Touring the countryside of Amorgos is not only a recreational activity, but could also be a process of getting to know traditional methods and facilities for using the island’s natural resources to operate the island’s local economy. Such typical examples are structures to utilise water resources (fountains, water supply hatches, gullies, rain reservoirs, wells, stone drinking troughs, closed and open pits, pipes, metal pumps etc.), structures for wind power exploitation (windmills), dry-stone terraces to create arable land, threshing floors and farmhouses.
The Sustainable Islands Network – DAFNI in collaboration with the Municipality of Amorgos explores how best to use the relevant actions on the island, both from the South Aegean Region as well as by other organisations, with an aim to design a thematic tourism product, which is going to be based on promoting Amorgos as an open-air museum.
In this context, DAFNI’s Sustainable Tourism scientific manager, Georgia Kanellopoulou, conducted an on-site survey on the island between 11-13 December 2017. During the visit, she walked through around 35 km covering sections of the entire Trails Network of Cultural Interest.
The on-site survey examined the existing signage to identify possible improvements and to ensure alignment with the specifications in Ministerial Decision no. 151344/165. In addition, the required maintenance and signage works have been recorded for the recent extensions to the existing Network and corresponding information/leisure points have been identified. Finally, the sections of the paths suggested by the Municipality have been examined to better organise the tour.
We are very grateful to Nikos Fosteris, Mayor of Amorgos, for his creative cooperation, Panos Psychogios and Markos Gavras for all the information on the paths suggested by the Municipality, Tasos Anastasiou for sending the relevant material regarding the Trails Network of Cultural Interest, Giorgos Antzoulakos for accompanying the tours and offering an insight into living on an island during the winter months.
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