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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.

1970

1979

1964

Xanthi Xenia Hotel artifact — Xanthi Xenia Hotel

Photograph

Itea, at the port artifact — Itea, at the port

Postcard

Riviera Camping Asprovalta artifact — Riviera Camping Asprovalta

Postcard

Camping Sites in Northern Greece artifact — Camping Sites in Northern Greece

Pamphlet

Playing music aboard artifact — Playing music aboard

48th Supreme Convention of the Order of AHEPA 1970 artifact — 48th Supreme Convention of the Order of AHEPA 1970

Sound and Light 1970 artifact — Sound and Light 1970

Xenia Network in Halkidiki 1970 artifact — Xenia Network in Halkidiki 1970

Dusk at the Port of Patras artifact — Dusk at the Port of Patras

Lake Voulismeni at Agios Nikolaos artifact — Lake Voulismeni at Agios Nikolaos

Minos Beach Hotel Bungalows at Agios Nikolaos artifact — Minos Beach Hotel Bungalows at Agios Nikolaos

Souvenir from Zante artifact — Souvenir from Zante

Lake Vouliagmeni in Corinthia artifact — Lake Vouliagmeni in Corinthia

The Heraion at Perachora and the Cape of Melagavi artifact — The Heraion at Perachora and the Cape of Melagavi

Vlychada Grotto in Diros Caves artifact — Vlychada Grotto in Diros Caves

Vlychada Grotto in Diros, Mani artifact — Vlychada Grotto in Diros, Mani

An idyllic view of Pontikonissi in Corfu artifact — An idyllic view of Pontikonissi in Corfu

Empress Sissy's Peristyle in the Achillion gardens artifact — Empress Sissy's Peristyle in the Achillion gardens

Diakofto Kalvryta Rack Railway artifact — Diakofto Kalvryta Rack Railway

Skiing resort at Hania, Pelion artifact — Skiing resort at Hania, Pelion

Chilled greetings from Lailias Skiing Centre artifact — Chilled greetings from Lailias Skiing Centre

The floral clock at Patras waterfront artifact — The floral clock at Patras waterfront

Phoenix aesthetic forest at Vai, Crete artifact — Phoenix aesthetic forest at Vai, Crete

Agnontas Bay in Skopelos artifact — Agnontas Bay in Skopelos

Fishing boats at Loutraki port, Glossa, Skopelos artifact — Fishing boats at Loutraki port, Glossa, Skopelos

The Winecastle of Achaia Clauss artifact — The Winecastle of Achaia Clauss

Cranae, the island of Helen and Paris artifact — Cranae, the island of Helen and Paris

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

Corfu Greece 1970 artifact — Corfu Greece 1970

Tourism in Greece in the 1970s artifact — Tourism in Greece in the 1970s

Grande Albergo delle Rose artifact — Grande Albergo delle Rose

Greek Islands of the Aegean artifact — Greek Islands of the Aegean

Apollonion Vacation Village in Porto Rafti 1970-1981 artifact — Apollonion Vacation Village in Porto Rafti 1970-1981

Itineraries in mainland Greece artifact — Itineraries in mainland Greece

She won't say "Hello" artifact — She won't say "Hello"

1971

Kalamata Xenia Motel artifact — Kalamata Xenia Motel

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

Tourist Pavilion in Epidaurus Archaeological Site artifact — Tourist Pavilion in Epidaurus Archaeological Site

Apollon Palace, Kavouri artifact — Apollon Palace, Kavouri

Greece Calendar 1971 artifact — Greece Calendar 1971

Xenia Network in Central Greece 1971 artifact — Xenia Network in Central Greece 1971

Athens Greece 1971 artifact — Athens Greece 1971

Greek Festivals 1971 artifact — Greek Festivals 1971

Religious tourism on Mt. Athos artifact — Religious tourism on Mt. Athos

Brauron archaeological guide artifact — Brauron archaeological guide

Nature-loving Horizons artifact — Nature-loving Horizons

1972

Touristic Giannina: A lyrical guide artifact — Touristic Giannina: A lyrical guide

