Within the framework of the “Volunteerism and Environmental Protection” program of the Ministry of Environment, the cultural organization “AION”, in collaboration with the P.E.E.P. (Volunteer Work Programs for the Environment), organized from 18.8.2003 to 2.9.2003 the opening of the path from Pyrgos Bazeos to Kaloritsa (a 9th century cave-monastery), in the Damariona area of Naxos.
On 16/08/03, volunteers from Germany, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, Japan and various regions of Greece began to arrive at the tower. They formed a team of 12 people, which, under the guidance of special architects, worked from 18/8 to 12/9/03 to open the path. the volunteers removed the vegetation, leveled the ground, built terraces with natural materials and demarcated the path with stones and wood. Arriving in Kaloritsa, they removed the vegetation from the entrance and cleaned the cave.
After the departure of the first group of volunteers, experienced stone craftsmen took over to construct stone steps and terraces along the path while they planted oleanders at the end of the route.
We believe that thanks to the support of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the zeal of the volunteers, we achieved a gentle intervention, which highlighted the natural landscape and the cultural heritage of the island and is the first step towards the construction of a wider network of hiking trails. In this way, we hope that the important monuments in the Bauzi area will be connected, which we propose to all competent bodies to be characterized as an area of special cultural value and natural beauty.
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