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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. Please note that all images and materials remain the property of their respective copyright holders, and may not be reproduced, distributed, or otherwise used without their prior permission.

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 159 artefacts
Postcard
Xanthi Xenia Hotel artifact

Xanthi Xenia Hotel

Photograph
Postcard
Itea, at the port artifact

Itea, at the port

Postcard
Papalimani Beach Thassos artifact

Papalimani Beach Thassos

Postcard
Makriammos Beach Xenia Motel, Thassos artifact

Makriammos Beach Xenia Motel, Thassos

Postcard
Paros Xenia Hotel artifact

Paros Xenia Hotel

Postcard
Agios Spyridon Beach Corfu artifact

Agios Spyridon Beach Corfu

Postcard
Riviera Camping Asprovalta artifact

Riviera Camping Asprovalta

Postcard
Tosca Beach Kavala artifact

Tosca Beach Kavala

Postcard
Mallia, Crete artifact

Mallia, Crete

Postcard
Hotel Alexander the Great in Langadas Thermal Baths artifact

Hotel Alexander the Great in Langadas Thermal...

Photograph
Postcard
Xenia hotel in Portaria artifact

Xenia hotel in Portaria

Photograph
Postcard
Hotel du Lac Xenia in Kastoria artifact

Hotel du Lac Xenia in Kastoria

Photograph
Postcard
Stringing and drying tobacco leaves in the late 50s artifact

Stringing and drying tobacco leaves in the la...

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Harvesting and stomping wine grapes in the 50s artifact

Harvesting and stomping wine grapes in the 50...

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Delphi, The Treasury of the Athenians artifact

Delphi, The Treasury of the Athenians

Postcard
Akronafplia Xenia Hotel in 1961 artifact

Akronafplia Xenia Hotel in 1961

Photograph
Postcard
Matala Crete artifact

Matala Crete

Postcard
Pythagorion artifact

Pythagorion

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The Parthenon artifact

The Parthenon

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Corfu Airport in 1969 artifact

Corfu Airport in 1969

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Olympic Airways 1960 - Fly with a Comet artifact

Olympic Airways 1960 - Fly with a Comet

Postcard
Hotel Galaxy, Kavala artifact

Hotel Galaxy, Kavala

Postcard
Patmos Xenia Hotel artifact

Patmos Xenia Hotel

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Poseidon Resort Hotel Loutraki artifact

Poseidon Resort Hotel Loutraki

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Dusk at the Port of Patras artifact

Dusk at the Port of Patras

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Kythnos Thermal Springs artifact

Kythnos Thermal Springs

Postcard
Morning bath at Malia artifact

Morning bath at Malia

Postcard
LIghting of the Olympic flame at Oympia 1980 artifact

LIghting of the Olympic flame at Oympia 1980

Postcard
Lake Voulismeni at Agios Nikolaos artifact

Lake Voulismeni at Agios Nikolaos

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Minos Beach Hotel Bungalows at Agios Nikolaos artifact

Minos Beach Hotel Bungalows at Agios Nikolaos

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Souvenir from Zante artifact

Souvenir from Zante

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Agios Ioannis Lake at Serres artifact

Agios Ioannis Lake at Serres

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Lake Vouliagmeni in Corinthia artifact

Lake Vouliagmeni in Corinthia

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The Heraion at Perachora and the Cape of Melagavi artifact

The Heraion at Perachora and the Cape of Mela...

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S/S Agamemnon exiting the Corinth Canal artifact

S/S Agamemnon exiting the Corinth Canal

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Vlychada Grotto in Diros Caves artifact

Vlychada Grotto in Diros Caves

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Perama Cave in Ioannina artifact

Perama Cave in Ioannina

Postcard
Vlychada Grotto in Diros, Mani artifact

Vlychada Grotto in Diros, Mani

Postcard
An idyllic view of Pontikonissi in Corfu artifact

An idyllic view of Pontikonissi in Corfu

Postcard
Empress Sissy's Peristyle in the Achillion gardens artifact

Empress Sissy's Peristyle in the Achillion ga...

