An Odyssey to Heritage Education: The Inspiring Example of Bergama and Its Communities

Heritage education emerges as a transformative force, capable of fostering societal bonds and place-based connections through innovative strategies. Bergama (Pergamon), inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, exemplifies this potential by integrating heritage into an educational framework that engages communities, academia, and local institutions. The city's systematic approach, rooted in participatory practices, has successfully positioned its cultural landscape—particularly vernacular architecture—as both tangible and intangible educational assets. This study highlights Bergama’s pioneering role in heritage education, demonstrating how collaborative efforts can bridge expertise, inclusion, and sustainability while offering a scalable model for global conservation discourse.

Okyay, G. G., & Ulusoy Binan, D. (2022). An Odyssey to Heritage Education: The Inspiring Example of Bergama and Its Communities. Proceedings HERITAGE 2022 - International Conference on Vernacular Heritage: Culture, People and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.4995/heritage2022.2022.15462