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CULTURAL LANDS/ Greece and Albania Joint Initiatives for Cultural Preservation Through Innovative Actions

04.07.2022

The cross-border area lacks adequate planning and management of the promotion of its cultural and architectural heritage to tourists.

The project was focused on developing an innovative thematic cross-border cultural route for tourists. The nodes of this path were primarily the historical buildings of special architectural and cultural value, associated with the historical figures of the area.

Overall Objective

To preserve and promote cultural resources as a prerequisite for tourism development in the cross-border area.

Activities

  • 4 infrastructure projects leading to the rehabilitation of buildings of special architectural and cultural value: “Kaplanios” historical Housekeeping School building at Grammeno, Zitsa;  “Tsanaka” historical building and former Cinema building at Metsovo; “Avni Rustemi” House Museum in Libohove, Gjirokaster
  • 1 marketing plan for a Cross- Border Cultural Touristic Path
  • 1 trilingual cross-border web GIS platform for cultural and tourist services
  • 2 multimedia applications/e-libraries of cross-border cultural assets
  • 1 trilingual informational brochure “Cultural Heritage in Epirus and Gjirokastra”
  • Thematic registration to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Index (UNESCO, Art.12)
  • 1 thematic database of the methodologies, technologies, tools related to best cultural preservation practices
  • 2 joint thematic workshops for building know-how and capacity-building in the field of smart cultural preservation
  • Two sustainability studies of the project results (one in Greece and one in Albania)

Expected Results

  • A thematic cross-border cultural path is developed, consisting of buildings and other cultural assets of high architectural and cultural value, leading to numerous visitors and tourism growth
  • 500 visits to supported sites and attractions and 0,1 millions overnight stays a year in the cross-border area
  • Modernised and refurbished “Kaplanios” historical Housekeeping School building at Grammeno in Zitsa, Epirus; conserved and modernised surrounding area
  • Modernised “Tsanaka” historical building and refurbished former Cinema building at Metsovo, Epirus
  • Restored “Avni Rustemi” House Museum in Libohove, Gjirokaster