The cable car being constructed to give access to the Upper Town in the historic castle-town of Monemvasia is a project "that is an expression of European social cohesion and solidarity, and lies at the heart of democracy," according to renowned Byzantologist Helene Glykatzi-Ahrweiler FBA, in statements made to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA).
"Walking in the Upper Town is essential to completing a visit to the castle town of Monemvasia," noted Ahrweiler, one of the most prestigious academics in Greece and in her field, who has taught and earned multiple distinctions in Greece and abroad. A professor at Sorbonne University in Paris and the first woman to become a principal of this world-renowned university in 1976, she is the member of several national academies and recipient of many awards, decorations and honours, while she was named a UNICEF Good Will Ambassador.
Talking of the many important monuments in the Upper Town, as well as the efforts underway in the last 70 years to restore and open the site to visitors. With reference to "the need to provide universal access to this archaeological site," she acknowledged "how difficult, dangerous and practically impossible access to the Upper Town becomes via the existing uphill routes of the Castle for people that are elderly or in other ways prevented."
According to National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) Professor Panagiotis Alexakis, the "wondrous monuments" of the Upper City date back to its founding, 15 centuries ago, and it is a "sacred space", while all guides emphasise the need to visit the Upper City in order to complete a tour of Monemvasia.
He emphasised that making this area accessible to people of advanced years or those with disabilities was an issue of values, institutions and social inclusion.
"This should be the starting point of any discussion. The cable car under construction, 150 metres before the entrance of the Lower Town of the Castle, covers this need and also showcases the Upper Town's monuments. It does not pose any danger to the authentic character of the historic site and natural environment of the castle town," he said.
He rejected arguments that it would lead to overtourism or convert Monemvasia into a "Disneyland-type" commercial centre as "exaggerated".
The project was recently given a green light from the Central Archaeological Council, through criticism has come from several quarters who said the issue was "rushed through" in spite of objections from civil society and expert scientists - including Europa Nostra, which added the Castle of Monemvasia in its list of Europe's seven most endangered heritage sites, largely because of the planned cable car.