PRESS RELEASE 23-3-25
Cultural Organization “Streets of the Olive Tree”
Sunday 23 March 2025
On Sunday 23 March 2025, members of the Cultural Organization “Roads of the Olive Tree” carried out a research mission in the framework of the “ANIMA TERRA” initiative. The initiative aims to revitalize rural villages at risk of desertification due to demographic problems and other challenges.
We visited four villages: Zevigolatio, Diavolitsi, Desyllas (Municipality of Oichalia) and Hranus (Municipality of Megalopolis). These villages, although linked to the rural tradition, face serious challenges, the main one being demographic.
Like stone poems of a bygone era, the abandoned railway stations emerged as the central theme of our journey. They stand unmoved in time, silent witnesses of a living history waiting to retell its memories. Until the whistle of the historic Peloponnesian railway sounds again, these buildings-civilization’s graves can be transformed into beacons of life and creation, illuminating the path to the rebirth of local communities.
In Zevigolatio, we were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of Oichalia, Kostas Dimitrakopoulos, at the cafe next to the railway station. There, Kyriakos and his grandson keep the business alive, hoping for the return of the train.
In Diavolitsi, we learned that in the summer the old station is transformed into a café, while in the village of Desyllas, with the initiative of the women of the community and the help of the municipal authority of the Municipality of Oichalia, the station has been transformed into an open-air lending library.
The trek was completed in Hranus Arkadia, at the station’s café, next to the train tracks, with the owner Dimitris Sikalis welcoming us. There we were met by all the local actors, including the Athens lawyer George Andreou, a dear friend of George Karambatos, the President of the local cultural association Georgia Vasiakou, and Nikos Sikalis, a volunteer who takes care of the social networks and the village’s presence on the internet.
We discussed ideas for village revitalization through ANIMA TERRA, focusing on the creation of local action groups. We found that the will is there – what is needed is the right support and the right initiatives.
Local communities are at the core of the success of the ANIMA TERRA project. The warm welcome from the local people confirmed that it is the right time to join forces to bring life back to villages where tradition meets the future. We have a duty and obligation to keep our villages alive – it is an unsurpassed culture that is inextricably linked to Green Greece. When these villages cease to exist, Green Greece will cease to exist, leading to an irreparable loss for our national identity and our environmental future.
It is precisely to this need that the ANIMA TERRA initiative of the Chamber of Commerce of the “Olive Roads” responds, which is of national importance. It is a vision that transcends narrow local boundaries and aims to revitalise rural villages in mainland and island Greece, which are in danger of desertification. Through partnerships with local stakeholders, ANIMA TERRA seeks to highlight cultural heritage and enhance sustainable local development, acting as a bridge between the rich past and a promising future for the Greek countryside.
ΓFor more information, Cultural Organization “Streets of the Olive Tree”
Phone: 27210 95620
Email: 27210 95620
Ιστοσελίδες: www.olivetreeroute.gr & www.animaterra.org
