Peloponnese: Morias ‘21 Initiative Revives History of Greek Revolution

The Captain Vasilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation and TEMES S.A.– the developer of the Costa Navarino resort, have introduced the Morias ’21 program, an initiative that aims to honor the bicentennial of the 1821 Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire.

Through the initiative, the foundation this year invites Greeks from around the world to meet in the Peloponnese and relive the historic moments of the Greek Revolution through thematic routes, experiential and interactive experiences.

The program has taken its name from the peninsula of the Peloponnese, which during the late Middle Ages and the Ottoman era was known as “Morias”.

Under the hashtag #kEgoStoMoria meaning “I will also be in Morias” in Greek, the Morias ’21 program will unveil the strong connection of the Peloponnese with the Greek Revolution through 21 thematic routes to 11 destinations including eight emblematic cities as well as villages, castles, monasteries and historic battle fields in Mani, Kalamata, Corinth, Monemvasia, Nafplion, Pylos and Tripoli.

Speaking to reporters during a press event on Monday, the foundation’s president Achilleas Konstantakopoulos revealed that the journey will be complemented by a number of activities focusing on history, art, gastronomy and nature.

“Our program is addressed to all Greeks – the everyday heroes of life, whom, during these unprecedented times, we admire even more, as well as to the people who struggle to innovate, promote, protect and evolve our identity. Through our program, we invite all of you to the Peloponnese… to Morias,” he said.

Konstantakopoulos is also president of TEMES S.A., the company behind the award-winning Costa Navarino resort.

Experiential activities

The Morias ’21 program will roll out through the following experiential activities:

• History
  With the use of the latest technology and state-of-the-art audiovisual material, the program will digitally revive paintings related to the Greek revolution created by Greek and foreign artists. Their presentation will be combined with narrations about the Revolution and its people.
• Art
  A number of artists will create grafitti inspired by the Greek Revolution and its heroes in select cities in the Peloponnese.
• Gastronomy
  Greek chef Lefteris Lazarou has created a menu inspired by the culinary habits of the fighters of the Greek Revolution, that will be available in restaurants of the Peloponnese.
• Nature
  The program has located Morias’ centuries-old trees and will promote 27 of them, that are connected with some of the Revolution’s most historic moments. Each tree will feature special signage.

The great admirals of 1827 – Grafitti on the walls of Pylos’ port, an initiative of the School of Fine Arts and the Municipality of Pylos-Nestoros as part of the Morias ;21 program. Photo source: @Morias ‘21

Partners

Morias ’21 is taking place under the auspices of Greece 2021, the organizing committee of the bicentennial celebrations.

“This program is one of those special efforts that aspire to revive history in a unique modern, creative way. It is inviting visitors to live a holistic and multi-dimentional experience that combines thematic routes to emblematic cities and points of interest of the Peloponnese, connected with the Greek Revolution,” Greece 2021 President Gianna Angeloulou-Daskalaki said during the press event.

Greece 2021 President Gianna Angeloulou-Daskalaki

The program’s strategic partners also include the Region of the Peloponnese, the municipalities of Eastern and Western Mani, Kalamata, Corinth, Monemvasia, Nafplion, Pylos-Nestoros, Tripolis, Messini, Oihalia and Tryfilia.

The Initiative 1821-2021, created by the National Bank of Greece and some of the country’s most prestigious scientific and cultural bodies, is also supporting the program.

Furthermore, the program is coordinated and managed by Discover Greek Culture, a cultural tourism company.

More details on the initiative will be announced on the Morias ’21 website (www.morias21.com), which will launch on June 10.