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 first evening symposium was realised on 29 July 2025, at the Elementary School of Langadia, with the topic “Stonemasonry schools today – Origins and continuities from the past to the future”. The evening was dedicated to the late master mason Kostas Tarnanas from Pentalofos, Kozani. The event included lectures by Platon Petridis, Professor at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Jerome Andre, PhD Researcher at the Universities of Lyon and Lausanne, Thierry Gregor, Expert in stone cutting and researcher at ERC-Graph East, Poitiers (France), and Vassilis Ganiatsas, Professor at the National Technical University of Athens. 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.
On the evening of 30 July 2025, the second evening symposium was realised, with the topic “Dry Stone and training”. The lectures were presented by Antonia Theodosiou, Architect and Environmental Engineer, Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare of the Republic of Cyprus and Vice-president of the International Society for the Interdisciplinary Study of Dry Stone (SPS), Ioannis Michail, Architect, Konstantina Papageorgiou, Archaeologist, member of the Association Ambassada and Ioannis Tsiaoussis, President of the Association “Blossoming Stones”. In the context of the event, the Mitato of Amorgos member Semeli Drymoniti presented the lecture “Dry stone workshops in Amorgos: goals, results and following projects”. During the lecture, the three dry stone workshops “The Amorgian Craftsmanship” were presented, as well as the current project “Allaximaria: Design and implementation of a standardised dry stone workshop”, as the next step towards a more complete dry stone training scheme, particularly on the Greek islands.
Alongside the evening lectures, we had the opportunity to attend the works taking place on the two sites of the 7th Workshop in Traditional Stonemasonry, as well to be guided through the settlement of Langadia, with its rich stonemasonry tradition. Among other participants, the teachers and students of the 2nd Vocational High School of Agia Paraskevi (Athens) were present, honouring Amorgos in their own way, through their artistic creations brought to be exhibited.
Upon departure, we realised a stop at the neighbouring town of Dimitsana, in order to attend a part of the 6th Summer School for the Cultural Heritage of Rural Areas, organised by the Directorate of Modern Cultural and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Hellenic Minsitry of Culture, in collaboration with the Region of the Peloponnese, the Municipality of Gortynia, , the Piraeus Cultural Foundation, the the Social Cooperative Menalon and other local partners.
We would like to warmly thank the organisers of the Workshop for the invitation and excellent hospitality, as well as the opportunity they gave us to integrate our thoughts and projects in the wider framework of initiatives regarding the training and certification of dry stone in Greece.
4th Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftsmanship”: Open call
It is with great pleasure that we announce the organisation of the 4th Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftsmanship” in Amorgos, from 19 to 31 October 2026.
The 4th Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftsmanship” has been designed based on the programme and content of the above standardised model and we are pleased to invite you to participate in one of its two events: the dry stone apprenticeship & the dry stone workshop.
read moreKrastu Mastru – Learning the art of Dry Stone in Sardinia
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.
read moreWelcoming the second group of students from the Lycée Agricole de Matiti, French Guiana
In the context of Erasmus+ programme, we welcomed in Amorgos the second group of students of the Department of Management and Protection of Nature of the Lycée Agricole de Matiti, part of the French Guiana educational organisation EPLEFPA BTS, from 20 to 24 April 2026.
read moreParticipation in the first European Network Meeting of the Programme for Culture and Engagement LOKAL
The Mitato of Amorgos was pleased and honoured to be among the organisations invited to attend the first European Network Meeting of the Programme for Culture and Engagement LOKAL
read moreWelcoming students from the Lycée Agricole de Matiti, French Guiana
In the context of Erasmus+ programme, we welcomed in Amorgos the students of the Department of Management and Protection of Nature of the Lycée Agricole de Matiti. Together we worked with us in the restoration of dry stone walls in the outskirts of Langada, learning the craft from our craftsman Antonis Vlavianos. Furthermore, as part of their specialisation, the studied the flora and fauna of the area, particularly that of the micro-ecosystems created in dry stone structures.
read moreA manual for organising and realising an educational programme on the dry stone craft
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 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.
read moreThe art of dry stone in Iraklia: the interaction between material, landscape and craftsmanship through time
This article is only in Greek and was born out of the reflections that arose during the Pilot Dry-Stone Workshop, held as part of the program ‘Allaximaria: Design and implementation of a model dry-stone workshop,’ which took place in Irakleia, through our interaction with the local community.
read moreImplementing 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.
“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.