Guidebook

Camping Sites in Greece artifact — Camping Sites in Greece

Café and open-air swimming pool at Zea Marina artifact — Café and open-air swimming pool at Zea Marina

Fly to Greece in your private airplane artifact — Fly to Greece in your private airplane

Olympia Guide 1972 artifact — Olympia Guide 1972

Guide of Ancient Corinth and its archaeological museum artifact — Guide of Ancient Corinth and its archaeological museum

She speaks your language artifact — She speaks your language

Morning bath at Malia artifact — Morning bath at Malia

1973

Epirotiki Lines. The Leaders and Pioneers of Greek Island Cruises artifact — Epirotiki Lines. The Leaders and Pioneers of Greek Island Cruises

Print Ad

Epidaurus Festival 1973 artifact — Epidaurus Festival 1973

Athens Festival 1973 artifact — Athens Festival 1973

Restaurant Pamela's at Voula artifact — Restaurant Pamela's at Voula

White Rocks Hotel, Cephalonia artifact — White Rocks Hotel, Cephalonia

Wine Festival 1973-76 artifact — Wine Festival 1973-76

Athens Nightlife 1973 artifact — Athens Nightlife 1973

Travels to Greece and Cyprus 1973 artifact — Travels to Greece and Cyprus 1973

The Voyage in the 1970s artifact — The Voyage in the 1970s

Greek Festivals 1973 artifact — Greek Festivals 1973

Is Everyobdy Happy? artifact — Is Everyobdy Happy?

The Greece the crowds don't know artifact — The Greece the crowds don't know

1974

The seal Thodoris artifact — The seal Thodoris

Greece 1974 Tourism Yearbook artifact — Greece 1974 Tourism Yearbook

Mikra State Airport - Terminal Building Extension artifact — Mikra State Airport - Terminal Building Extension

Olympus Car Camp, Skotina Beach artifact — Olympus Car Camp, Skotina Beach

1975

The Calf-bearer artifact — The Calf-bearer

Beach racquet game by the sea artifact — Beach racquet game by the sea

Sound and Light 1975 artifact — Sound and Light 1975

Philoxenia and Tourism Bulletin 1975 artifact — Philoxenia and Tourism Bulletin 1975

Agios Ioannis Lake at Serres artifact — Agios Ioannis Lake at Serres

1976

Embroidery from Crete artifact — Embroidery from Crete

Inauguration of the Athenian Ski Friends Club's Centre on Mount Parnassus 1976 artifact — Inauguration of the Athenian Ski Friends Club's Centre on Mount Parnassus 1976

1977

Hanging out with the local priest artifact — Hanging out with the local priest

Wine Festival 1977 artifact — Wine Festival 1977

Fterolakka Ski Centre on Mount Parnassus 1977 artifact — Fterolakka Ski Centre on Mount Parnassus 1977

Athens Attica 1977 artifact — Athens Attica 1977

Macedonia Thessaloniki 1977 artifact — Macedonia Thessaloniki 1977

Come home to Greece on the No.1 airline artifact — Come home to Greece on the No.1 airline

1978

Diving for Roman Plunde artifact — Diving for Roman Plunde

Documentary

Tourists in Steni Vala, Alonissos artifact — Tourists in Steni Vala, Alonissos

Free Camping in Halkidiki in the '70s artifact — Free Camping in Halkidiki in the '70s

Western Greece 1978 artifact — Western Greece 1978

1979

Greek Island Hopping. A handbook for the independent Traveller artifact — Greek Island Hopping. A handbook for the independent Traveller

Amalia Hotel Olympia artifact — Amalia Hotel Olympia

Acropolis 1979 artifact — Acropolis 1979

44th International Fair of Thessaloniki artifact — 44th International Fair of Thessaloniki

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