Educational value of monuments

Monuments are the national wealth and pride of the people. Simple or imposing, humble or majestic, intact or worn, they stand silently and remind us who we are and where we come from.

We need to bring children in touch with the cultural achievements of man, the present and the past. In order to achieve this goal, the burden of the educational effort lies mainly in the transmission of theoretical knowledge about our national and world culture, because it lacks a direct connection with the past.

But a visit to a monument and combining theoretical and practical knowledge, is offered for one on one time travel. Children will imagine creatively, try to relive scenes and events from the past, learn the history of the monument, make comparisons and to draw conclusions and form an overall view of historical development and change. 

When students come in contact with the monuments, with the beauty they have and the environment in which they are, they also cultivate their aesthetic criteria.

As a result, they learn to value themselves, to enjoy their presence, to connect with life, and to feel the need to respect, promote, and protect them. School as the first level in systemic child's education is responsible for shaping and developing human cultural consciousness because it involves and facilitates the whole educational process, normalizes relationships and contributes to action to protect their cultural heritage.

The contact of young children with the cultural inheritance works compensate the unequal educational starts that characterizes many students when they cross the threshold of the Kindergarten for the first time and the necessity of the "cultural enrichment" arises from its benefits and importance for their subsequent eclectic way.

Even very young learners are able to benefit from it. With a great extent by their contact with the cultural heritage and through appropriate pre-primary education responding to the capacities of this age-specific level in order to give all pupils equal opportunities to access to cultural heritage and art.

This knowledge contributes to understanding, growing respect and tolerance among people, publicitize necessary information for harmonious coexistence in the European family, and the creation of the concept of European cultural identity.

The book is result after cooperation of five countries around of Europe (Greece, Poland, Lituania, Italy, Portugal) worked together and described all the Monuments from our region.

Monuments in Malopolska

Poland

Unusual landscapes, unique nature, an impressive number of monuments and a unique atmosphere. 

In Małopolska, we will find dozens of attractive tourist places and routes that are worth walking among the picturesque landscapes. The peaks of the High Tatras disappearing in the clouds, the white rocks of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland with the ruins of castles, historic towns with charming old tenement houses, wooden churches, spas with mineral waters, thermal baths, over 300 ski lifts and 250 km of ski slopes - these are just some of the attractions that are waiting for everyone in our Region. There are also 120 sanctuaries in Małopolska, which makes it an important center of religious tourism in Europe, including pilgrimage tourism. Here you can also find the town Krzeszowice rich in many monuments and statues worth visiting.

The Potocki Palace in Krzeszowice

The Potocki Palace in Krzeszowice in Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska is an impressive building in the style of the Italian Renaissance, dating from the mid-nineteenth century, and more specifically from the years 1850-57. In 1862 the Krzeszowice palace was inhabited by the Potocki family, who resided here until the outbreak of World War II. The Potocki Palace hid 228 rooms full of valuable works of art and historical mementos. In 1940, the palace was taken over by the Germans. It then became the residence of the general governor - Hans Frank. Unfortunately, the Soviet army made significant damage here.

The Zwierzyniecka Gate in Tenczynek

The Zwierzyniecka Gate comes from the 19th century and represents the neo-Gothic style. The photo shows the gate in 2010, when it was still very neglected and damaged. Currently, after the renovation, the Gate looks much nicer.

The ruins of the castele in Rudno

Above the village of Rudno, on the Castle Hill, there are the magnificent ruins of Tenczyn Castle, one of the largest in the Jura, which from the Middle Ages to the 17th century was the family nest of the Tęczyński family, powerful and significant almost equally with the king! Interestingly, this once magnificent castle, called Little Wawel, stands on a volcanic cone. Until recently, only parts of residential walls and towers stood here, threatening with collapse and catastrophe. In 2010, even a fragment of the wall collapsed. After this event, security and reconstruction works began, which have been going on for years and allow this beautiful object to be made available to visitors!

Kraków Old Town

Kraków Old Town is the historic central district of Kraków, Poland. It is one of the most famous old districts in Poland today and was the center of Poland's political life from 1038 until King Sigismund III Vasa relocated his court to Warsaw in 1596.

The entire medieval old town is among the first sites chosen for the UNESCO's original World Heritage List, inscribed as Cracow's Historic Centre. The old town is also one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii) chosen in the first round, as designated September 16, 1994, and tracked by the National Heritage Board of Poland. The Old Town is known in Polish as Stare Miasto. It is part of the city's first administrative district which is also named "Stare Miasto," although it covers a wider area than the Old Town itself.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine

The Wieliczka Salt Mine (Polish: Kopalnia soli Wieliczka), in the town of Wieliczka, southern Poland, lies within the Kraków metropolitan area.

