Publications
Heritage Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism in Mountain Cultural Landscapes: The Case of Zagori Within the UNESCO Framework
Heritage hospitality, driven by public policy incentives rather than market forces, has emerged as a key strategy for sustainable tourism and population resilience in mountain cultural landscapes. A study of Zagori, Greecereveals that targeted development policies, particularly those promoting small-scale, high-altitude enterprises, can mitigate population decline while preserving built heritage. Unlike spontaneous growth models, this approach fosters a micro-network of hotels that integrate local entrepreneurship with cultural conservation. Spatial and quantitative analysis of Zagori’s evolution from 1982 to 2022 demonstrates that diversified tourism infrastructure, when aligned with heritage preservation, sustains vitality in remote settlements. Conversely, policy gaps or overconcentration lead to stagnation, highlighting the need for adaptive reuse frameworks to balance conservation, development, and demographic outcomes.
Building insights : craft, collective care, and architectural theoria in an itinerant workshop
A resurgent interest in traditional crafts can enrich architectural theory by incorporating tacit knowledge—forms of understanding tied to bodily skill, practical experience, and cultural context. This study demonstrates how the Boulouki Itinerant Workshop's projects, focusing on reconstructing dry stone paths (kalderimia) and vernacular structures in remote Greek regions like Zagori and Therasia, bridge traditional craftsmanship with contemporary landscape care. By analyzing participatory engagements through reflective practice and thick description, the research reveals that such projects not only preserve cultural memory but also highlight more-than-human agency in architecture. The findings suggest that an architectural theory sensitive to tacit knowledge must integrate these dual discourses to deepen collective understanding.
Pathways to Know and Sidetracks to Forget: Walking and the Montane Cultural Landscape of Zagori (Northwestern Greece)
Walking through Zagori's cultural landscape reveals distinct pathways of heritage interpretation, from historical travel accounts to modern archaeological surveys. This study highlights how different ways of engaging with the landscape—whether through dwelling, inhabiting, or gazing—shape our understanding and memory of place. By analyzing past and present walking practices, it uncovers contrasting attitudes toward heritage, illustrating a dynamic interplay between remembering and forgetting. The research employs a comparative approach, drawing on primary sources, contemporary interpretations, and field observations to elucidate the multifaceted nature of Zagori's montane cultural landscape.
Faidon Moudopoulos Athanasiou, Woodland Values in Zagori, NW Greece (19th–21st Century): Between Heritage and History
A study on the Zagori Cultural Landscape in NW Greece reveals a historical conflict between natural and cultural values in woodland management, shaped by top-down state policies from the late 19th century to the present. The research highlights how economic factors and legislative biases influenced the transition from communal management to centralized approaches, leading to polarization between ecological and heritage perspectives. This case study serves as valuable educational material for heritage professionals, offering insights into site valorization processes, stakeholder dynamics, and the interplay of history, economics, and policy in cultural landscapes. The findings underscore the importance of understanding these complexities for effective heritage conservation.
The Trees of the Sacred Natural Sites of Zagori, NW Greece
Sacred trees in Zagori, NW Greece, serve as enduring symbols of spirituality and local history, their sanctity often tied to proximity or connection with churches. These trees, distinguished by their size, longevity, and natural growth—protected by strong taboos against private use—reflect a deep cultural significance. Research reveals distinct associations between tree species and sacred site types: broadleaved oaks and maples are linked to outlying churches, plane trees dominate central squares near churches as focal points for community life, while cemeteries now feature planted conifers replacing native evergreens. Local communities perceive these trees as living elements of collective memory, underscoring their role in preserving cultural heritage.
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