CC BY 4.0Tomou, NioviRodi, Alcestis2024-01-222024-01-222023978-908-28191-9-9https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14235/1217Book of proceedings: 35th AESOP Annual Congress Integrated planning in a world of turbulence, Łódź, 11-15th July, 2023Although urban centres are becoming more inclusive for people with disabilities, rural areas have been overlooked. Greece’s traditional settlements, mountain and island, constitute the main resource of tourism revenues. Protected by the “Traditional Settlements Protection Act”, since 1978, the historic identity of these settlements impede, and in some cases forbid, the establishment of such infrastructures. However, in spite of the existing regulations for ensuring an inclusive public environment, the necessary modifications are yet to be made, as they are blocked by governmental mechanisms that protect cultural heritages at all cost. The existing barriers of the built environment are causing the exclusion of people with mental and physical impairments. Despite the peculiar Greek topography and the identity of historic settlements, rural areas can reach the values of an inclusive and accessible environment. To this purpose, this paper addresses the lack of coherence among spatial governance and law planning. In this framework, a comparative analysis of both legislations in force is presented and new approaches that correspond to current challenges of urban, regional and law planning are proposed. Keywords: Accessibility for All, traditional settlements, preservation legislations, adaptable architecture, built heritage protectionEnglishopenaccessConference object390-401