State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

East and South Italy. The later wall-paintings are the only evidence of the widespread influence of the art of the Renaissance in the Eastern Mediterranean. These Churches of Cyprus are therefore of outstanding and universal value. Painted Churches in the Troodos Region As provided in ICOMOS evaluation

ICOMOS justifies its testimonyٛ opinion for :(1985) Brief description inclusion on the World Heritage List by criteria (iii) This region is characterised by one of the largest and (iv) and on a secondary basis, criterion (ii). groups of churches and monasteries of the former - Criterion (iii). The paintings of the region of Byzantine Empire. The complex of 10 monuments Troodos bear an outstandingٛ testimony to the included on the World Heritage List, all richly Byzantine civilization at the time of the Comnenes, decorated with murals, provides an overview of thanks to the and ensembles. It Byzantine and post-Byzantine painting in Cyprus. should be noted that the former, where the name They range from small churches whose rural Alexis Comnenis mentioned in a dedication, was architectural style is in stark contrast to their highly probably executed by artists from Constantinople refined decoration, to monasteries such as that of and that the latter was painted at the very time of St John Lampadistis. the fall of Isaac Comnene and the sale of Cyprus to Guy de Lusignan. 1. Introduction - Criterion (iv). The churches of the region of Troodos are a well conserved example of rural Years of Inscription 1985, 2001 religious architecture during the Byzantine period. Agency responsible for site management The refinement of their décor provides a contrast • Ministry of Communications and Works with their simplicity of structure. The latest post- (Department of Antiquities), Director of the Byzantine painters alone, with their “rustic” style, Department of Antiquities, Museum Street 1, are at times in harmony with this vernacular 1516 , , Cyprus architecture. E-mail: [email protected] - Criterion (ii). Although the existence of any direct th influence cannot be confirmed, during the 12 2. Statement of Significance century, there existed very close relationships between painting in Cyprus and Western Christian Inscription Criteria C (ii), (iii), (iv) art (stylistic relationships in the case of Nikitari paintings; iconographical relationships in the case Justification provided by the State Party of the paintings of Lagoudera). Thus, there exist These Churches described above are suggested some answers to the very complex question of ties for inclusion in the World Heritage List because of between the two Christianities. These answers take their properties (Monuments) which meet the the form of Cypriot monuments which precede the evaluation Criteria (I), (III), (IV), (VI). constitution of the Frankish Lusignan Kingdom which was a fundamental link in the chain of East- The second roof over a Byzantine Church is not West artistic exchanges. found elsewhere and the Churches of Cyprus are therefore unique. The wall-paintings covering the (June 2001): Bureau recommendation for deferral walls of these Churches are also of universal only available on line. importance because they represent works of art of (November 2001): recommendation for referral in past civilizations not preserved elsewhere. On the ICOMOS file. other hand, these paintings continue the genuine tradition of wall-painting of the Roman World as it was exercised in the Byzantine Empire as the Committee Decision successor of the Roman Empire. The paintings of (1985): The Committee made no statement. the 11th and 12th centuries are of outstanding quality and are considered the predecessors of the Bureau (2001): The Bureau is prepared to Renaissance. Moreover, the wall-paintings of recommend approval of the extension of the Cyprus exercised a strong influence in the 12th and Painted Churches in the Troodos Region to the 13th centuries in other regions such as the Middle Committee, maintaining the existing criteria (ii), (iii) State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

and (iv). In response to a question from the 3. Protection Chairperson, ICOMOS confirmed that the Church being added to this inscription possessed Legislative and Administrative Arrangements outstanding universal value. However, the Bureau • No special legislation or administrative decided to refer back the nomination to the State arrangements Party, asking whether they intend to submit other • The protection arrangements are considered extensions of this site in the future. In that sufficiently effective eventuality, the State Party will be encouraged to • Improvements needed provide a comparative study. • Actions taken at national level: declaration of controlled areas around every monument Committee (2001): The Committee decided to • Timeframe: in the near future approve the extension of the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, maintaining the existing criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv). 4. Management This serial inscription will henceforth include 10 Use of site/property structures: • Religious use

DATE INSCRIBED NAME/ LOCATION Management /Administrative Body 1985 Church of Ayios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas) tis • No steering group. The management is under Steyis, the direct supervision of the Curator of Ancient 1985 Ayios Ionannis (St. John) Lambadhistis Monuments and the Director of the Department Monastery, Kalopanayiotis of Antiquities • Coordinator responsibilities have been added 1985 Church of Panayia (The Virgin) to an existing job Phorviotissa (Asinou), Nikitarit • Levels of public authority who are primarily 1985 Church of Panayia (The Virgin) tou Arakou, involved with the management of the site: Lagoudhera national • The current management system is sufficiently 1985 Church of Panayia (The Virgin), effective 1985 Church of Archangelos Michael (Archangel Michael), Pedhoulas 5. Management Plan 1985 Church of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross), • No specific management plan Pelendria

