1960

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.

1960

1969

Tourist Information Centre in Kavala artifact — Tourist Information Centre in Kavala

Koumpelidiki Church in Kastoria artifact — Koumpelidiki Church in Kastoria

Dimitris Papaefstratiou, a true visionary of Greek tourism artifact — Dimitris Papaefstratiou, a true visionary of Greek tourism

Edessa Xenia Hotel artifact — Edessa Xenia Hotel

Photograph

Searching for the Greek myth artifact — Searching for the Greek myth

Sunbaithing in Minos Beach artifact — Sunbaithing in Minos Beach

The demolished Xenia Hotel in Heraklion, Crete artifact — The demolished Xenia Hotel in Heraklion, Crete

Epirus Greece 1960 artifact — Epirus Greece 1960

Villes d' Eau Grèce artifact — Villes d' Eau Grèce

A Welcome to Greece by the Tourist Police artifact — A Welcome to Greece by the Tourist Police

Thassos Samothraki 1960 artifact — Thassos Samothraki 1960

Florina Xenia Hotel artifact — Florina Xenia Hotel

Callas as Norma at Epidaurus artifact — Callas as Norma at Epidaurus

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

Grèce - A ship-figurehead 1960 artifact — Grèce - A ship-figurehead 1960

Travel to sunny Mediterranean with Olympic Cruises S/A artifact — Travel to sunny Mediterranean with Olympic Cruises S/A

Peloponnese by train artifact — Peloponnese by train

Kreta Griechenland 1960 artifact — Kreta Griechenland 1960

Cyclades Grèce 1960 artifact — Cyclades Grèce 1960

Mykonos Delos 1960 artifact — Mykonos Delos 1960

Syros Tinos Andros 1960 artifact — Syros Tinos Andros 1960

Argosaronikos Gulf 1960 artifact — Argosaronikos Gulf 1960

Paros Santorini 1960 artifact — Paros Santorini 1960

Cephalonia Ithaca Zakynthos 1960 artifact — Cephalonia Ithaca Zakynthos 1960

Thessaloniki 1960 artifact — Thessaloniki 1960

Athens Festival 1960 artifact — Athens Festival 1960

Statue of the Kore with almond eyes artifact — Statue of the Kore with almond eyes

Window with a view artifact — Window with a view

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

Olympic Airways 1960 - Fly with a Comet artifact — Olympic Airways 1960 - Fly with a Comet

S/S Agamemnon exiting the Corinth Canal artifact — S/S Agamemnon exiting the Corinth Canal

House interior in Skyros artifact — House interior in Skyros

King George I Square, Patras artifact — King George I Square, Patras

Hydra's port photogrphed by N.A. Tombazi artifact — Hydra's port photogrphed by N.A. Tombazi

Organised beach in Arvanitia, Nafplio artifact — Organised beach in Arvanitia, Nafplio

Delphi in 1960 artifact — Delphi in 1960

The guns of Navarone artifact — The guns of Navarone

Gregory Peck in Lindos, Rhodes artifact — Gregory Peck in Lindos, Rhodes

Lesvos Chios Samos 1960 artifact — Lesvos Chios Samos 1960

Fodor's 1960 Greece artifact — Fodor's 1960 Greece

Views of Epirus in the 1960s artifact — Views of Epirus in the 1960s

Hotel Miramare in Ixia, Rhodes 1958-60 artifact — Hotel Miramare in Ixia, Rhodes 1958-60

The new Hydrotherapy Centre at Ypati Mineral Springs artifact — The new Hydrotherapy Centre at Ypati Mineral Springs

Agathonos Monastery in Ypati artifact — Agathonos Monastery in Ypati

Kalabaka Xenia Motel artifact — Kalabaka Xenia Motel

Hotel Castello at Corfu artifact — Hotel Castello at Corfu

Hotel Aigaion at Cape Sounion artifact — Hotel Aigaion at Cape Sounion

The Arion Hotel in Xylokastro artifact — The Arion Hotel in Xylokastro

Inauguration of the Greece-Italy ferry connection artifact — Inauguration of the Greece-Italy ferry connection