From Neolithic times, table salt was produced there from the upwelling brine. The Wieliczka salt mine, excavated from the 13th century, produced table salt continuously until 2007, as one of the world's oldest operating salt mines. Due to falling salt prices and mine flooding, commercial salt mining was discontinued in 1996. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is now an official Polish Historic Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its attractions include the shafts and labyrinthine passageways, displays of historic salt-mining technology, an underground lake, four chapels and numerous statues carved by miners out of the rock salt.

The Auschwitz

The site includes the main concentration camp at Auschwitz I and the remains of the concentration and extermination camp at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Both were developed and run by Nazi Germany during its occupation of Poland in 1939–1945. The Polish government has preserved the site as a research centre and in memory of the 1.1 million people who died there, including 960,000 Jews, during World War II and the Holocaust. It became a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Monuments in Trikala

Greece

The  Prefecture of Trikala is a natural and historic monument for itself and can be characterized as one of the most developed areas culturally and touristicly.

Is the place where myths were born, where experiences never end... 

Is a place dotted with unique, invaluable historical monuments.

A visitor has endless choices, from the rocks and monasteries of Meteora, Byzantine churches and the monasteries of the local villages, castles and ancient theaters to the arched bridges of this region.

The castle of Trikala

The castle of Trikala is located at the north-eastern side of the town. It was built by the Emperor Justinian I (6th century) in the place of the ancient acropolis of Trikki. During the palaiologeian period it underwent extensive renovation .

This castle was an important factor for the safety of the initial settlement on the roots of a hill, where it lays, over the city of Trikala.

 On the eastern side of the castle the Turks built in the middle of the 17th century a clock tower (or tower bell) of a grand dimensions.

 The clock-towers of Trikala and Larissa are the oldest towers in Greece.

The old city of Trikala, Varousi

The old city of Trikala, Varousi, with a uniform architecture. 

Varousi is located in the area around the castle. During the Turkish occupation it was a Christian district and today it is fully preserved.

The old houses of Varousi built between the 17th and 19th century. and the numerous churches reflect the economic and cultural flourishing of the 18th and 19th centuries which was the result of the development of trade and handicrafts.

Varousi is distinguished for its beautiful mansions with elaborate architectural rhythms. In this district are the oldest churches of the city, which are built very close to each other.

Kursum Mosque

Kursum Mosque or Osman Shah Mosque of Trikala is an Islamic mosque, a 16th century building designed by Mimar Sinan, which today functions as a venue for events.

Near the mosque is the octagonal mausoleum of its founder, Osman Shah, grandson of Sultan Selim I, governor of the local province who died in Trikala in 1567. According to tradition, Osman built the mosque because in Trikala he was cured of a disease that afflicted him. The mosque today is a UNESCO protected monument and serves as a venue for mild events.

Pyli

A place of great historic importance due mainly to its strategic location as well its unique landscape, Pyli boasts a large number of monuments.

The Basilica of Porta Panagia that dates back to 1264, on the north bank of the river Portaikos. The basilica of Porta Panagia is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos. It was built in 1283 by John I Doukas.   The church is divided into two parts, the main church and the outer section.  There are still pieces of marble decoration and structured that date back to the original ancient temple on top of which the church was built, but most were destroyed in a fire in 1855.

The arched bridge of Pyli (known as Kamara)

The arched bridge at Pyli, which is  a classic example of stonemasonry of the area. 

This arched bridge was built in 1514 by St. Vissarion, and up to 1936 was the only link between the plains of Thessaly and the villages of Pindos. 

According to the tradition, because St. Vissarion had no money with which to pay the craftsmen, they stopped work on the bridge. A bear then presented itself, which helped to carry the raw materials but also led the chief craftsman to move a large boulder and uncover a treasure. So the workers were paid and the bridge was completed.

The monastery of St. Vissarion

The monastery of St. Vissarion, where women are not allowed to enter and has a total of 365 cells for the monks, situated on Mount Koziakas. The monastery was re-established by St. Vissarion between 1527 and 1535. The church of the monastery is situated at the location the church St. Vissarion built with the help of his brother, Ignatios. The iconography was completed in November 1557 The monastery was one of the richest and most active of the area. It has 366 cells, dining halls, land property in Romania, a rich library with important manuscripts (most of which currently reside in the National Library of Greece). In 1823 the monastery was looted by Suldje Kordja, and in 1943 it was bombed twice, by the Italians and the Germans.