Postcard
Diakofto-Kalavryta Rack Railway artifact

Diakofto-Kalavryta Rack Railway

Postcard
Skiing resort at Hania, Pelion artifact

Skiing resort at Hania, Pelion

Postcard
Chilled greetings from Lailias Skiing Centre artifact

Chilled greetings from Lailias Skiing Centre

Postcard
The floral clock at Patras waterfront artifact

The floral clock at Patras waterfront

Postcard
Phoenix aesthetic forest at Vai, Crete artifact

Phoenix aesthetic forest at Vai, Crete

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Agnontas Bay in Skopelos artifact

Agnontas Bay in Skopelos

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House interior in Skyros artifact

House interior in Skyros

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Fishing boats at Loutraki port, Glossa, Skopelos artifact

Fishing boats at Loutraki port, Glossa, Skope...

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The Winecastle of Achaia Clauss artifact

The Winecastle of Achaia Clauss

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Cranae, the island of Helen and Paris artifact

Cranae, the island of Helen and Paris

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King George I Square, Patras artifact

King George I Square, Patras

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The port at Thassos in the 1960s artifact

The port at Thassos in the 1960s

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Hotel Miramare in Ixia, Rhodes 1958-60 artifact

Hotel Miramare in Ixia, Rhodes 1958-60

Photograph
Postcard
Therma Hot Springs in Lesvos artifact

Therma Hot Springs in Lesvos

Postcard
Thessaloniki International Fair in the '50s artifact

Thessaloniki International Fair in the '50s

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Glyfada Beach artifact

Glyfada Beach

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The Asclepius Hydrotherapy Centre in Kammena Vourla Hot Springs artifact

The Asclepius Hydrotherapy Centre in Kammena...

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Achilleion Palace at Corfu artifact

Achilleion Palace at Corfu

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The "Albergo Gelsomino" or "Aktaion" in Kos artifact

The "Albergo Gelsomino" or "Aktaion" in Kos

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The Theatre in the city of Zakynthos artifact

The Theatre in the city of Zakynthos

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Views from Edessa artifact

Views from Edessa

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View of Athens from Lykabettus hill artifact

View of Athens from Lykabettus hill

Postcard
Mastic Harvesting in Chios artifact

Mastic Harvesting in Chios

Postcard
A clay potter from Sifnos artifact

A clay potter from Sifnos

Postcard
Harvesting and threshing in the 1950s artifact

Harvesting and threshing in the 1950s

Postcard
Delphi Xenia Hotel artifact

Delphi Xenia Hotel

Photograph
Postcard
The Youth of Antikythera artifact

The Youth of Antikythera

Postcard
The Varvakeion Athena artifact

The Varvakeion Athena

Postcard
Smiley gold death Mycenaen mask artifact

Smiley gold death Mycenaen mask

Postcard
Head of the Piraeus Athena artifact

Head of the Piraeus Athena

Postcard
Head of Volomandra Kouros artifact

Head of Volomandra Kouros

Postcard
The Crucifixion 9th & 13th c. artifact

The Crucifixion 9th & 13th c.

Postcard
Traditional dance performance in Corfu artifact

Traditional dance performance in Corfu

Postcard
Traditional dance performance in Rethymno, Crete artifact

Traditional dance performance in Rethymno, Cr...

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Young women on Thessaloniki's old quay, dressed in the traditional Amalia costume artifact

Young women on Thessaloniki's old quay, dress...

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Young girl from Crete spinning wool in the traditional way artifact

Young girl from Crete spinning wool in the tr...

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Skala Prinos Port in Thassos artifact

Skala Prinos Port in Thassos

Postcard
Theatre at Philippi in East Macedonia artifact

Theatre at Philippi in East Macedonia

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Mohammed Ali's Statue in Kavala artifact

Mohammed Ali's Statue in Kavala

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The water Fountain in Eleftherias Square, Kavala artifact

The water Fountain in Eleftherias Square, Kav...

Postcard
Seaside Bungalows at Tosca Beach in Kavala artifact

Seaside Bungalows at Tosca Beach in Kavala

Postcard
The new Hydrotherapy Centre at Ypati Mineral Springs artifact

The new Hydrotherapy Centre at Ypati Mineral...

