The autumn season of 2023 has been a period during which several events regarding the intangible heritage, the environment and sustainability have taken place in various parts of Greece. The Cyclades, experiencing unprecedented pressure and limited resources, have no doubt been in the centre of such developments. It was therefore unsurprising that several important events took place in the area, such as the Workshop on the Endangered Landscape of Sifnos Island from 23 to 26 October, the Congress on the Sustainability of the Islands on the island of Mykonos from 18 to 19 November and the Dry Stone Month on the island of Tinos during the whole month of November 2023.
The Mitato of Amorgos was happy to attend the first week of the Dry Stone Month of Tinos, in order to support the worthwhile efforts of the Association “Ambassada” with its experience in organizing similar workshops, and of course in order to attend some of the very interesting events that took place. Specifically, Maria Nomikou attended the opening night where lectures were presented regarding the dry stone craft in education, by Ms Ioulia Papaeftychiou, Ms Olga Karagianni, Mr Kostas Karageorgos and Mr Nikos Chazapis. During the event, the documentary “Dry stones, support of the Aegean”, by Ms Emilia Zepou and Ms Lydia Karra, was also screened. During the following days, Maria Nomikou was present at the workshop site, where the dry stone craft was presented by local masons and practical work followed directly. The Dry Stone Month continued with the completion of site works, more lectures and screenings and projects with local schools.
Outside the Cycladic limits, on Saturday 11 November 2023, the Mitato of Amorgos had the pleasure to participate in a remarkable event organized by the local school network of the Department of Secondary Education of the 2nd District of Athens “Today’s Student – Tomorrow’s Active Citizen of the World”, in cooperation with schools from the Department of Secondary Education of East Attica, with the topic “Projects promoting the importance of intangible cultural heritage”. The event was held in the school hall of the Vocational High School complex of Agia Paraskevi, Attica, and the Mitato of Amorgos participated with the online presentation of Semeli Drymoniti. Given the indisputable significance of education and its vital role in transferring knowledge to the younger generations, it was with great joy that we took part in such a remarkable initiative, which embraced and was embraced by a wider audience, transcending the limits of Attica. The Mitato of Amorgos presented their projects that have been completed and their role in the efforts of preservation of the intangible heritage. The presentation was even more special as students from the 2nd Vocational High School of Agia Paraskevi had attended the 2rd Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftsmanship”.
Other events which, unfortunately, we weren’t able to attend were the meeting for the intangible heritage organized by the Ministry of Culture in Athens from 24 to 26 November and the 6th Panhellenic Trail Meeting which took place in Pelion Magnesia, at the same weekend.
We continue with more participation in more projects in the following months!
Implementing a standardised dry stone workshop in Iraklia
The pilot workshop of the project "Allaximaria: Design and implementation of a standardised dry stone workshop" was realised on the island of Iraklia, Cyclades, from 8 to 22 October 2025, in collaboration with Boulouki team along with Association “Ambassada”. The pilot dry stone workshop was structured on two axes _ the programme of professional apprenticeship and the open workshop programme. Both programmes involved practical work on site and theoretical lessons.
read moreWall building at the Dry Stone Canada Festiposium 2025
The Mitato of Amorgos has been invited by the organization Dry Stone Canada and took part in the Festiposium 2025 which was held on Amherst Island in Lake Ontario, Canada, from 26 to 28 September 2025..
The Festiposium was a meeting opportunity for the members of the Association, friends of dry stone in general, as well as residents of Amherst Island, where the largest concentration of Irish type dry stone walls in Canadais found. Starting in 2015, the Dry Stone Canada team has realised more events on the island, with participants from other countries too, mainly Ireland, the UK and the USA. Through these events, free standing walls are restored, many of whom have been officially designated as dry stone heritage.
Participation in the events of the 7th Workshop in Traditional Stonemasonry in Langadia, Arcadia
It was with great pleasure that we received the invitation of the Association “Friends of Traditional Architecture - Blossoming Stones” to participate in one of the two evening events organised in the context of the 7th Workshop in Traditional Stonemasonry in Langadia, Arcadia (Greece), from 27 July to 3 August 2025.
The lectures focused on aspects of stonemasonry in the past, the relevant scientific research, but also the training framework in France, as well as the current steps towards this goal in Greece.
“Allaximaria”: Open call to a standardised dry stone workshop
We are extremely pleased to announce the organisation of the pilot dry stone workshop of “Allaximaria”, from 8 to 22 October 2025, on the island of Iraklia, and we invite you to participate in one of its two events.
Secure your spot in one of the above events now, by filling out the relevant form:
Sign up to the dry stone apprenticeship (8-22/10/2025)
Sign up to the dry stone workshop (13-18/10/2025)
** Registration is open until 15 September 2025.
Water on the island of Amorgos – The traditional management systems as inspiration for the future
One of the most crucial issues on the Greek islands is the management of water resources. The confined geography, the shift of local economy and society with the consequent abandonment of agricultural land, as well as the current challenges of touristic development and climate change, raise concerns regarding the sustainable future of these exceptional places and their treatment.
read moreSocial and Anthropological Aspects of Amorgian Craftmanship and the Art of Dry Stone Walling
"The Mitato of Amorgos" was created in 2020 by a group of people who share common concerns and a common vision for both the natural and the manmade environment of the island of Amorgos -and the Cyclades in general. As an organisation, during the previous years, we have worked towards the restoration of the extensive network of paths, namely the old, now partially closed, routes that used to connect the different areas of Amorgos in the past. Through this attempt, we have witnessed the importance of the dry-stone walls in the preservation and further revitalization of this network of paths. Besides, one can easily observe how dry stone walls, terraces, buildings, are not only embedded in the network of paths, but have also shaped the entire landscape of the area. Ihese stone structures are a cultural and material testimony to the time and work that generations ...
read moreDry Stone Week on Tinos Island, organised by the Assocation “Ambassada”
Από τις 24 Νοεμβρίου έως την 1η Δεκεμβρίου 2024 βρεθήκαμε στην Τήνο, μετά από πρόσκληση του Συλλόγου «Αμπασάδα», για μια εβδομάδα αφιερωμένη στην Τέχνη της Ξερολιθιάς.
read moreAnother successful completion of the Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftrsmanship”!
Friday 25 October 2024 marked the completion of the 3rd Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftrsmanship”, organised by the Mitato of Amorgos.
The project was concluded in complete success, with 40 participants and 18 guest speakers, masons and representatives of administrative and citizen bodies from eight islands, as well as the rest of Greece and abroad...
read moreΤhe 3rd Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftsmanship” returns in October 2024!
We are pleased to announce the 3rd Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftsmanship”, which will be held in Aegiali, Amorgos Island, from 21 to 25 October 2024.
Following the cancellation of our Workshop in 2023, we are very happy to organise our project anew, incorporating a broader framework of events.
Contributing to the workshops on spatial planning for the preservation of the Cycladic identity of Paros
It was our pleasure and honour to be invited as speakers in the last weekend of this series of events, on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April 2024. During the second day, we discussed the role of civil society in preserving the Cycladic landscape...
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