Meteora

The giant rocks of  Meteora, over the town of Kalmbaka  are unique in all over the world and because of this, Metéora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

This stone forest of rocks is one of the most miraculous improsive geological phenomena of our planet. Their unusual form is not easy to explain geologically.  The rocks  was formed of deposits of stone, sand and mud from streams flowing into a delta at the edge of a lake, over millions of years.About 60 million years ago a series of earth movements pushed the seabed upwards, creating a high plateau,the famous rocks of Meteora and the water of the lake found exit to the Aegean sea through the valey of Tempi.  In the sixteenth century there were 24 monasteries at Metéora in Greece were lived monks and nuns.



Today only six of these monasteries remain open:

* the monastery of Great Meteoron

* the monastery of Barlaam,

* the monastery of Saint Nicolas Anapafsas,

* the monastery of Roussanou,

* the monastery of Saint Stefanos and  the monastery of Agia Triada. 

Of these four are inhabited by men, and two by women.

The monasteries now are the number one tourist attraction of the prefecture of Trikala.

The monastery of Barlaam

This Buzantine church at Doliana

This Buzantine church of Tinios Stavros at Doliana, is 82 km away from Trikala, in a dense pine and fir  forest of the beautiful region of Aspropotamos.  The foundation of the monastery should be placed around 1700. To most striking feature of the temple are many domes, twelve (12)the number (but the main is double, so 13). Externally the temple is also adorned with several interesting folk technotropies.

Theopetra Cave 

This cave is located in the chalky hill of Theopetra village, 4km away from Kalabaka. Research has proved that the cave has been inhabited from the Middle Paleolithic period until the end of the Neolithic period. The cave findings give to it a scientific importance for the evolution of human beings. 

This unique cave with its great location, its superb access to fresh clean water and its vantage point, served like a magnet for early inhabitants who could recognize from miles away such key advantages. So those early human settlers used it continuously for more than 130.000 years.

Its uniqueness from an archeological perspective is that in contains, within a single site, the records of two greatly significant cultural transitions: The replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans, and the later transition from hunter-gathering to farming after the end of the last Ice Age. 

The cave consists of an immense 500 square meter rectangular chamber at the foot of a limestone hill, which rises to the northeast above the village of Theopetra, with a very big entrance 17m wide by three metres high.

It lies at the foot of the Chasia mountain range, which forms the natural boundary between Thessaly and Macedonia prefectures, while the Lithaios River, a tributary of the Pineios River, flows in front of the cave. The small Lithaios River flowing literally on the doorsteps of the cave meant that cave dwellers had always easy access to fresh, clean water without the need to cover daily long distances to find it.  

Other caves around the area are :

* the cave of Antallaxima full of stalactites and stalagmites,

* the cave of Ellinokastro(deep cave with stalactites),

* the cave of Fterolakkas of Kori,Bei's cave, Kremasi cave(in Desi Village),etc.

However, many of these, have not been explored yet and they are not open to visitors.

Monuments in Vilnius

Lithuania

Vilnius  is the capital and largest city of Lithuania. Vilnius is in southeastern Lithuania and is the second-largest city in the Baltic states. s known for the architecture in its Old Town, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Before World War II, Vilnius was one of the largest Jewish centres in Europe. Its Jewish influence has led to its nickname "the Jerusalem of Lithuania". Napoleon called it "the Jerusalem of the North" as he was passing through in 1812. In 2009, Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture, together with Linz, Austria. In 2021, Vilnius was named among top-25 fDi's Global Cities of the Future – one of the most forward-thinking cities with the greatest potential in the World.

The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius

The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius is the main Roman Catholic Cathedral of Lithuania. It is situated in Vilnius Old Town, just off of Cathedral Square. Dedicated to Saints Stanislaus and Ladislaus, the church is the heart of Catholic spiritual life in Lithuania.

The Cathedral squere of  Vilnius

The Cathedral Square in Vilnius (Lithuanian: Katedros aikštė) is the main square of the Vilnius Old Town, right in front of the neo-classical Vilnius Cathedral. It is a key location in city's public life, situated as it is at the crossing of the city's main streets and reflecting the city's diversity. Regularly held at this site are fairs and gatherings of townspeople, military parades, religious and official public events, attractions and large concerts, New Year’s salutes and exhibitions. It is not merely the most lively and important location in the city, but is also one of the most significant and widely known symbols of Lithuania.

The Gates of Dawn is the only remaining portion of the former city wall that surrounded Vilnius in the 16th century. The Gates of Dawn houses a chapel built in the 1800s, which holds a famous icon called the Madonna of Mercy. This icon draws pilgrims from around the world because it uniquely features the Virgin Mary without baby Jesus. The Madonna of Mercy was painted in the 17th century.

