From 1 to 10 May 2026, we had the pleasure to participate in Krastu Mastru, a project realised by Foghiles in Semèstene village, in the province of Sassari in Sardinia (Italy), represented by the member of The Mitato of Amorgos, Maria Nomikou.
The aim of the project was the exchange of knowledge regarding various techniques of dry stone building, and its transmission to apprentices. For ten days, craftsmen from Cyprus, Croatia, Sardinia and a craftswoman from Northern Italy captured the uniqueness of their technique in 30 metres of sustaining wall, and we had the chance to learn by their side.
Cyprus had a strong presence in the event, represented by Terract of Salami, with craftsmen Panagiotis and Argyris Panagiotou, architect Sevina Floridou and Vasiliki P. Panagiotou. The group has been active since 2019 with various projects, focusing on raising awareness and engaging the youth in the dry stone craft. In 2025, they participated in the 19th International Architectural Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, highlighting the multifaceted importance of dry stone on an architectural, social and environmental level.
We were very happy to meet again with 4 Grada Dragodid eam from Croatia, and craftsman Duje Mikelić. Dragodid marks almost 20 years of action, with workshops organised all year round in areas of Croatia where dry stone structures are present.
Craftswoman Serena Cattaneo, working in areas of Northern Italy, and craftsman Matteo Marangon from Sardinia, led by their own experience each one towards choosing this profession, are both graduates of International Terraced Landscape Alliance (ITLA) της Ιταλίας. They passed on a very important dimension of the way in which a wall is restored, as well as the process of starting from scratch, calculating materials, working hours and costs. Of exceptional interest was the acceptance of Serena by the community of craftsmen, as apparently she is the only craftswoman active in Italy at present.
During the event, we also had the opportunity to present our current and future projects, our goals, challenges and vision. In addition, we were guided by the team of Foghiles through some very impressive dry stone monuments of the area, such as Nuraghe Santu Antine, as well as an area with numerous Pinnettas de Pedra, structures with various uses, according to the needs of farmers and shepherds in the area. We saw beautiful medieval villages, we were hosted by locals and felt familiar.
Through this meeting, we realised that dry stone is not only a building technique; it is a way of connecting people through collaboration, knowledge exchange and common effort. Each stone is placed next to the other to create something stable that will last in time – just like the relationships built among people who love and serve this art. Dry stone bears a deep sense of solidarity and community, a process that shifts the attention from “I” to “us”, reminding us that the most essential works are created collectively.
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 11
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 9
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 2
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 6
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 7
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 8
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 7
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 10
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 3
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 4
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
Mitato Amorgos – Krastu Mastru Sardinia 5
Photography: Julia Ślusarczyk
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”
From November 24 to December 1, 2024, Mitato attended the week devoted to the Dry Stone Craft, organized on the island of Tinos by the Association “Ambasada”.
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...
read moreA visit to Tilos island on the occasion of the dry stone school of “Petra Tilos”
It is exciting to see more and more projects related to dry stone masonry in the Aegean being organised, giving us the chance to visit new places, meet new groups of people and join new initiatives, always with the common element of the love towards the land and its tradition.
During the first weekend of April 2024, we had the opportunity to participate in the Dry Stone School which was organised by ...
The Mitato of Amorgos takes part in the 1st dry stone workshop on the island of Paros
On 10 and 11 February, we had the chance to experience a beautiful weekend in the heart of the Cycladic winter, on the occasion of the 1st Dry Stone Workshop on the island of Paros. The project was organised by “Archilochos” Cultural Association of Paros, along with the Cultural Association of Angeria, and it was a complete success.
read moreParticipation in the community mapping workshop in Kallithea, Aitoloakarnania
The Mitato of Amorgos had a wonderful and creative start to 2024! We had the opportunity to take part in the highly interesting Community Mapping Workshop that was organised by Youth Active Minds and Boulouki teams in Kallithea, Aitoloakarnania, Greece, from 2 to 7 January 2024. For four days, we worked with an active team of young people, of various...
read moreEvents and projects of autumn 2023
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...
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