On Sunday, March 23, 2025, members of the Cultural Organization “Olive Tree Routes” carried out a research expedition as part of the ANIMA TERRA initiative. This initiative aims to revitalize rural villages at risk of depopulation due to demographic challenges and other difficulties.
We visited four villages: Zevgolatio, Diavolitsi, Desilla (Municipality of Oichalia), and Hranous (Municipality of Megalopolis). These villages, despite their deep-rooted connection to agricultural traditions, are facing severe challenges, primarily demographic decline.
Like stone-carved poems from another era, the abandoned railway stations emerged as a central theme of our journey. They stand tall against time, silent witnesses to a vibrant history waiting to retell its memories. Until the whistle of the historic Peloponnesian railway is heard once again, these buildings—cultural vessels—can be transformed into beacons of life and creativity, illuminating the path toward the revival of local communities.
In Zevgolatio, we were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of Oichalia, Kostas Dimitrakopoulos, at a café next to the railway station. There, Kyriakos and his grandson keep the business alive, hoping for the return of the train.
In Diavolitsi, we learned that in the summer, the old station is transformed into a café. Meanwhile, in Desilla, thanks to the initiative of the local women’s community and the support of the Municipality of Oichalia, the station has been converted into an outdoor lending library.
Our journey concluded in Hranous, Arcadia, at the Station Café, next to the railway tracks, where owner Dimitris Sikalos welcomed us. Awaiting us there were local stakeholders, including Athens-based lawyer Giorgos Andreou, a close friend of Giorgos Karambatos, the President of the local cultural association, Georgia Vasiakou, and volunteer Nikos Sikalos, who manages the village’s social media presence and online visibility.
We discussed ideas for revitalizing these villages through ANIMA TERRA, focusing on the creation of local action groups. We found that the will to make a change is there—what is needed is the right support and the right initiatives.
Local communities are at the heart of ANIMA TERRA’s success. The warm welcome we received confirmed that now is the right time to join forces and bring life back to these villages, where tradition meets the future. It is our duty and obligation to keep our villages alive—this is an unparalleled cultural heritage intrinsically linked to the concept of Green Greece. If these villages disappear, so will Green Greece, leading to an irreplaceable loss for our national identity and environmental future.
This is precisely the need that the ANIMA TERRA initiative by “Olive Tree Routes” addresses, taking on a role of national importance. It is a vision that transcends local boundaries and aims to revitalize rural villages in mainland and island Greece that are at risk of abandonment. Through collaborations with local stakeholders, ANIMA TERRA seeks to highlight cultural heritage and support sustainable local development, acting as a bridge between a rich past and a hopeful future for the Greek countryside.
