
The first heatwave of 2023 of over 40 degrees is coming!
July 9, 2023
The flames are girdling Rhodes
July 24, 2023It is a building complex which had been built during the Italian occupation and had been used for a short period of time as a silk factory (as it was originally intended) and then as a rural prison. The description of the former municipality of Southern Rhodes is typical: 'Some buildings on the outskirts of Kattavia, once used for commercial purposes, show clear Italian characteristics. These include an old silk factory, an abandoned prison and a deserted church (St Mark's Catholic Church) with a clock in its tower and an impressive road directly opposite leading to the cypress-lined beach of St Paul's. These buildings, along with the abandoned airport, are a reminder of the Italian occupation of Rhodes from 1913 until the end of the Second World War." But what is the picture of the area today and what stages did it go through? In fact, since the day the Italians left the island, the building complex has never been reopened and as a result, despite the efforts made from time to time, it is in a state of collapse. However, some efforts have been made to make use of it. In the early 1990s, the then Community of Kattavia leased the building to a private individual, so that it would no longer appear abandoned and could finally be put to commercial use. However, because it was considered as a newer archaeological monument, its development was not permitted. Later during the mayoralty of Mr. Manolis Savvi in the now united municipality of South Rhodes, a marathon began mainly to settle and then use it, according to the plan that had been drawn up. More specifically from the investigation of the former municipality, it was discovered that the Italians had not even had time to register it in the Land Registry (which they themselves had also created) due to their departure from the island, so it is considered confusing even the ownership. So a three-year struggle had begun with every available legal "weapon" by Mr. Savvi to be able to solve the problem. Today the building complex of the Metaxourgio is now formally considered the property of the municipality of Rhodes, but with the change brought about by "Kallikrates" and the merger of the municipality of Southern Rhodes with the rest of the island in the single municipality of Rhodes, Mr Savis was never able to complete the development plans. In fact, what is left is a remnant of the signboard that the former municipality had placed (as well as the other sights of the area) to remind the public administration's inability to maintain and exploit its property.
Head There!
Sources: Βακαλοπούλου Μ., Δανιήλ Μ., Λαμπρόπουλος Χ., Φασουράκης Η. (επιμ.), 2017, Βιομηχανικά Δελτία Απογραφής