Description/Objective

The project consists of four construction phases with a total budget of €10.4 million. The first two phases (A2.1 and A2.2), with a total budget of €4.6 million, were implemented during the 2014–2020 programming period, while phases A2.3 and A2.4, with a total budget of €5.8 million, are co-funded by the “THALIA 2021–2027” Programme.

The project includes the redevelopment of the area surrounding the city walls, with upgrades to the built environment and infrastructure, aiming to make the area more attractive to residents and visitors.

In addition, the design of the project’s spaces contributes to improving sustainable urban mobility, as it includes, among other elements, a pedestrian walking route, the creation of a two-way bicycle lane, a wooden pathway (deck), stopping and viewing points of the Venetian walls monument with seating/benches, water features (water curtains/fountains), a bicycle rental station and bicycle parking area, full landscaping of the site with rehabilitation of the existing greenery, an increase in both tall and low vegetation, new modern lighting, and “smart city” infrastructure/equipment.

The first three phases of the project (A2.1, A2.2, and A2.3), which have already been completed, concern the connection of the moat section between the D’Avila and Costanza Bastions, with the creation of a new passage beneath Dorou Loizou Square (Kaningos Bridge) for pedestrians and cyclists. They also include the redevelopment of the area between the descent ramp to the D’Avila moat and the Dorou Loizou Bridge, both at street level and moat level, as well as the redevelopment of the northern sidewalk of Stasinou Avenue from the Dorou Loizou Bridge up to Archbishop Makarios III Avenue, and part of the moat beneath the Costanza Bastion.

Phase A2.4 focuses on the complete redevelopment of Agios Antonios Garden, including the creation of a new, modern, and fully equipped playground, a track for bicycles and wheeled activities, a café building, as well as other facilities aimed at attracting more visitors.

All phases of the project include full landscaping of the area, with rehabilitation of the existing greenery, installation of LED lighting, and upgrading of utility services and all infrastructure, thus creating a unified and cohesive urban intervention along Stasinou Avenue.

Expected Benefits/Outcomes

The overall project is expected to deliver comprehensive solutions to issues of safe and comfortable accessibility for cyclists, pedestrians, and people with disabilities, while at the same time upgrading the area both aesthetically and functionally, to offer high-quality opportunities for social interaction to all residents and visitors within an improved natural and urban environment.

Furthermore, upon the redevelopment and the introduction of new uses and facilities, visitor numbers are expected to increase, while the upgraded Agios Antonios Garden will serve as a local landmark for residents both within and outside the walled city, reviving its historic role as a space for recreation, social interaction, and cultural activity.