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UC Researchers Seek to Transform Tourism in Crete: Hersonissos, Crete -- The village of Avdou in northern Crete no longer needs its school. Because the village's younger families and population have moved away, the two buildings that once comprised the school are vacant and graffiti covered.
Red roof tiles are falling off the buildings, one dating back to the 1800s, the other to the early 20th century. An abandoned olive
grove, containing trees as old as 300 years, stands behind the school grounds.
Those remaining in Avdou (pronounced "av thoo") -- a primarily
intellectual community of about 350 people with well-kept houses, have talked about turning the unsightly schools into a visitors'
center. And they've turned to the University of Cincinnati's Sustainable
Development Group, which is working with the mayor of their municipal region, for help.
At first, the citizens got an answer they didn't expect to hear. "It didn't make sense to put a visitors' center at the end of the
village, rather than the beginning," said Michael Romanos, UC professor of planning and head of the 24-member UC team working in
Crete this summer.
So he and fellow faculty member Brenda Scheer and adjunct assistant professor of architecture David Scheer began to brainstorm and have come up with a possible alternative: a
high-quality intellectual retreat for composers, artists, writers who would come to Avdou to pursue their crafts in serene,
picturesque surroundings.
"We are envisioning a monastery-like complex of buildings and courtyards where the guests can write, paint and compose in
solitude or in collaboration with other," said Romanos.
The president of the Advou Community Cultural Association is already registering 15-20 abandoned buildings to restore and use as
possible bed-and-breakfasts to house the visiting artists and additional tourists. "We think a residents' cooperative could work
together to staff the bed-and-breakfasts for cleaning, cooking and the like," Romanos added.
The neighboring community of Gonies, seen to the south from the school building property, also supports the idea and is interested
in contributing possible bed-and-breakfast locations as well, Romanos said.
A trip to the school site last Friday confirmed that the buildings are structurally sound for reconstruction. The complex,
if realized, would surround the 14th-century Byzantine church of Panagin and its square.
A nearby old chapel, shaded by old pine trees, could be incorporated into the plan. The whole complex is adjacent to and
marks the southern boundary of the village, with the main street leading to it. The location, Romanos adds, offers magnificent views
of the surrounding mountains, the road to Lassithi Plateau and a paragliding launching pad.
For a complete list of stories related to UC's research in Crete, go to http://www.uc.edu/crete/credef.htm.
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