Messinia: ‘Freedom Trees’ to be Planted in New Park Dedicated to Greek Revolution

The Cultural Institute of Messinia has invited 21 historic municipalities in the Peloponnese to take part in a project for the creation of a park dedicated to the 1821 Greek Revolution.

Planned to be created in the settlement of Kato Ambelokipi in the Municipality of Pylos-Nestoros – an area that hosted the first war conflict between Greeks and Egyptian Turks in 1825 – the park will consist of 21 “Freedom Trees”, each one from a municipality that has a strong historic connection to the Greek Revolution.

Invitations to plant a “Freedom Tree” have already been sent to the municipalities of Nafplio, Argos-Mycenae, Epidaurus, Tripoli, Kalavryta, Ancient Olympia, Corinth, Nemea, Eastern Mani, Sparti and Kalamata among others.

Each tree will be planted by a municipal representative. Furthermore, a prominent Greek personality will plant an olive tree at the center of the park.

The planting event and the park’s inauguration is scheduled to take place at the end of fall. The Greek Revolution Park will include wild olives, oaks, firs, chestnuts, pines, plane trees, maples and locust trees.

In collaboration with the Anavasi Organization, the Cultural Institute of Messinia will also create a special map indicating the place of each tree and 21 brief texts with historic data for each municipality.

The park will be created as part of the events for the European Heritage Days 2021, celebrating tangible and intangible cultural heritage across the continent.