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About us

Imagining Greece: How Tourism Shaped a Nation
Imagining Greece is a digital exhibition that explores the evolution of tourism in Greece from the end of World War II to the closing chapters of the Cold War. The exhibition examines multiple aspects of the phenomenon by showcasing a wealth of textual and visual material curated from a wide range of state and private archival repositories and sources, including the Greek National Tourism Organisation, architectural firms, advertising agencies and both domestic and foreign press and periodicals. It is further enriched by an ongoing oral history project that captures firsthand experiences from specialists and the general public. We hope this exhibition will bring the history of tourism in Greece to life while deepening understanding of its profound impact—both on Greek society itself and on the millions of international visitors whose journeys have helped transform Greece into one of the world's most beloved destinations.

Our Team
We are an interdisciplinary team with expertise spanning history, visual culture, design studies, architectural history, cultural heritage, and digital humanities. Led by Professor Eirini Karamouzi (Principal Investigator) and Dr Mary Ikoniadou (Co-Investigator), our team includes:

Dr Stavros Alifragkis and Dr Emilia Athanasiou (Scientific and Artistic Curators, Lead Researchers), Dr Christos Christidis (Special Advisor), Despina Tsilimagkou (Digital Humanities Director), Dr Marina Emmanouil, Dr Metaxia Papageorgiou and Dr Aphrodite Kamara (Researchers). Our work has been generously supported by the Onassis Foundation, the National Bank of Greece and Research England. We are honoured to have the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) and the Greek Ministry of Tourism as our patrons, and we work closely with Greece’s National Historical Museum.

Our Goal
Our goal is to make Imagining Greece a widely accessible digital exhibition that serves as a valuable resource for schools, universities, tourism professionals, and the public in Greece and beyond. We aim to promote a deeper understanding of tourism as a crucial element of Greek culture, economy, politics, and society. The exhibition is organised around four thematic experiences: Picture, Travel, Discover, and Remember. Each theme presents carefully chosen artefacts in an intuitive, easy-to-explore journey. Visitors will explore a rich collection of promotional materials, including advertising, audio-visual culture, periodicals, commercial and government sources, tourist guides, tourism infrastructure and architecture, cultural artefacts from folklore, feasts and festivals, leisure activities, books about Greece, souvenirs, vacation photographs, and postcards. The entire spectrum of Greece as a tourism destination is accessible through the thematic experiences, the interactive map, or the chronological timeline.

The Future of Imagining Greece
Imagining Greece will continue to grow with new artefacts, and we welcome your contributions. If you have relevant materials to share, please contact us at: info@imagininggreece.com

Legal Notice / Disclaimer
Every reasonable effort has been made to trace and contact the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this digital exhibition, ‘Imagining Greece: How Tourism Shaped a Nation, 1945-1989’, and to obtain their permission for the use of copyrighted material. We apologise for any omissions in acknowledging copyright. If you own the copyright for any material used on our website and believe it infringes upon your rights, please contact us directly at info@imagininggreece.com

Acknowledgements
We thank the numerous institutions and private individuals who have contributed their valuable archival materials to this project:

Benaki Museum’s Photographic Archives Department, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Greek Film Archive, Greek National Tourism Organisation, Hellenic Literary and Historical Archive, Hellenic National AudioVisual Archive - Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, Hellenic Touring Club, Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece – National Historical Museum, Historical Archive of the National Bank of Greece, Constantinos A. Doxiadis Archives, ‘Konstantinos G. Karamanlis’ Foundation, The Library of the Hellenic Parliament, Modern Greek Architecture Archives of the Benaki Museum, National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation, Neraida Floating Museum - John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, Olympic Airways Workers Cultural Center, Philatelic Postal Museum, Spyros Vassiliou Archive - Dominum Artifex NPO, The Alpha Bank Art Collection, The Ghika Gallery - Benaki Museum.