1961

Arta Xenia Hotel artifact — Arta Xenia Hotel

Photograph

The demolished Xenia Hotel in Ioannina artifact — The demolished Xenia Hotel in Ioannina

Photograph

Karpenissi Xenia Hotel artifact — Karpenissi Xenia Hotel

Photograph

Missolonghi Xenia Motel artifact — Missolonghi Xenia Motel

Photograph

The Spa Town of Kammena Vourla on screen artifact — The Spa Town of Kammena Vourla on screen

Port Facilties at Igoumenitsa artifact — Port Facilties at Igoumenitsa

Photograph

Delphi Greece 1961 artifact — Delphi Greece 1961

Pamphlet

Ypati Thermal Springs Xenia artifact — Ypati Thermal Springs Xenia

Epidaurus Festival 1961 artifact — Epidaurus Festival 1961

Pilion Sporades Greece artifact — Pilion Sporades Greece

Thassos Samothraki 1961 artifact — Thassos Samothraki 1961

Andritsaina Xenia Hotel artifact — Andritsaina Xenia Hotel

Athens Festival 1961 artifact — Athens Festival 1961

Callas in Cherubini's Medea artifact — Callas in Cherubini's Medea

Honeymooning at the Hotel du Lac artifact — Honeymooning at the Hotel du Lac

Griechenland - Island Reflection 1961 artifact — Griechenland - Island Reflection 1961

An imaginary landscape in 18th century Athens artifact — An imaginary landscape in 18th century Athens

Cyclades Greece 1961 artifact — Cyclades Greece 1961

Syros Tinos Andros 1961 -1963 artifact — Syros Tinos Andros 1961 -1963

Pylos Griechenland 1961 artifact — Pylos Griechenland 1961

Corfu Greece 1961 artifact — Corfu Greece 1961

Thessaloniki 1961 artifact — Thessaloniki 1961

26th International Fair of Thessaloniki 1961 artifact — 26th International Fair of Thessaloniki 1961

Tourist and Travel Guide of Greece 1961 artifact — Tourist and Travel Guide of Greece 1961

Guide Historique de l’ Ancienne Corinthe, Mycènes et Épidaure artifact — Guide Historique de l’ Ancienne Corinthe, Mycènes et Épidaure

American Express Finance & Travel Office, Athens artifact — American Express Finance & Travel Office, Athens

Akronafplia Xenia Hotel in 1961 artifact — Akronafplia Xenia Hotel in 1961

Chios Xenia Hotel artifact — Chios Xenia Hotel

Samos Xenia Hotel artifact — Samos Xenia Hotel

Kos Xenia Hotel artifact — Kos Xenia Hotel

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

Patmos Xenia Hotel artifact — Patmos Xenia Hotel

Oceanis Restaurant in Vouliagmeni artifact — Oceanis Restaurant in Vouliagmeni

Igoumenitsa Athens Road Map 1961 artifact — Igoumenitsa Athens Road Map 1961

1961 12.50-drachma stamp featuring Delos artifact — 1961 12.50-drachma stamp featuring Delos

1961 50-λ stamp featuring Hydra artifact — 1961 50-λ stamp featuring Hydra

1961 10-λ stamp featuring Kastoria artifact — 1961 10-λ stamp featuring Kastoria

1958 70-λ stamp featuring the Athens Acropolis artifact — 1958 70-λ stamp featuring the Athens Acropolis

1961 20-λ stamp featuring Meteora artifact — 1961 20-λ stamp featuring Meteora

Athenians rush to the coasts of Attica in 1961 artifact — Athenians rush to the coasts of Attica in 1961

1962

Evripos Tourist Pavilion artifact — Evripos Tourist Pavilion

Photograph

Horse from the Hekatompedon artifact — Horse from the Hekatompedon

The Lenormant Relief artifact — The Lenormant Relief

Greta Garbo in Aedipsos artifact — Greta Garbo in Aedipsos

Epirus Greece 1962 artifact — Epirus Greece 1962

Greek Popular Art artifact — Greek Popular Art

1962 Epidaurus Festival Poster artifact — 1962 Epidaurus Festival Poster

Mykonos Delos 1962 artifact — Mykonos Delos 1962

Akti Apollon 1962 artifact — Akti Apollon 1962

Mother Hellas invites you... artifact — Mother Hellas invites you...

