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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.

1950

1959

Mastic Harvesting in Chios artifact — Mastic Harvesting in Chios

A clay potter from Sifnos artifact — A clay potter from Sifnos

Harvesting and threshing in the 1950s artifact — Harvesting and threshing in the 1950s

Olympie Grèce artifact — Olympie Grèce

Pamphlet

12 Tours by CHAT artifact — 12 Tours by CHAT

Harvesting and stomping wine grapes in the 50s artifact — Harvesting and stomping wine grapes in the 50s

Tourism, Hellenic Touring Club Buletin 1950 artifact — Tourism, Hellenic Touring Club Buletin 1950

For your Trip 1950 artifact — For your Trip 1950

1951

Mycenae and Tiryns Guide artifact — Mycenae and Tiryns Guide

1952

Mineral Springs in Greece artifact — Mineral Springs in Greece

Parthenon of Athens Greece artifact — Parthenon of Athens Greece

Acropolis of Mycenae The Lions Gate artifact — Acropolis of Mycenae The Lions Gate

TWA flies to Greece in the 1950s artifact — TWA flies to Greece in the 1950s

Visit Yugoslavia and Greece 1952 artifact — Visit Yugoslavia and Greece 1952

The Acropolis of Lindos Rhodes 1954 artifact — The Acropolis of Lindos Rhodes 1954

The White Tower in Thessaloniki artifact — The White Tower in Thessaloniki

1953

Mycenae Tourist Pavilion artifact — Mycenae Tourist Pavilion

Photograph

Panagia Platsani Church in the Isle of Santorini artifact — Panagia Platsani Church in the Isle of Santorini

Greek pavilion in Paris Fair 1953 artifact — Greek pavilion in Paris Fair 1953

Chalkida of Today 1953 artifact — Chalkida of Today 1953

Final stamp proofs of the series Ancient Greek Art artifact — Final stamp proofs of the series Ancient Greek Art

Stamp proofs of the series Ancient Greek Art artifact — Stamp proofs of the series Ancient Greek Art

1954

National Greek Airlines (TAE) artifact — National Greek Airlines (TAE)

Tourist and Hotel Guide of Greece 1954 artifact — Tourist and Hotel Guide of Greece 1954

Greece by Spyros Vassiliou artifact — Greece by Spyros Vassiliou

Greek pavilion in Fiera di Palermo 1954 artifact — Greek pavilion in Fiera di Palermo 1954

The first bus tours of GNTO artifact — The first bus tours of GNTO

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

"Neraida" maneeuvering in Hydra Port artifact — "Neraida" maneeuvering in Hydra Port

The "Aegean" anchored in Gialos Santorini artifact — The "Aegean" anchored in Gialos Santorini

The Port of Hydra artifact — The Port of Hydra

Euripides' 'Hippolytus' at the ancient theatre of Epidaurus artifact — Euripides' 'Hippolytus' at the ancient theatre of Epidaurus

1955

Paros Xenia Hotel artifact — Paros Xenia Hotel

Postcard

Olympia 1955 artifact — Olympia 1955

Pamphlet

Aegean Cruises 1955 artifact — Aegean Cruises 1955

Brochure

1955 Aegean Cruises artifact — 1955 Aegean Cruises

Greece and its Antiquities artifact — Greece and its Antiquities

Athens Festival 1955 artifact — Athens Festival 1955

1955 Aegean Cruises with M/S Semiramis artifact — 1955 Aegean Cruises with M/S Semiramis

Fly to Greece with TWA artifact — Fly to Greece with TWA

Grèce 10 Tours en Autocar artifact — Grèce 10 Tours en Autocar

View of Mikrolimano Port and the Kastella district in Piraeus artifact — View of Mikrolimano Port and the Kastella district in Piraeus

Guesthouse of GNTO in Samothrace artifact — Guesthouse of GNTO in Samothrace

Greece Hachette 1955 artifact — Greece Hachette 1955

Thermi Hot Springs artifact — Thermi Hot Springs

Inauguration of the Kastoria Xenia Hotel artifact — Inauguration of the Kastoria Xenia Hotel

Achilleion Palace artifact — Achilleion Palace

1956

Tourist guidebook of the Peloponnese artifact — Tourist guidebook of the Peloponnese

Onesiphorus Mosaic detail, Rotunda Thessaloniki artifact — Onesiphorus Mosaic detail, Rotunda Thessaloniki

12 Motor Coach Tours artifact — 12 Motor Coach Tours

The Island of Hydra 1956 artifact — The Island of Hydra 1956

The Village Hotel: Gkoura, Corinthia artifact — The Village Hotel: Gkoura, Corinthia

The Head of Apollon at Olympia artifact — The Head of Apollon at Olympia

Epidaurus Festival 1956 artifact — Epidaurus Festival 1956

Athens Festival 1956 artifact — Athens Festival 1956

1956 Aegean Cruises with M/S Semiramis artifact — 1956 Aegean Cruises with M/S Semiramis

1957

The Village Hotel: Skopelos Island artifact — The Village Hotel: Skopelos Island

The Village Hotel: Elatou & Terpsithea, Aetolia-Acarnania artifact — The Village Hotel: Elatou & Terpsithea, Aetolia-Acarnania

