It is with great pleasure and pride that we present the manual for the organisation and realisation of an educational programme on the dry stone craft.
The manual is the result of the research and practical implementation realised in 2025 by the Mitato of Amorgos, in collaboration with the Itinerant Workshop on the Traditional Building Crafts Boulouki and the Cultural and Environmental Association of Tinos “Ambassada”, in the context of the project “Allaximaria: Design and implementation of a standardised dry stone workshop”.
The aim of the manual is to guide organisations and civil society groups who wish to actively engage in the efforts towards the conservation and transition of knowledge of the dry stone craft, assisting them with the planning and realisation of educational programmes in order to secure minimum educational and quality standards. The suggested methodology and structure takes into account the particularities of the Greek territory and the conditions of isolation that are often in place, either due to insularity or mountainous terrain. It is therefore a programme that can be adjusted and realised anywhere, tapping into local techniques, knowledge and craftsmanship.
We invite the organisations and groups that will realise programmes based on this manual to share the feedback resulting from their projects with us, in order to improve the content and lead to a second, revised edition.
We warmly thank our partners and collaborators, as well as everyone that has contributed in any way at all stages of this endeavour.
The project “Allaximaria: Design and implementation of a standardised dry stone workshop” was funded by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Secretariat-General of the Aegean and Aegean Island Policy, with the support of Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF). Ferry transfers during the pilot workshop were realised with the sponsorship of Blue Star Ferries and Small Cyclades Lines. The Association “Ambassada” participated with the support of the Municipality of Tinos..
The pilot workshop was supported by the Local Community of Iraklia of the Municipality of Naxos and the Small Cyclades.
We would like to thank Meltemi Retreat Iraklia, Sohoro, Aiolos και Aegean Herbs for offering their services
We would also like to warmly thank everyone that has contributed to the crowdfunding campaign and helped in the realisation of this project.
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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.
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"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 ...
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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.
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The Mitato of Amorgos takes part in the 1st dry stone workshop on the island of Paros
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