Zagori Nominated for Inscription as Cultural Landscape on UNESCO World Heritage List

Photo: GTP

The Greek Culture Ministry has submitted a nomination file for the inscription of Zagori as a Cultural Landscape on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Zagori is an area of unique natural beauty in Epirus, western Greece. Covering an area of some 1,000sqkm, it includes 46 villages, also known as Zagorochoria, as well as the city of Ioannina.

According to UNESCO, “cultural landscapes – cultivated terraces on lofty mountains, gardens, sacred places – testify to the creative genius, social development and the imaginative and spiritual vitality of humanity”. To date, 119 properties with six transboundary properties on the World Heritage List have been included as cultural landscapes.

Zagori is Greece’s first candidacy in the field of culture.

The cover of the Zagori nomination file. Source: Ministry of Culture

According to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, the submission of Zagori’s nomination file required the close cooperation of the ministry’s services with the region of Epirus as well as the involvement of a number of experts including archaeologists, historians, biologists, architects and many more.

“The cultural landscape nominatio required the involvement of the local community and area’s residents. We expect positive results from the file’s evaluation and believe that the inclusion of Zagori on UNESCO’S World Heritage List will offer added value to the region,” Mendoni said.

Zagori’s nomination file highlights the outstanding value of the cultural landscape as well as the area’s biodiversity, fauna and flora and unique natural environment comprising of rivers and the Vikos gorge.

It also focuses on the area’s history, rich architecture and monuments.

In addition, the file includes information on the intangible cultural heritage of Zagori comprising music, festivals and traditions.