The Aegean island of Ios in the Cyclades was among six European locations awarded the European Union Cultural Heritage prize for 2008. Ios received the award for "outstanding quality of conservation work and above all the minimal and extremely sensitive character of the interventions, having no detrimental impact on a unique landscape" at the island’s archaeological site of Skarkos. The six winners for the awards, announced on Thursday, were chosen among 109 candidates from 29 countries.
Prizes were also awarded to two projects in the Netherlands, and one each in the Czech Republic, Spain and Romania. Each prize is worth 10,000 euros. The prizes are given in recognition of outstanding conservation, research and education efforts. They are awarded jointly by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation of Cultural Heritage.
DF: We love IOS, a truly unique island.