From May 15 to 17, a particularly important meeting for cooperation and cultural exchange will take place in Pentaloofo, Voio, Kozani, among the three neighboring UNESCO Global Geoparks: Viko-Aoos Geopark, Grevena-Kozani Geopark, and Meteora-Pili Geopark.
The meeting highlights the importance of cooperation among geoparks for the protection and promotion of the geological, natural, and cultural heritage of Western Macedonia, Epirus, and Thessaly. The goal is to create joint initiatives in geotourism, culture, and sustainable development, with a focus on people and the landscape.
The traditional art of stonework holds a special place in the events, an element deeply connected to the history and identity of Pentalofos and the entire Voio region. The region’s renowned stonemasons and masons have left a significant architectural legacy in Greece and the Balkans, while today efforts are being made to preserve and pass on this art to younger generations through workshops and educational activities, but primarily through the establishment of a Stone School, which will soon begin operating in Pentalofos, Kozani, and Lagadia, Arcadia.
The meeting of the three geoparks in Pentalofos serves as a vivid example of how geology, cultural memory, and folk art can be linked to the modern development and outreach of mountainous regions.