Athens and Environs artifact — Athens and Environs

The golden sun of Greece artifact — The golden sun of Greece

The Light in Greece Calendar 1962 artifact — The Light in Greece Calendar 1962

Athens Greece 1962 artifact — Athens Greece 1962

Sparti Mystras 1962 artifact — Sparti Mystras 1962

Argosaronikos Gulf 1962 artifact — Argosaronikos Gulf 1962

Tourism in Greece 1962 artifact — Tourism in Greece 1962

Antiparos 1962 Guide artifact — Antiparos 1962 Guide

Holidays in Greece 1962 artifact — Holidays in Greece 1962

Carte de la Grèce 1962 artifact — Carte de la Grèce 1962

Map of Peloponnese 1962 artifact — Map of Peloponnese 1962

Moralis' artwork on the Athens Hilton's facades artifact — Moralis' artwork on the Athens Hilton's facades

Alexandroupolis Astir Motel artifact — Alexandroupolis Astir Motel

The Miramare in Corfu artifact — The Miramare in Corfu

Hotel des Fleurs, Xenia in Zakynthos artifact — Hotel des Fleurs, Xenia in Zakynthos

Opening performance of Euripides' 'Helen' at the ancient theatre of Epidaurus artifact — Opening performance of Euripides' 'Helen' at the ancient theatre of Epidaurus

1963

Athens Festival 1963 artifact — Athens Festival 1963

Promoting Greece with a Sun artifact — Promoting Greece with a Sun

Greece as a mosaic artifact — Greece as a mosaic

Greek Weaving Art 1963 artifact — Greek Weaving Art 1963

Mykonos Delos 1963 artifact — Mykonos Delos 1963

Corfu Greece 1963 artifact — Corfu Greece 1963

Kephalinia, Zakynthos, Ithaki 1963 artifact — Kephalinia, Zakynthos, Ithaki 1963

Olympia 1963-65 artifact — Olympia 1963-65

Akti Apollon 1963 artifact — Akti Apollon 1963

Rhodos Grèce 1963 artifact — Rhodos Grèce 1963

Vytina Xenia Motel artifact — Vytina Xenia Motel

Volos Xenia Hotel artifact — Volos Xenia Hotel

Serres Xenia Hotel artifact — Serres Xenia Hotel

The Athens Hilton artifact — The Athens Hilton

Minoan goddess terracota figurine artifact — Minoan goddess terracota figurine

Mount Athos monastic architecture 1963 artifact — Mount Athos monastic architecture 1963

Epidaurus Festival 1963 artifact — Epidaurus Festival 1963

Yiannis Moralis Artwork at Amalia Hotel Delphi artifact — Yiannis Moralis Artwork at Amalia Hotel Delphi

Greece Calendar 1963 artifact — Greece Calendar 1963

Hellenic Touring Club Tourism Magazine 1963 artifact — Hellenic Touring Club Tourism Magazine 1963

Pelion Sporades 1963 artifact — Pelion Sporades 1963

Lesvos Chios Samos 1963 artifact — Lesvos Chios Samos 1963

Pylos Grèce 1963 artifact — Pylos Grèce 1963

Tourist Crete 1963 artifact — Tourist Crete 1963

Water skiing show at Vouliagmeni bay artifact — Water skiing show at Vouliagmeni bay

Inauguration of 'Dionysos' restaurant artifact — Inauguration of 'Dionysos' restaurant