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The Bay of Paleokastritsa in Corfu artifact

The Bay of Paleokastritsa in Corfu

Postcard
Sunset at Zakynthos artifact

Sunset at Zakynthos

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Hotel Korkyra, Corfu artifact

Hotel Korkyra, Corfu

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The Monastery of Paleokastritsa in Corfu artifact

The Monastery of Paleokastritsa in Corfu

Postcard
Agathonos Monastery in Ypati artifact

Agathonos Monastery in Ypati

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Marmaras Beach in Halkidiki artifact

Marmaras Beach in Halkidiki

Postcard
Camping Europa at Marmaras Beach in Halkidiki artifact

Camping Europa at Marmaras Beach in Halkidiki

Postcard
The fallow deer statue in front of the Prefecture at Rhodes artifact

The fallow deer statue in front of the Prefec...

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Via dei Cavalieri in the city of Rhodes artifact

Via dei Cavalieri in the city of Rhodes

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Palazzo dei Cavalieri in the city of Rhodes artifact

Palazzo dei Cavalieri in the city of Rhodes

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Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes artifact

Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of...

Postcard
Crouching Venus of Rhodes artifact

Crouching Venus of Rhodes

Postcard
Border Station at Kipi, Evros artifact

Border Station at Kipi, Evros

Postcard
The iconic lighthouse at the port of Alexandroupolis artifact

The iconic lighthouse at the port of Alexandr...

Postcard
Harvester Vase from Agia Triada, Minoan Crete artifact

Harvester Vase from Agia Triada, Minoan Crete

Postcard
Ladies in blue fresco from the Knossos Palace artifact

Ladies in blue fresco from the Knossos Palace...

Postcard
La Parisienne, or the Minoan Lady, artifact

La Parisienne, or the Minoan Lady,

Postcard
The taller Minoan Snake Godess figurine artifact

The taller Minoan Snake Godess figurine

Postcard
Minoan Snake Godesses figurines artifact

Minoan Snake Godesses figurines

Postcard
Minoan rock-crystal rhyton from Zakros artifact

Minoan rock-crystal rhyton from Zakros

Postcard
Queen's Megaron Knossos Palace artifact

Queen's Megaron Knossos Palace

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The Throne Room from Knossos Palace artifact

The Throne Room from Knossos Palace

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The Prince of the Lilies fresco at Knossos Palace artifact

The Prince of the Lilies fresco at Knossos Pa...

Postcard
Strani Hill, Zakynthos artifact

Strani Hill, Zakynthos

Postcard
Bust of a goddess from the Sanctuary of Kleo in Amphipolis artifact

Bust of a goddess from the Sanctuary of Kleo...

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Platamon Castle in Pieria artifact

Platamon Castle in Pieria

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Kalabaka Xenia Motel artifact

Kalabaka Xenia Motel

Postcard
Temple of Apollo at Bassae artifact

Temple of Apollo at Bassae

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Souvenir of Platamon artifact

Souvenir of Platamon

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A view of Platamonas village with the medieval castle in the background artifact

A view of Platamonas village with the medieva...

Postcard
The Korais Library at Chios artifact

The Korais Library at Chios

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The Mega Spilaio Monastery artifact

The Mega Spilaio Monastery

Postcard
The Bourtzi Peninsula at Skiathos artifact

The Bourtzi Peninsula at Skiathos

Postcard
Two Churches in Monemvasia artifact

Two Churches in Monemvasia

Postcard
Clay figurine of Athena Alkidemos at Pella artifact

Clay figurine of Athena Alkidemos at Pella

Postcard
Statue of Podaleirios from the Great Thermae at Dion artifact

Statue of Podaleirios from the Great Thermae...

Postcard
The Procession of the Venerated Relics of Agios Spyridon in Corfu artifact

The Procession of the Venerated Relics of Agi...

Postcard
The Venerated Relics of Agios Spyridon in Corfu artifact

The Venerated Relics of Agios Spyridon in Cor...

