The 7 Most Endangered Program that identifies endangered monuments and sites in Europe began work in the neighborhoods of Dolcho and Apozari in Kastoria on October 4. Local and international experts from Europa Nostra arrived in the historic center of Kastoria in order to protect them and develop viable solutions for their salvation in cooperation with the national and local public and private bodies.
The heritage specialists of Europa Nostra pinpointed the following threats to the neighborhoods of Dolcho and Apozari. Specifically:
* Population growth and development pressures
* Degradation of historic buildings and roads
* Construction of modern apartment blocks
* Current economic crisis and growing unemployment rates
All that remains now is for the experts to come up with a strategy to save the region and help it live up to its potential.
“We draw our strength and inspiration from all those cultural treasures which we inherit from past generations,” says Spanish tenor and conductor Placido Domingo, who presides over Europa Nostra. “They form the fertile soil on which our vitality, our creativity and our success as a continent will continue to grow.”
The 7 Most Endangered program was launched in January 2013 by Europa Nostra in collaboration with the European Investment Bank Institute as founding partner and the Council of Europe Development Bank as associated partner.
About the region
Dolcho and Apozari, with their medieval churches and 18th-19th century mansions, make the lakeside mountain city of Kastoria one of the most distinguished in Southeastern Europe. Unfortunately they have suffered considerable damage since World War II and the economic crisis has served to worsen the situation as there is no national support available for the restoration of the area’s historic buildings.
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