Cyprus - An international COST Training School will focus on the monastery and its cave
The territory valorization starts from Underground Built Heritage: some cases across Europe demonstrate that development strategies can be based on caves, grottos and cavities related with local memory, devotions and identity.
These models are the object of the COST Action 18110 Underground4Value: a network of scholars, professional and stakeholders from 32 different countries working together promoting Underground Built Heritage as a valuable resource to be preserved and, when sustainable, to be re-used and valorized.
Our newest case study polarizing data analysis and new projects focuses on the Aya Napa Monastery, along the southeast coast of Cyprus, a complex dating back to 14th century displayed around the church dedicated to the Virgin. The church’s structure is built on a natural cave in the rock. Cults and devotions, also favoured by the presence of a spring water, consolidated over the centuries, constituting one of the main places of worship on the island up to the present day.
A symbolic place for the Orthodox Church, Aya Napa is a site for liturgies and pilgrims’ devotions, at the same time a popular touristic beach destination. How to combine these two dimensions enhancing territory value and local economy?
In order to define a new operational approach the Monastery of Aya Napa is both the study object and the seat of the Third Training School promoted in the Cost Action “Underground Built Heritage as catalizer of Community Value”. Scholars, professionals, tutors and qualified trainees from all around Europe will meet from 14th to 18th of February to analyze the case on field and to work with local stake holders.
A preparatory webinar is scheduled on 7th of February on these themes: Christian architecture and liturgy between East and West; spiritual landscapes; storytelling for the heritage based on local communities. Lectures will be provided by: Giuseppe Pace, chair of the COST Action; Renata Salvarani, European University of Rome; Susana Martinez Rodriguez, University of Murcia; Mia Gaia Trentin, The Cyprus Institute.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83096963601?pwd=UklJNXYwREFiSWxrMXJiRkJmdUFYUT09
ID meeting: 830 9696 3601 Passcode: 773678
http://underground4value.eu/ayia-napa-monastery-cyprus/
Relevant stakeholders involved in the project:
Bishopric of Constantia and Ammochostos ( https://www.imconstantias.org.cy)
Municipality of Ayia Napa ( https://www.agianapa.org.cy/en/)
Department of Antiquities of Cyprus ( http://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/da/da.nsf/DMLindex_en/DMLindex_en)
Famagusta Region Tourism board ( https://www.visitfamagusta.com.cy/en/)
Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative ( https://csti-cyprus.org)
Cooperation and organization contributions also come from the Phivos Stavrides Foundation - Larnaca Archive and the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) - EU project Department.
Info and onsite activities:
Dr. Mia Gaia Trentin
MSC-RIF Post Doc Fellow
The Cyprus Institute - STARC
Tel: +357 22208749
