The initiative to create a network of “Salt Streets” in which all European cities with relevant museums will participate was carried out by Nikos Kordosis, the founder and managing director of the “Dieksodos” speech and art center, which created the Messolonghi Salt Museum.
Speaking about the benefits for both the Messolonghi Salt Museum and the city, Nikos Kordosis emphasizes that “the future creation of the network is expected to contribute to a significant increase in the number of visitors to the museum, as well as to the Messolonghi region”.
In fact, as he noted, “When the salt museum started its operation, about four years ago, the number of visitors per month did not exceed 500, but today it has reached 2,500 per month.”
At the same time, Nikos Kordosis notes that “the activity of the Salt Museum, which is part of the European network and is located very close to the shores of the Ionian Sea, will automatically attract the interest of business circles.” and adds: “In other words, we will be able to wait for the launch of a ship that will connect, for example, Messolonghi with the islands of the Ionian seas, which register a large influx of tourists.
Regarding the initiative to create a network of “Salt Roads”, Nikos Kordosis says that “it is not just our proposal, but a discussion with the director of the large Wieliczka salt mine in Poland, which has been turned into a museum”, and continues: “The partnership of all museums related to salt, such as industrial heritage museums, discussions were held to create an organization. “Umbrella” of the Council of Europe.
“With this initiative, you are not only interested in the interest of tourists who come to see and enjoy, but also exchange know-how, experience and exhibitions.”
“At the same time,” continues Nikos Kordosis, “the results that will arise from the existence of a number of museums with the different cultures of each country will be very positive, because the individual methods of salt extraction are increasingly different. place to place”.
Nikos Kordosis adds that “this is exactly what we want to take advantage of by operating under a new ‘umbrella’ that matches the 25 industrial heritage museums to which the Messolonghi Salt Museum joins. Specialized “umbrella” of the Council of Europe with salt museums.
At the same time, he notes that “Salt Roads” can operate according to the standards of “Wine Roads” in our country, and it is expanding with vineyards, wineries and wine tourism.”
Regarding the extracurricular activities of the Alatos museum, Nikos Kordosis notes: “From the spring of 2024, the museum is an equal member of the ΕRIH, i.e. an equal member of the EUROPEAN ROUTE OF INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE network, an approved “Cultural Route” of the Council of Europe, and indeed no application has been submitted was chosen without
It is a European industrial heritage tourism network of 350 members from 27 countries whose sites are of outstanding historical importance offering a high quality visitor experience.
With this top pick for the Salt Museum and the town of Messolonghi, we attended the 20th conference in Łódź, Poland, together with the director of the museum Despina Kanellis and our partner geologist Dimitra Karetsou.
The conference is dedicated to the problems faced by post-industrial facilities operating in the field of culture and tourism in the context of ecosystem care, the requirements of sustainable development and the importance of developing concrete strategies leading to real environmental sustainability. .
In fact, during the conference, we met the ERIH board and participants from various European countries, introduced them to the city of Messolonghi and the Salt Museum, and invited them to visit us.