Inauguration of the Athens Hilton 1963 artifact — Inauguration of the Athens Hilton 1963

1964

Xanthi Xenia Hotel artifact — Xanthi Xenia Hotel

Photograph

Omonia Hotel artifact — Omonia Hotel

Photograph

Minos Beach Hotel artifact — Minos Beach Hotel

Photograph

Dwelling the beach artifact — Dwelling the beach

Epirus Greece 1964 artifact — Epirus Greece 1964

Thessaloniki & East Macedonia 1964 artifact — Thessaloniki & East Macedonia 1964

Athens Festival 1964 artifact — Athens Festival 1964

Xenia hotel in Portaria artifact — Xenia hotel in Portaria

Crete Greece 1964 artifact — Crete Greece 1964

Argosaronikos Gulf 1964 artifact — Argosaronikos Gulf 1964

Athens Greece 1964 artifact — Athens Greece 1964

Minoan Snake Goddess artifact — Minoan Snake Goddess

Lesvos Chios Samos Limnos 1964 artifact — Lesvos Chios Samos Limnos 1964

Crete Knossos Faistos 1964 artifact — Crete Knossos Faistos 1964

Tourism in Greece 1964 artifact — Tourism in Greece 1964

The demolished Xenia hotel in Chania, Crete artifact — The demolished Xenia hotel in Chania, Crete

1965

Paliouri Xenia Motel artifact — Paliouri Xenia Motel

Photograph

Ouranoupolis Xenia Motel artifact — Ouranoupolis Xenia Motel

Photograph

Dodona Festival 1965 artifact — Dodona Festival 1965

Colour in Greece - Calendar 1965 artifact — Colour in Greece - Calendar 1965

Sunny Coasts in Greece and Yugoslavia 1965 artifact — Sunny Coasts in Greece and Yugoslavia 1965

Promoting Greece in Germany artifact — Promoting Greece in Germany

Pylos Messinia Grèce 1965 artifact — Pylos Messinia Grèce 1965

Amalia Hotel Delphi artifact — Amalia Hotel Delphi

Grand Hotel Astir Palace, Rhodes artifact — Grand Hotel Astir Palace, Rhodes

Hellenic Touring Club Tourism Magazine 1965 artifact — Hellenic Touring Club Tourism Magazine 1965

Akronafplia Xenia Brochure of 1965 artifact — Akronafplia Xenia Brochure of 1965

Unofficial first day cover (FDC) of the Festivals of Greece stamp set artifact — Unofficial first day cover (FDC) of the Festivals of Greece stamp set

Aegean Islands 1965 artifact — Aegean Islands 1965

La Grèce des Dieux et des Hommes artifact — La Grèce des Dieux et des Hommes

The 30th International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki artifact — The 30th International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki

The Voyage in the 1960s artifact — The Voyage in the 1960s

1965 Poster of Austrian Airlines promoting flights to Athens artifact — 1965 Poster of Austrian Airlines promoting flights to Athens

1965 Commemorative Stamp for the 43rd AHEPA Convention in Athens artifact — 1965 Commemorative Stamp for the 43rd AHEPA Convention in Athens

Olympic Airways Ticket artifact — Olympic Airways Ticket

1966

Emjoy your trip to Greece artifact — Emjoy your trip to Greece

Sunbathing inflatable comforts artifact — Sunbathing inflatable comforts

Dry hair and swimming in safety artifact — Dry hair and swimming in safety

Dodona Festival 1966 artifact — Dodona Festival 1966

Epidaurus Festival 1966 artifact — Epidaurus Festival 1966

Spas and Thermal Springs in Greece artifact — Spas and Thermal Springs in Greece

Xenia Hotels Griechenland 1966 artifact — Xenia Hotels Griechenland 1966

Ionian Islands in 1966 artifact — Ionian Islands in 1966

Inauguration of the 31st Thessaloniki International Fair artifact — Inauguration of the 31st Thessaloniki International Fair

