Press Release for the 5th Psiloritis Geopark Celebration – 21 July 2025, Amari

On Monday, 21 July 2025, the 5th Celebration of the Psiloritis Geopark took place at the Panakron Estate, within the framework of the Amari Green Festival. This celebration aimed to highlight and foster interaction among the partners and activities of the Geopark. Throughout the event, visitors, friends, and supporters of the Geopark had the opportunity to explore exhibitions of local products from partners and artworks by artists from various parts of Psiloritis.

  

In an evening full of smiles and encounters, the Panakron Estate was filled with the unique tastes and aromas of Psiloritis, as well as with works of folk art from different areas of the Geopark: from painting, photography, and weaving to woodcarving, stone carving, ceramics, and traditional bells. At the same time, the canvases of the Flora mirabilis exhibition, featuring the plants of the Geopark, harmoniously blended with the artworks of Geopark artists, while photography exhibitions were also presented in both digital and printed form by experienced photographers and student competitions (CLLD/LEADER of the LAG AKOMM–Psiloritis Development Agency “The journey begins in your own place. Discover it: Actions for raising environmental awareness among visitors and residents of the Psiloritis Natural Park”) with the theme of Psiloritis landscapes and people. Information was also provided on mountain escorting by certified mountain guides.

  
   
  

The celebration also featured highly successful weaving workshops by the Anogeia Weaving School, where children and adults tried their hand at creating textiles on portable frame looms, band looms, and table looms with heddles and reeds for rag weaving.
The event began in the morning with a tour of the Monastery of Asomaton, a welcome and guided visit by the nuns of the Monastery, a walk through the Patsos Gorge, and a wine tasting at the Kourkoulou Winery. The afternoon was enriched with parallel activities, such as ceramic workshops and insightful presentations that sparked reflection and dialogue. Dr. Charalambos Fasoulas presented the actions and initiatives of the Psiloritis Geopark for 2025. Dr. Marina Tzakosta, Professor at the Department of Preschool Education, University of Crete, spoke on “The past, present and future of the Cretan language.” Finally, Dr. Georgios Nikolakakis, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Crete, spoke on “Behaviours and best practices for the coexistence of agriculture
agriculture and livestock farming in Psiloritis, based on the principles of the past.” The discussions were coordinated by journalist Mr. Manousos Klados.

  
  

The festive closing of the Geopark Celebration and the Amari Green Festival awaited visitors with a concert by the Pavlos Vlastos Choir, under the direction of Antonis Micheloudakis, with contributors: Michalis Pavlakis (lyra, lyra-violin, vocals), Stelios Iliakis (lute), Vasilis Nikoloudakis (guitar), Stelios Moulakakis (percussion), as well as the musical performance “The basil smells: songs of the stool and the company” featuring Charalambos Angelakis, Despina Anastasopoulou, Vasilis Papadakis, Stergios Karaiskos, Nikiforos Volanakis, and Stelios Moulakakis.

  

Special thanks are extended to all partners and supporters of the Psiloritis Geopark, who once again showcased the unique character of the Geopark area with their products and works, to the Municipality of Amari and the organisers of the Amari Green Festival for yet another excellent event, for their hospitality and support, and to the Municipality of Anogeia for providing a painting by Polydoros and Maria-Teresa Aerakis, as well as to ΖΑΡΟΣ for sponsoring bottled water

Finally, the Psiloritis Geopark warmly thanks every friend whose participation highlighted the unique character of Psiloritis.

Participating artists: 

Polydoros and Maria Teresa Aerakis, Konstantinos Gallios, Georgios Kapsalis, Nikos Kapsalis, Sifakis Brothers (Grigoris, Michalis, Sifis), Stavros Koukiadakis, Manolis Prinianakis, Asimina Trikali, Giangos Chairetis and Nitsa Chaireti.

   

Participating local businesses: 

Cretan Herbs Cretan Herbs (herbs), Cretanthos (olive oil products) Logos craftware (woodcarving) ΜΙΤΟΣ (weaving workshop and folk art items) αθός Athos (soap workshop), Αnegnoro (honey products) Zominthos (dairy products), Idaia Gi Women’s Cooperative of Gergeri Kourkoulou Kourkoulou Winery, Honey Romanakis, To Konaki Beekeepers’ Association of Gergeri

Also

the Mountain Guides Association of Crete RODAKAS (Social Cooperative Enterprise from Margarites, Mylopotamos) nd the cultural organisation Androidus – Argastiri.

See you next year in another village of Psiloritis!
Until we meet again

Photos by: Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark, Amari Green Festival – Ioannis Rallis