1985 Church of Panayia (The Virgin) Podhithou, Galata 6. Financial Resources 1985 Church of Stavros (Holy Cross) Ayiasmati, Financial situation • State Budget Annual • Sufficient 2001 Church of Ayia Sotira (Trans-figuration of • Other assistance includes Local Church the Savior), Committees, local authorities and private • Statement of significance adequately defines foundations the outstanding universal value of the site 7. Staffing Levels Boundaries and Buffer Zone • Status of boundaries of the site: adequate • Number of staff: 1 • No buffer zone needed. The Antiquities Law Rate of access to adequate professional staff provides, under section II article 11, for the across the following disciplines: establishment of the so-called "Controlled • Very good: Conservation, management, areas" around the site interpretation

Status of Authenticity/Integrity • Good: promotion, education • World Heritage site values have been • Bad: visitor management maintained • Access to other adequate professional staff: engineers for protection measures State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

• More staff is needed especially for promotion, number of local visitors in collaboration with the education, visitor management and Cyprus Tourism Organisation safeguarding • The Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus produced a • Regular volunteers involved series of videos aiming for secondary schools • Special events and exhibitions include the exhibition in Athens 2002 organised by the 8. Sources of Expertise and Training in Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO in Conservation and Management collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Foreign Techniques Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Cypriot WH sites were promoted by the Cyprus Tourism • Scientific staff of the Department of Antiquities Organisation at the Exhibition of Cultural Specialised conservation workshops of the • Tourism held in Berlin, 7-11 March 2003, official Church celebrations related to UNESCO, local events • Specialised scientific teams from Universities as the ceremony celebrated in Palaichori on the and Institutes from abroad occasion of the inscription of the Church of the • The staff is sufficiently trained but needs Transfiguration of the Saviour in the WHL of constant training and information on new UNESCO in 2002). techniques • Local participation: the continuous use of all the churches for religious ceremonies is a 9. Visitor Management decisive factor for social and other benefits

• Visitor facilities include signs and explanatory panels, parking, sanitary facilities, local 12. Factors affecting the Property (State of museums, leaflets and guidebooks Conservation) • Facilities are adequate Reactive monitoring reports • N/A 10. Scientific Studies • Risk assessments, studies related to the value Conservation interventions of the site, condition surveys undertaken • Building restoration work; improvement work in • Study for the installation of theft and fire alarm the surrounding areas; conservation of wall- systems in the ten churches; extensive paintings, restoration of wooden furniture restoration of the architecture and the wall- • Present state of conservation: very good

paintings of the ten churches have been Threats and Risks to site undertaken by the Department of Antiquities. • Development pressure, environmental From 1965 to 1966 a Dumbarton Oaks pressures, natural disasters and visitor/ tourism expedition undertook the cleaning and pressures preservation of wall-paintings and frescoes. In 2003-2004 researchers of the Frederick • The pressure of increasing number of visitors Institute (Higher Education Private Institution), affects the demands of the local church in cooperation with the Department of authorities for new facilities that are not Antiquities, undertook a project on air quality compatible with the character and value of the monuments 11. Education, Information and Awareness • Other major problems include arbitrary activities by the owners of the monuments and Building increasing of criminal activities ( robberies) • There are many signs referring to World • Measures taken by the Dept of Antiquities Heritage site include increased monitoring of the problems • World Heritage Convention Emblem used on threatening the site and further expropriation of some publications lands around the monuments for theft and fire • Adequate awareness of World Heritage among: systems in the churches visitors, local communities, businesses, local authorities 13. Monitoring • Training of local church authorities and local communities by organising lectures, seminars, • Formal monitoring programme includes exhibitions, etc. - Measures for increasing the supervision of the air quality in relation to the condition of the frescoes in some of the State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

churches, the quality of conservation and restoration work, the impact of development in the vicinity of the monuments

14. Conclusions and Recommended Actions • Main benefits of WH status are conservation, social, economic, management and educational • Achievements since the inscription are the control of the building activities and the development of surrounding areas, the increased number of visitors, the allocation of funds for regular conservation and the increase of public awareness. • Weaknesses: lack of personnel fully engaged in the management of the site. The existing staff of the Department of Antiquities is also involved in the management of all the ancient monuments all over the country

Future actions: • Increasing of government staff responsible for the management of the site