Italian occupation and cultural heritage in Akritiki Patmos: Potential for cultural entrepreneurship

This study examines the impact of Italian occupation on the formation of Patmos' cultural heritage, with an emphasis on its monuments and its frontier identity. It analyzes how the political, ideological, and administrative practices of the period shaped the spatial and architectural character of the island, creating a unique historical and cultural context. Of particular interest is the photographic material of Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Gerola, which documents buildings, monuments, and urban views of Patmos at the beginning of the Italian occupation, offering valuable visual documentation for historical research and the promotion of heritage. Next, the possibilities for cultural entrepreneurship that arise from the exploitation of this heritage are explored, linking the protection and promotion of monuments with sustainable development strategies, the identity of remote areas, and contemporary cultural policies, including NSRF funding instruments. The article proposes a model of sustainable cultural tourism and local business development, which can serve as an example for other remote islands with a rich historical heritage.