John Voglis at Thessaloniki Film Festival artifact — John Voglis at Thessaloniki Film Festival

Take your παδιά back to Greece artifact — Take your παδιά back to Greece

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

Inauguration of the Mobil travel stop on the Athens-Thessaloniki Highway artifact — Inauguration of the Mobil travel stop on the Athens-Thessaloniki Highway

Delphi, The Treasury of the Athenians artifact — Delphi, The Treasury of the Athenians

Olympic Airways – First Transatlantic Flight artifact — Olympic Airways – First Transatlantic Flight

1967

Ai Giannakis Beach Parga artifact — Ai Giannakis Beach Parga

Agios Spyridon Beach Corfu artifact — Agios Spyridon Beach Corfu

Postcard

Epidaurus Festival 1967 artifact — Epidaurus Festival 1967

The Aegean Islands artifact — The Aegean Islands

Macedonia Greece artifact — Macedonia Greece

Athens Festival 1967 artifact — Athens Festival 1967

The sun and the moon over a golden sea artifact — The sun and the moon over a golden sea

Kreta Greece 1967 artifact — Kreta Greece 1967

Flying to Greece with Air France artifact — Flying to Greece with Air France

Athens Greece 1967 artifact — Athens Greece 1967

Sparti Mystras Monemvassia 1967 artifact — Sparti Mystras Monemvassia 1967

National Archaeological Museum Sculpture Catalogue artifact — National Archaeological Museum Sculpture Catalogue

Tourist Map of Greece 1967 artifact — Tourist Map of Greece 1967

Commemorating International Tourist Year 1967 artifact — Commemorating International Tourist Year 1967

Xenia Magazine 1967 artifact — Xenia Magazine 1967

1968

Tosca Beach Kavala artifact — Tosca Beach Kavala

Postcard

Swinging by the sea artifact — Swinging by the sea

Sound and Light 1968 artifact — Sound and Light 1968

Poseidon Resort Hotel Loutraki artifact — Poseidon Resort Hotel Loutraki

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Agios Demetrios in Mystras artifact — The Metropolitan Cathedral of Agios Demetrios in Mystras

Sunset at Nafplio artifact — Sunset at Nafplio

1969

Fly with us, homeland awaits you artifact — Fly with us, homeland awaits you

Announcement of the 1969, GAPA Easter Excursion to Greece artifact — Announcement of the 1969, GAPA Easter Excursion to Greece

Papalimani Beach Thassos artifact — Papalimani Beach Thassos

Postcard

Makriammos Beach Xenia Motel, Thassos artifact — Makriammos Beach Xenia Motel, Thassos

Postcard

Epidaurus Festival 1969 artifact — Epidaurus Festival 1969

Greece - The New Place artifact — Greece - The New Place

Sound and Light 1969 artifact — Sound and Light 1969

Hotel Apollo, Aegina artifact — Hotel Apollo, Aegina

Corfu Airport in 1969 artifact — Corfu Airport in 1969

Yachting in Greece 1969-1970 artifact — Yachting in Greece 1969-1970

Olympic Airways 1958 - Fly with a DC-6 artifact — Olympic Airways 1958 - Fly with a DC-6

Western & Central Greece Greece 1969 artifact — Western & Central Greece Greece 1969

Northern Greece 1969 artifact — Northern Greece 1969

Tourism in Greece 1969 artifact — Tourism in Greece 1969

Xenia hotel in Tsagkarada, Pelion artifact — Xenia hotel in Tsagkarada, Pelion

1971

Guesthouses near the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus artifact — Guesthouses near the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

1980

Igoumenitsa Xenia Motel artifact — Igoumenitsa Xenia Motel

Komotini Xenia Hotel artifact — Komotini Xenia Hotel

Kythnos Xenia Spa Hotel artifact — Kythnos Xenia Spa Hotel

2023

End of an era for Panellinion hotel artifact — End of an era for Panellinion hotel

2024

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