An international conference on The Preservation of Lighthouse Heritage is currently taking place at the Hellenic Maritime Museum in Piraeus until June 7, organized by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and the Hellenic Navy Lighthouse Service.

The conference, organized under the auspices of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, sheds light on methods of restoration and preservation of lighthouses, as well as their promotion as cultural heritage landmarks, featuring several case studies of such projects around the world.

Parallel events include the exhibition Historic Lighthouses: From the Past to the Future, showcasing photographs and artifacts related to lighthouses, the screenings of documentaries and a visit to the stone-built lighthouse of "Ntana" on the island of Poros.

Greece boasts one of the extended and most historic lighthouses’ networks in Europe with 1308 lighthouses, scattered throughout the 15.000km coastline, and 120 traditional stone-made ones, built on every edge of the Greek territory since the 19th century. Some of them have recently being restored, such as the Tenaron lighthouse and the landmark lighthouse of Maleas, standing on the haughty cape Maleas since 1883.

See also: EC-PHAROS Project: Lighthouses in Europe