GEDIMINAS TOWER

Though most of Gediminas’ Castle no longer remains, a tower from the Upper Castle is still standing. Originally built in the 1400s, the Upper Castle is one of Lithuania’s most famous historical landmarks. A walk up the hill to take a closer look at this brick structure provides stunning views of Vilnius’ historic old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Hill of Three Crosses is another iconic image of Vilnius and features predominately in many skyline silhouettes seen in photographs, paintings, or postcards. Though the current white crosses were erected only recently, the tradition of three crosses on this hill dates back to the 16th century. The original crosses were wooden, but were destroyed during Soviet occupation in the 1950s.

Founded in 1568, Vilnius University is considered the oldest university in Eastern Europe. The central part of the campus, primarily located on Universiteto gatve, was built in the 16th century. For a small entrance fee, visitors can walk through the old courtyards, marvel at restored frescoes, and tour the large library. Courses are still taught in these old buildings and visitors will see students rushing between classes or relaxing in the sun.

The Artillery Bastion was originally built as a defensive structure to protect Vilnius in the 17th century. Over time it fell into disrepair, but was reconstructed by the Germany army during WWI. The Artillery Bastion now houses a small museum with a lackluster art exhibit, but it is the grounds and exterior that are worth a visit on this historical tour of Vilnius.

The Palace of the Grand Duke of Lithuania is a recently completed reconstruction of the Grand Duke Palace that was formerly located on this very site. The original structure was built prior to the 15th century, but was demolished in the 19th century. The reconstruction now houses a large museum full of artifacts and films are shown in its courtyard in the summertime.

Monuments in Almada

Portugal

Almada is a Portuguese city belonging to the district of Setúbal and the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon, being the ninth most populous city in Portugal, with about 95 000 inhabitants. 

It is the headquarters of the municipality of Almada with 70.21 km² of area and 174,030 inhabitants (2011) subdivided into 5 parishes. The municipality is bordered to the east by the municipality of Seixal, to the south by Sesimbra, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, opening north and northeast to the Tagus Estuary, opposite the municipalities of Lisbon and Oeiras.

The council received a foral from Dom Sancho I in 1190. Together with Lisbon, Sintra and Palmela, it is one of the oldest administrative divisions of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Almada was elevated to the category of city in 1973, and in its municipality is also the city of Costa da Caparica, whose current status was its granted in the year 2004.

Monument to Christ - King

Built on the promise made by the Bishops of Portugal to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, hoping to keep the country away from the horrors of World War II, the Monument to Christ - King is situated on the plateau of Almada, 113 meters above sea level, allowing, from the top of it, a fabulous view of the Tagus estuary area.

Monument to Freedom

 Monument composed of three arms raised to the sky symbolizing the strength and importance of freedom.

Statue of Fernão Mendes Pinto

Bronze statue that represents figuratively, and with a noteable expressiveness, Fernão Mendes Pinto, author of the literary work "Pilgrimage".

Between 1570 and 1578, he wrote the work he left us, his inimitable "Pilgrimage". It would only be published 20 years after the author's death, fearing that the original was altered by the Jesuits.

Sculpture of homage to fishermen

Composed of four figures, the monument is based on a triangular base that, together with its architectural and landscape framework makes this a remarkable piece of bronze art, by master Jorge Pé Curto.

Fence House - Casa da Cerca

Situated on top of a cliff, Casa da Cerca has a privileged view of the Tagus River. It is integrated in a set nicknamed "Quinta da Cerca", considered the most characteristic example of the eighteenth century century civil architecture of the city of Almada. Here is the Center for Contemporary Art, which regularly hosts individual, collective and thematic exhibitions.

Capuchin Convent

Convent founded by D. Lourenço Pires de Távora in 1558. It has a frontage consnated by wedges shot in the acroteriums by stoves and an interior galilé of three arches. The choir window is covered by a niche where a clay sculpture is located. In the galilé stand out tile panels. Situated in the protected landscape area of the Costa de Caparica Fossil Cliff, from there you can contemplate the landscape of the coast of Lisbon, Estoril and Cascais.

Protected Landscape of the Costa de Caparica Fossil Cliff

The protected areas of the Fossil Arriba consists of a succession of sedimentary rock strata, from the most important in Western Europe dating back to the Pliocénico, dating back about 10 million years. At that time, the sea reached the base of the cliff, but over time it was receding due to the movement of the tectonic plates of the earth's crust and the action of the earthquake of 1755, which gave rise to the coastal plain in which they predominate as dunes. How they threatened to move inland, towards agricultural land, without century. Eighteenth King John V had the Forest of Fears sowed, which was thus designated not because it was a dangerous place, but because fear or fear also means dune.

