The annual General Assembly of the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe “Iter Vitis” is being hosted by the Region of Central Macedonia in Thessaloniki and Naoussa over the three-day period of October 16–18. The main themes and objectives of the event were presented today during a press conference held in the meeting room of the Regional Council of Central Macedonia.
“The Region of Central Macedonia is a blessed land, and European initiatives like today’s—which combine culture, tourism, wine tradition, and agri-food—highlight in the best possible way the advantages of our region,” stated the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Athina Aidona, in a written address.
Pointing out that the Region of Central Macedonia has been a member of this particular European network since 2018, Ms. Aidona emphasized that “participation in a cultural route with wine as the common connecting element—a product of high added value—offers expertise, exchange of views and best practices, cultivating fertile ground for collaborations and synergies with the ultimate outcome being outward-looking growth and development. In this way, local businesses and producers benefit, and the wine and agri-food wealth as well as the inexhaustible cultural heritage of Central Macedonia are showcased.”
“The Region of Central Macedonia possesses a wine heritage unique in Europe and a vibrant viticultural tradition that marries the wisdom of centuries with contemporary creativity. From Naoussa and Goumenissa to Vertiskos, Pangaio, Serres, Sithonia, Paiko, Mount Athos, Thessaloniki, Pella, Imathia, and Pieria, every corner of Macedonia has its own wine soul. With nearly 200 active wineries, many of them open to visitors, offering unique experiences of wine tasting and hospitality, Central Macedonia holds a prominent place on the wine map of Greece. For us, wine is not just a product. It is culture, history, and identity,” stated the Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism, Vicky Chatzivasileiou, during the press conference.
This year’s General Assembly of the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe “Iter Vitis,” with representatives from fifteen countries, focuses on promoting sustainability, inclusion, and innovation in the fields of cultural and wine tourism. The event is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and is organized in collaboration with the Municipality of the Heroic City of Naoussa, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, and the Wine Producers Association of Northern Greece.
The President of the European Federation “Iter Vitis,” Emanuela Panke, highlighted that the Region of Central Macedonia, the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of the Heroic City of Naoussa, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, and the Wine Producers Association of Northern Greece were among the first participants in the “Iter Vitis” network, having understood from a very early stage “the value that wine holds in offering cultural identity to the region.”
Representing the Ministry of Culture, the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kastoria, Andromachi Skreka, conveyed the greetings of the Head of the Department of International Relations at the Ministry, Marianthi Anastasiadou. “The Department of International Relations of the Directorate of International Relations and the EU of the Ministry of Culture serves as the national contact point for the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. The program includes 49 Cultural Routes that cover a broad range of different themes, from architecture and landscape to religious influences, and from gastronomy and intangible heritage to the great figures of European history, art, music, and literature,” it was noted in the address.
The Director General of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Anastasia Gadoulou, spoke about the museum’s participation in the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe “Iter Vitis.” “The collections of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki include important findings from Macedonia, which reflect the significance of wine production and consumption as well as the dissemination of the cultural value of wine in the context of symposia in antiquity. Since the summer of 2023, when it officially became a member of the Cultural Route, the Archaeological Museum has undertaken the role of transmitting this message about the importance of the wine culture and vine cultivation to younger generations,” Ms. Gadoulou noted.
The added value of wine tourism was discussed by Alexandra Anthidou, Director of the Wine Producers Association of Northern Greece. As she stated, what makes wine tourism unique as an alternative form of tourism is “the experience and joy it offers the visitor in becoming part of the winemaking process.”