Dimitris Antonakakis – Atelier 66, Archimidis & Eleni Athanassiou, Tasos Biris – Tassos Biris Architectural Firm, Vassilis Bogakos, Vassilis Giannakis, Panos Haratzopoulos, Erifyli Hontolidou, Maro Kardamitsi-Adami, Yannis Karlopoulos, Kostas Katsigiannis, Konstantinos Lyssaridis – ETETH SA, Eirini Philippides, Marina Philippides – AMK Architecture + Design, Jenny Perivolari, Christos Rallis & Georgia Sovatzoglou, Vassia Stylianidi – WOBI Architects, Vaggelis Stylianidis - Stylianidis Vaggelis Architects, Nicos Valsamakis – N. Valsamakis Architectural Firm, Ioannis Vikelas – Vikelas Architects.

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Picture
Travel
Discover
Remember
Displaying 83 artefacts
Attica
K. Katsigiannis interviewed about the early years of GNTO artifact

K. Katsigiannis interviewed about the early y...

Film
Interview
Hotel Delphi in Athens artifact

Hotel Delphi in Athens

Print Ad
Grèce 1929 artifact

Grèce 1929

Poster
Parthenon of Athens Greece artifact

Parthenon of Athens Greece

Poster
Temple of Athena Nike artifact

Temple of Athena Nike

Poster
The southeast corner of the east pediment of the Parthenon artifact

The southeast corner of the east pediment of...

Poster
Sound and Light 1959 artifact

Sound and Light 1959

Poster
Acropolis 1979 artifact

Acropolis 1979

Book
Acropolis Rally, Past - Present - Future artifact

Acropolis Rally, Past - Present - Future

Documentary
Olympic Airways Ticket artifact

Olympic Airways Ticket

Ticket
Athens Greece 1958 artifact

Athens Greece 1958

Brochure
4Oth Supreme Convention of the Order of AHEPA 1964 artifact

4Oth Supreme Convention of the Order of AHEPA...

Map
Brochure
Mycenae and Tiryns Guide artifact

Mycenae and Tiryns Guide

Book
Athens Greece 1964 artifact

Athens Greece 1964

Brochure
Athens Greece 1962 artifact

Athens Greece 1962

Brochure
Athens Greece 1971 artifact

Athens Greece 1971

Brochure
Athens Attica 1977 artifact

Athens Attica 1977

Pamphlet
Map of Athens and Attica 1937 artifact

Map of Athens and Attica 1937

Map
View of Athens from Lykabettus hill artifact

View of Athens from Lykabettus hill

Postcard
Itineraries in mainland Greece artifact

Itineraries in mainland Greece

Guidebook
Athens Festival 1974 artifact

Athens Festival 1974

Poster
Athens Festival 1956 artifact

Athens Festival 1956

Poster
Athens Festival 1957 artifact

Athens Festival 1957

Poster
Athens Festival 1959 artifact

Athens Festival 1959
Athens Festival 1961 artifact

Athens Festival 1961
Athens Festival 1963 artifact

Athens Festival 1963

Poster
Athens Festival 1964 artifact

Athens Festival 1964

Poster
Athens Festival 1967 artifact

Athens Festival 1967

Poster
Athens Festival 1971 artifact

Athens Festival 1971

Poster
Athens Festival 1973 artifact

Athens Festival 1973

Poster
Athens Festival 1955 artifact

Athens Festival 1955

Festival Program
Athens Festival 1958 artifact

Athens Festival 1958

Brochure
Athens Festival 1960 artifact

Athens Festival 1960

Poster
Inauguration of the οrganised beach in Vouliagmeni artifact

Inauguration of the οrganised beach in Voulia...

Newsreel
Athenians rush to the coasts of Attica in 1961 artifact

Athenians rush to the coasts of Attica in 196...

Newsreel
Water skiing show at Vouliagmeni bay artifact

Water skiing show at Vouliagmeni bay

Newsreel
Olympic Airways, first non-stop Athens-New York flight artifact

Olympic Airways, first non-stop Athens-New Yo...

Newsreel
Inauguration of 'Dionysos' restaurant artifact

Inauguration of 'Dionysos' restaurant

Newsreel
Ventouris Lines, Greece-Italy Ferry Connection artifact

Ventouris Lines, Greece-Italy Ferry Connecti...

Print Ad
Hellenic Mediterranean Lines Greece-Italy Ferry Connection artifact

Hellenic Mediterranean Lines Greece-Italy Fer...