The Village Hotel: Villia, Attica artifact — The Village Hotel: Villia, Attica

The Village Hotel: Karya, Ellassona artifact — The Village Hotel: Karya, Ellassona

The Village Hotel: Mt. Pelion artifact — The Village Hotel: Mt. Pelion

The Village Hotel: Alonisos Island artifact — The Village Hotel: Alonisos Island

The Village Hotel: Aegina Island artifact — The Village Hotel: Aegina Island

Epidaurus Festival 1957 artifact — Epidaurus Festival 1957

Athens Festival 1957 artifact — Athens Festival 1957

The Private Car artifact — The Private Car

Wine Festival 1957 artifact — Wine Festival 1957

Olympic Airways 1957 - A new era artifact — Olympic Airways 1957 - A new era

Skyros Xenia Hotel artifact — Skyros Xenia Hotel

Kallas in Herodeion artifact — Kallas in Herodeion

Gortynia Peloponnese 1957 Guide artifact — Gortynia Peloponnese 1957 Guide

Rhodos Greece 1957 artifact — Rhodos Greece 1957

Thessaloniki 1956-57 artifact — Thessaloniki 1956-57

1958

First Steps in Greece artifact — First Steps in Greece

All the year round! artifact — All the year round!

Delphi Greece 1958 artifact — Delphi Greece 1958

Pamphlet

Greece Land of myth and magic 1958 artifact — Greece Land of myth and magic 1958

Pamphlet

Greece Map and General Information 1958 artifact — Greece Map and General Information 1958

Pamphlet

Athens Greece 1958 artifact — Athens Greece 1958

Pamphlet

The Village Hotel: Kalentzi, Achaea artifact — The Village Hotel: Kalentzi, Achaea

The Village Hotel: Polydendro, Imathia artifact — The Village Hotel: Polydendro, Imathia

The Village Hotel: Alepochori, Phocis artifact — The Village Hotel: Alepochori, Phocis

The Village Hotel: Kastania - Georgianoi - Rodochori, Imathia artifact — The Village Hotel: Kastania - Georgianoi - Rodochori, Imathia

Platter hats and canoeing in the 50s artifact — Platter hats and canoeing in the 50s

The shell seekers artifact — The shell seekers

Mykonos and Paros 1958 artifact — Mykonos and Paros 1958

Athens Festival 1958 artifact — Athens Festival 1958

Korfu Hellas 1958 artifact — Korfu Hellas 1958

Stringing and drying tobacco leaves in the late 50s artifact — Stringing and drying tobacco leaves in the late 50s

Tourist Buletin of the Tourism Studies Institute 1958 artifact — Tourist Buletin of the Tourism Studies Institute 1958

Thessaloniki Greece 1958 artifact — Thessaloniki Greece 1958

Pamphlet

Ordinary air-mail set Ports of Greece artifact — Ordinary air-mail set Ports of Greece

1959

Kastoria Hellas artifact — Kastoria Hellas

Pamphlet

Olympia Greece 1959 artifact — Olympia Greece 1959

Pamphlet

Sparti Mystras 1959 artifact — Sparti Mystras 1959

Pamphlet

The Village Hotel: Mikro Chorio, Evrytania artifact — The Village Hotel: Mikro Chorio, Evrytania

Athens Festival 1959 artifact — Athens Festival 1959

Ancient vase with flowers artifact — Ancient vase with flowers

Hellas - Sun, sea, sand and a balcony artifact — Hellas - Sun, sea, sand and a balcony

Paros Santorini 1959 artifact — Paros Santorini 1959

Pylos Grèce 1959 artifact — Pylos Grèce 1959

Korfu Griechenland1959 artifact — Korfu Griechenland1959

Thessaloniki 1959 artifact — Thessaloniki 1959

What to see in Greece artifact — What to see in Greece

Sound and Light 1959 artifact — Sound and Light 1959

Amalia Hotel Athens artifact — Amalia Hotel Athens

Fly to Greece with TWA Jets 1959 artifact — Fly to Greece with TWA Jets 1959

Hellenic Touring Club Tourism Magazine 1959 artifact — Hellenic Touring Club Tourism Magazine 1959

A balcony with a view of the Athens Acropolis artifact — A balcony with a view of the Athens Acropolis

Ariane August 1959 artifact — Ariane August 1959

Inauguration of the οrganised beach in Vouliagmeni artifact — Inauguration of the οrganised beach in Vouliagmeni

PM Karamanlis visits the Athens Hilton construction site artifact — PM Karamanlis visits the Athens Hilton construction site

Foundation stone-laying ceremony or the Athens Hilton artifact — Foundation stone-laying ceremony or the Athens Hilton

1960

Hotel du Lac Xenia in Kastoria artifact — Hotel du Lac Xenia in Kastoria

Tourist Pavilion in Eretria 1959 artifact — Tourist Pavilion in Eretria 1959

1961

Ioannina Xenia Hotel artifact — Ioannina Xenia Hotel

Photograph

Port Facilties at Igoumenitsa artifact — Port Facilties at Igoumenitsa

Photograph

1962

Alexandroupolis Astir Motel artifact — Alexandroupolis Astir Motel

1980

Mykonos Xenia Hotel artifact — Mykonos Xenia Hotel

1998

Acropolis Rally, Past - Present - Future artifact — Acropolis Rally, Past - Present - Future

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