Mata Nacional dos Medos - National Forest of Fears

is a wooded space in the parish of Charneca de Caparica, in the municipality of Almada, with approximately 340 hectares of area.

Its name derives from the designation given to the mounds of sand, typically formal by the action of the wind, by the sea ("medos" ou "médões", in English, "fears" or "mids"). In fact, when the sands of the dunes existing to the west, King João V of Portugal had this forest planted in the 18th century, situated to prevent them from invainthe land of agricultural genesis to the east. Due to having planted by the king, this area was still by designation Pinhal of the King.

The site was classified as a nature reserve (botany) in 1971, also integrating the Protected Landscape of the Arriba Fossil coast of Caparica.

Nossa Senhora da Conceição Farm

Built in the 18th century, it is divided into three floors, to which decorative elements such as the balustrada were added in the 19th century. The classification also includes the barn, the loft, the daughter-in-law and the garden.

Church of Our Lady of Good Success

This building is linked to a popular tradition that counts on having the waters of the Tagus, at the time of the earthquake, advanced with danger to the village; then the fishermen took the image of the Patroness who miraculously pushed them back, saving the population from the tsunami. The façade is typical of the time of post-earthquake reconstruction. It is worth noting the sunclocks that exist in the left tower and which are undoubtedly the most beautiful examples in the region.

Cacilhas lighthouse

In January 15, 1886,1886, the lantern that marked navigation on the tip was replaced by a lighthouse. It was all iron, painted green, with green light according to international conventions and, beside him, in a small house, had a horn or "snoring", for fog signal, triggered by compressed air. Between March 1916 and December 26, 1918 the lighthouse was extinguished, by imposition of operational scope, resulting from the 1st Great War.At the inauguration of the monument to Christ the King , 3 loudspeakers were set up in the lighthouse's rod, to allow the dissemination to the population of information related to the event. In July 1959 the lighthouse was connected to the public water network and its sound signal was switched off on 31 March 1977.The old Lighthouse of Cacilhas was eventually moved to Terceira Island in the Azores in 1983, with the aim of replacing the Lighthouse of Serreta that was destroyed by the earthquake of 1 January 1980.

Fortress of the Old Tower 

or

Tower of Saint Sebastião de Caparica 

Fortress before the Tower of Belém destined, in conjunction with this, to protect the entire area of the Tagus. It is considered the oldest Portuguese fortification of maritime defense.

Archaeological Station of Quinta do Almaraz

Village of Quinta do Almaraz or Archaeological Station of Quinta do Almaraz Proto-urban cluster. An Iron Age settlement with a previous occupation of the Middle Chalcolithic and the Late Bronze Age, presenting testimonies of a probable Phoenician trade, which reached about six hectares. Fortified village in overlooking position, as natural conditions of the land for defense, complemented with the construction of a wall to S., systems of limestone systems, and moat with. Presenting large dimensions, have been articulated with small centers or agricultural couples, in a strategy of dominance of the territory.

Monuments in Boscotrecase

Italy

Boscotrecase-Italy Campania is a place where behind every corner hides a new gem, an extraordinary monument to see or something surprising to try. The sweetness of the climate, the beauty of the coasts, the richness of art and history and not least the love for cooking have always made Campania a place to live and visit to visit during a trip to Italy. Starting from the sea that seems to embrace the cities, creating breathtaking bays, which become even more suggestive on the magical islands of the Gulf. To watch is Vesuvius, which mysteriously observes the lively Neapolitan life, which comes alive especially in the alleys of the city, custodians of a folklore and traditions that perhaps will never disappear.

The Maschio Angioino

The Maschio Angioino, also called Castel Nuovo, is an ancient castle built in medieval style and renovated in Renaissance style, is currently one of the most important symbols to recognize the city. The castle increases the splendor of Piazza Municipio, in addition to the artistic importance it also has an ethnic importance for the city of Naples. The structure is home to the Neapolitan Society of Homeland History (inside the castle there is a library that collects all the documents on this theme) and the Naples Committee of the Institute for the history of the Italian Risorgimento. The birth of the castle came when arrived the monarchy in Naples, its construction was ordered by Charles I d'Angiò, ascended the throne in 1266. During the years on that throne came several kings who changed the internal structure and (more) the outside of the castle, the current form arrived only in 1443 with Alfonso d'Aragona and the new Aragonese domination.