Print Ad
Omonia Hotel artifact

Omonia Hotel

Photograph
Bus lines of OSE artifact

Bus lines of OSE

Print Ad
Eurotrain advertisement artifact

Eurotrain advertisement

Print Ad
Café and open-air swimming pool at Zea Marina artifact

Café and open-air swimming pool at Zea Marina

Photograph
Architectural Drawing
An imaginary landscape in 18th century Athens artifact

An imaginary landscape in 18th century Athens

Poster
Beach racquet game by the sea artifact

Beach racquet game by the sea

Photograph
Argosaronikos Gulf 1960 artifact

Argosaronikos Gulf 1960

Brochure
Argosaronikos Gulf 1964 artifact

Argosaronikos Gulf 1964

Brochure
Argosaronikos Gulf 1962 artifact

Argosaronikos Gulf 1962

Brochure
The "Neraida" (fiary) sailing the Greek seas artifact

The "Neraida" (fiary) sailing the Greek seas

Photograph
Akti Apollon 1962 artifact

Akti Apollon 1962

Brochure
Akti Apollon 1963 artifact

Akti Apollon 1963

Brochure
American Express Finance & Travel Office, Athens artifact

American Express Finance & Travel Office, Ath...

Photograph
The Athens Hilton artifact

The Athens Hilton

Photograph
Architectural Drawing
Moralis' artwork on the Athens Hilton's facades artifact

Moralis' artwork on the Athens Hilton's facad...

Photograph
PM Karamanlis visits the Athens Hilton construction site artifact

PM Karamanlis visits the Athens Hilton constr...

Photograph
Foundation stone-laying ceremony or the Athens Hilton artifact

Foundation stone-laying ceremony or the Athen...

Photograph
Inauguration of the Athens Hilton 1963 artifact

Inauguration of the Athens Hilton 1963

Photograph
Wine Festival 1977 artifact

Wine Festival 1977

Poster
Wine Festival 1957 artifact

Wine Festival 1957

Photograph
Wine Festival 1967 artifact

Wine Festival 1967

Photograph
Wine Festival 1973-76 artifact

Wine Festival 1973-76

Brochure
Amalia Hotel Athens artifact

Amalia Hotel Athens

Photograph
Architectural Drawing
Restaurant Pamela's at Voula artifact

Restaurant Pamela's at Voula

Photograph
Apollon Palace, Kavouri artifact

Apollon Palace, Kavouri

Photograph
Architectural Drawing
Hotel Apollo, Aegina artifact

Hotel Apollo, Aegina

Photograph
Architectural Drawing
View of Mikrolimano Port and the Kastella district in Piraeus artifact

View of Mikrolimano Port and the Kastella dis...

Poster
A balcony with a view of the Athens Acropolis artifact

A balcony with a view of the Athens Acropolis

Poster
Kallas in Herodeion artifact

Kallas in Herodeion

Photograph
Glyfada Beach artifact

Glyfada Beach

Postcard
Apollonion Vacation Village in Porto Rafti 1970-1981 artifact

Apollonion Vacation Village in Porto Rafti 19...

Photograph
Glyfada Astir Beach and Resort artifact

Glyfada Astir Beach and Resort

Photograph
Vouliagmeni Astir Resort artifact

Vouliagmeni Astir Resort

Photograph
Conservation and Development of Traditional Settlements artifact

Conservation and Development of Traditional S...

Study / Publication
Brauron archaeological guide artifact

Brauron archaeological guide

Guidebook
12 Motor Coach Tours artifact

12 Motor Coach Tours

Poster
The Greece the crowds don't know artifact

The Greece the crowds don't know

Print Ad
If work gets you down don't change your job, change your holiday artifact

If work gets you down don't change your job,...

Print Ad
Horse from the Hekatompedon artifact

Horse from the Hekatompedon

Poster
The Calf-bearer artifact

The Calf-bearer

Poster
The Lenormant Relief artifact

The Lenormant Relief

Poster
Statue of the Kore with almond eyes artifact

Statue of the Kore with almond eyes

Poster
Samos Xenia Hotel artifact

Samos Xenia Hotel

Photograph