The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites Regional Workshop for Europe 30 September – 2 October 2018, Palermo (Italy) Thematic Session 2: Interpretation of heritage and educational services. “The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization”

1. Introduction
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Troodos Geopark Visitor Centre in Cyprus
Elena Tsangaridi: Communication & EU Project Officer for Troodos Development Company – Management Body of
Troodos Geopark Visitor Centre
A few things about me!
‐ A bachelor degree in Greek Studies & a Master degree in ‘Adult Literacy, Lifelong Learning and Development:
International Perspectives’
‐ A traineeship (‘stage’) in the European Commission at the Cabinet of Education and Culture in 2012 on Lifelong
Learning Programmes
‐ 2013 – 2015: Project assistant for the Local Development Pilot Project (LDPP) for the Winevillages of Limassol (Council
of Europe, implemented by the Department of Town and Planning and Troodos Development Company).
‐ March 2016: Communication & EU Project officer for Troodos Development Company & Coordinator of Troodos
UNESCO Global Geopark activities – visitor center

2. Framework – Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
 The Troodos Geopark (an area of 1.147 km2) Visitor
Centre is located in the old Asbestos mine (Amiantos
mine), an area with enormous historical value which
now hosts an extraordinary botanical garden with
information about the flora of the area, a seed bank
of endemic species and also a plethora of evidence
for the past mining activity and the community which
once flourished there.
 It opened its doors in 2015.
 The Geopark Visitor Centre is situated in the newly
restored elementary school of the abandoned
asbestos mine.
 The building is an impressive listed structure and an
example of fine architecture with historic
characteristics and features such as its fireplaces, one
in every room, and a beautiful internal yard.
 At the entrance of the Geopark Visitor Centre the
visitors are welcomed by an amazing geological
garden consisting of all the rock types encountered
in the area, in stratigraphic order, representing the
Troodos ophiolite sequence.

3. Framework – Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
 An outdoor classroom is operated in the garden of the centre, where interactive lessons and
demonstrations are delivered to visiting students and the general public.
 Impressive rocks and minerals, a maquette of the geology of the area, depicting sites of geological
importance and interest (faults, mines, geo‐trails, etc.), informational panels and a conference room
where the visitor can watch documentaries, of the significance of the geology of the Troodos mountain
range are only some of the exhibits in the visitor centre.
 The Geopark Visitor Center also, hosts exhibits of the abandoned Asbestos and Chromite mines,
representations of an ancient pyro‐metallurgical furnace for the production of copper and a gallery of the
last century for the exploitation of sulphate deposits.

4. Activities - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
 Organised tours for primary & high school students inside the visitor centre
 Organised tours for University students inside the Visitor Centre and to the different geosites, in collaboration with
the Geological Survey Department of Cyprus.
 Organised tours in collaboration with Youth Exchange programmes, Erasmus+ programmes, NGO’s etc.

5. Activities - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Activities using tools such as the ‘Demonstration Kit: Explore – Learn – Educate’
Includes educational activities such as:
1. Identification of Rocks – Minerals – Fossils
2. Rocks and minerals from ophiolite complex
3. Identification of the Magmatic or sedimentary rocks
4. Identification of minerals types
5. Stones dissolution experiments
6. Memory cards for endemic plans of Troodos.
7. Geopark Cards with plans
8. Photos about mammals of Troodos Geopark
9. Information’s for chromium mines
10. Photos for reptiles and amphibians of Troodos Geopark etc

6. Activities - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Organize events such as ‘Let’s be Geologists for a day’ for adults and children during the summer period due to
summer holidays that were very successful.
Activities such as:
• ‘Demonstration Kit: Explore – Learn – Educate’ for children
• Tours for adults
• Painting corner for kids
• Tours in the geological garden and outside on the different geosites etc.
• Free drinks

7. Lessons learned - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
Management
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
• The visitors' centre is unique because it focuses on the geology of Troodos and gives information about the
mining history of the region, something that you can not find in any other environmental centre in Cyprus.
• It is an important point of reference not only for Troodos Geopark but also for the whole Troodos region which
has attracted the interest of several nature researchers, universities, schools etc.
• The visitor centre gave life in the asbestos mine area that was abandoned for many years.
• However, our experience since 2015 shows that…
• A building is not enough…
• We need to have a strong management plan in order to attract visitors and safeguard the sustainability of the
place…
• We need to constantly make arrangements, agreements and collaborate with tourism agencies in order for
them to bring tourist in the centre…
• We need to make arrangements and collaborate with the Ministry of Education, schools and Universities in
order to arrange students visits…
• We need to constantly apply for EU programmes in order to have funding for creating promotional material
(leaflets, booklets, videos, tv teasers etc.) and budget for organizing activities and events.

8. Potential - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Troodos Geopark Visitor Centre has great potentials for development but in order to succeed that we need:
• More financial support by the government.
• Support by the Ministry of Education and the local schools in order to organise more tours, more activities and
events for students and children.
• Further support by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (promotion of the visitor centre and Troodos Geopark area).
• Further promotion and support by the local stakeholders etc.

9. Future - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Through EU projects (Interreg GREECE‐CYPRUS) we have funding to proceed with:
1. Creation of printed and electronic material for promoting Troodos Geopark Visitor Centre
2. Info days regarding Troodos UNESCO Global Geopark and the visitor centre
3. Organizing trainings and information activities (workshops) for locals focusing on the local gastronomy,
entrepreneurship, geotourism etc.
4. Organising trainings for Geoparks mountain guides – their reference point will be the Troodos Geopark
visitors' centre.
5. Production of educational material and educational tools for children.
6. Enhancement of the geo‐educational informative material such as workbenches with microscopes,
simulations‐constructions regarding the creation of Troodos mountains, special construction (tree house)
for showing videos about Geopark’s fauna.
7. Creation and establishment of cultural and sporting festivals for promoting Troodos Geopark cycling
routes.
8. Videos etc.

10. Contacts
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Troodos Geopark Visitor Centre (Asbestos mine)
Officer‐ Geologist: Constantina Theofilaktou
Telephone: +357‐25752401
Troodos Development Company (Management Body of Troodos UNESCO Global Geopark)
Director: Petros Hadjicostas
Communication & EU Project officer: Elena Tsangaridi
Telephone:+357‐22952043
Fax: +357‐22952045
E‐mail: info@anetroodos.com & e.tsaggaridi@anetroodos.com
Website: http://www.troodos‐geo.org
Facebook pages: Troodos Unesco Global Geopark
Instagram: geoparktroodos