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The Palace of Saints Michael and George artifact

The Palace of Saints Michael and George

Postcard
Hotel Castello at Corfu artifact

Hotel Castello at Corfu

Postcard
Spreading trahanas out to dry in Milies, Pelion artifact

Spreading trahanas out to dry in Milies, Peli...

Postcard
A saddler's workshop in Milies Pelion artifact

A saddler's workshop in Milies Pelion

Postcard
Statue of Antinous at Delphi artifact

Statue of Antinous at Delphi

Postcard
Head of Hermes of Olympia artifact

Head of Hermes of Olympia

Postcard
The Clock Tower in Arachova artifact

The Clock Tower in Arachova

Postcard
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Agios Demetrios in Mystras artifact

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Agios Demetrios...

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The Peribleptos Monastery in Mystras artifact

The Peribleptos Monastery in Mystras

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The Remarkable Mosaics at Daphni Monastery, Attica artifact

The Remarkable Mosaics at Daphni Monastery, A...

Postcard
Marble figurines from the Early Cycladic II Period artifact

Marble figurines from the Early Cycladic II P...

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Mikrolimano Bay at Piraeus artifact

Mikrolimano Bay at Piraeus

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Zea Bay at Piraeus artifact

Zea Bay at Piraeus

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Sunset at Nafplio artifact

Sunset at Nafplio

Postcard
Armenistis Car-Camp in Sithonia artifact

Armenistis Car-Camp in Sithonia

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Exquisite mosaics from Delos artifact

Exquisite mosaics from Delos

Postcard
Statue of Leonidas at the Thermopylae Memorial artifact

Statue of Leonidas at the Thermopylae Memoria...

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Hotel Aigaion at Cape Sounion artifact

Hotel Aigaion at Cape Sounion

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The Arion Hotel in Xylokastro artifact

The Arion Hotel in Xylokastro

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Agios Dionysios' Church in Zakynthos artifact

Agios Dionysios' Church in Zakynthos

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Sunset at Akrotiri, Zakynthos artifact

Sunset at Akrotiri, Zakynthos

Postcard
The demolished Xenia hotel in Chania, Crete artifact

The demolished Xenia hotel in Chania, Crete

Postcard
The Saint Andreas Cathedral in Patras artifact

The Saint Andreas Cathedral in Patras

Postcard
Olympic Airways Boeing 707-320 artifact

Olympic Airways Boeing 707-320

Postcard
Xenia hotel in Tsagkarada, Pelion artifact

Xenia hotel in Tsagkarada, Pelion

Photograph
Postcard
Kammena Vourla, view from the sea showing Mount Knemis in the background artifact

Kammena Vourla, view from the sea showing Mou...

Postcard
Nafplio, the waterfront with the Amphitryon Hotel in the foreground artifact

Nafplio, the waterfront with the Amphitryon H...

Postcard
Thessaloniki, the White Tower prior to the construction of the New Promenade Quay artifact

Thessaloniki, the White Tower prior to the co...

Postcard
Agios Kirikos Thermal Springs in Ikaria artifact

Agios Kirikos Thermal Springs in Ikaria

Postcard
From Porto Lago, to Lakki in Leros artifact

From Porto Lago, to Lakki in Leros

Postcard
Hellenistic Gymnasium at Kos artifact

Hellenistic Gymnasium at Kos

Postcard
The fallow deer statue in front of the Governor's Palace in Rhodes artifact

The fallow deer statue in front of the Govern...

Postcard
Edessa, the Tourist Pavilion artifact

Edessa, the Tourist Pavilion

Postcard
The waterfalls' pools in Edessa artifact

The waterfalls' pools in Edessa

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Edessa's canal network artifact

Edessa's canal network

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Ancient theatre of Dodona before restoration artifact

Ancient theatre of Dodona before restoration

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Linaria beach at Panormos, Kalymnos artifact

Linaria beach at Panormos, Kalymnos

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At the port of Kalamata artifact

At the port of Kalamata

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Zakynthos, the waterfront artifact

Zakynthos, the waterfront

Postcard