινών τειχών (Οδός Επταπυργίου)». Municipality of Thessaloniki, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Special Service Management of Central Macedonia Program (2020). Ανάπλαση ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των βυζαντινών τειχών Οδός Επταπυργίου. Special Service Management of Central Macedonia Program, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Ministry of Economy and Finance (nd). Ανάπλαση ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των βυζαντινών τειχών (Οδός Επταπυργίου). ANAPTYXI.gov.gr , Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
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iefimerida (2020). Θεσσαλονίκη: Ανάπλαση της ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των βυζαντινών τειχών. iefimerida, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Municipality of Thessaloniki (2020). Thessaloniki 2030 Resilience Strategy. Municipality of Thessaloniki, Accessed on September 7, 2020, [Source link];
7.
Architecture Centre of the Municipality of Thessaloniki (2011). Μελέτη ανάπλασης ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των Βυζαντινών Τειχών. Architecture Centre of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
8.
GR Times (2023). Δήμος Θεσσαλονίκης: Δημιουργείται πράσινος περίπατος στα βυζαντινά τείχη. GR Times, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
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Municipality of Thessaloniki (2021). Επιλογή αναδόχου κατασκευής του έργου: «Ανάπλαση ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των Βυζαντινών Τειχών της Θεσσαλονίκης (οδός Επταπυργίου)». Promitheies, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
10.
ΑΠΕ (nd). Ανάπλαση της ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των βυζαντινών τειχών. ΑΠΕ, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Municipality of Thessaloniki (2024). Έγκριση χορήγησης πρόσθετης καταβολής (πριμ) λόγω έγκαιρης παράδοσης του έργου: «Ανάπλαση ζώνης πρασίνου κατά μήκος των Βυζαντινών τειχών(οδός Επταπυργίου)»(ΕΣΠΑ-ΤΠ) κατ’ εφαρμογή του άρθρου 154 του Ν.4938/2022 (ΦΕΚ Α’ 109/6-6-2022).. Municipality of Thessaloniki, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
12.
Sovitsli, F. (2020). Θεσσαλονίκη: Πράσινες «οάσεις» στα Βυζαντινά τείχη, σε δημοτικά κτίρια, δώματα και σε διαδρομές αναψυχής. Makedonia, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
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Mylothridou, T. (2022). Η «κρυμμένη πόλη» στη Θεσσαλονίκη, που την… προστατεύουν τα βυζαντινά τείχη (ΒΙΝΤΕΟ & ΦΩΤΟ). Thes, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
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Kalaitzis, A.; Christou, S. (2023). Οι τελευταίοι «καστρόπληκτοι» της Θεσσαλονίκης. Kathimerini, Accessed on September 7, 2024, [Source link];
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Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.