Education and Interpretive Presentation of Cultural Heritage as a Tool for Sustainable Local Development
Presentation of the Programme “Getting to Know the Old Town of Corfu”
The Contribution of Conscious Cultural Identity to the Sustainability of a Place

In contemporary Western societies, everyday experience is increasingly mediated through digital environments. While the digital era has undoubtedly expanded access to cultural content, it has also contributed to the gradual weakening of citizens’ experiential relationship with their cultural heritage. This shift often results in fragmented and superficial engagement, limiting the formation of a coherent cultural identity—an essential component of both personal and social development.

Within this context, and in response to the challenges posed by unregulated tourism growth and the transformation of historic cities into mono-functional destinations, the Municipality of Central Corfu implements the experiential educational programme “Getting to Know the Old Town of Corfu.” The programme forms part of the Management Plan for the Old Town of Corfu and is officially supported and recommended to schools by the Regional Directorate of Education of the Ionian Islands.

The programme aims to strengthen students’ connection with their local cultural heritage through knowledge-based and experiential learning approaches, encouraging meaningful engagement rather than passive information consumption. By fostering a conscious cultural identity, the programme seeks to influence future individual and collective choices that recognize cultural heritage as a fundamental element of sustainable development.

This paper presents the conceptual framework, methodology, and educational objectives of the programme, highlighting the role of heritage education and interpretation as effective tools for reinforcing cultural identity and supporting balanced, sustainable development in historic urban environments.