The Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece presents the exhibition “Advertising Greece. The beginnings of Greek tourism” at the Historical House of Lazaros Kountouriotis, a branch of the National Historical Museum in Hydra. The exhibition opens to the public on 25 March, while the official opening will take place in June in the framework of the “Miaoulia”.

The exhibition traces the first steps of Greek tourism through posters and brochures published by the first state tourism organisations. These brochures advertised the Greek landscape, the traditions and hospitality of Greece through artistic and graphic compositions of high aesthetics. From the pre-war romanticism of promoting monuments and tradition to the modernism, abstraction and graphic genius of the 1960s, they demonstrate a pioneering and timeless approach to promoting Greece as a unique tourist destination.

Among the names of the creators of the historical posters, as well as the tourist brochures of the EOT and its predecessors, we find painters and designers such as: Tassos Loukidis, Angelos Spachis, Mimis Vitsoris, Michael Papageorgiou (Doris), Yorgos Kosmadopoulos, Alexandros Alexandrakis, Yorgos Manousakis, Pericles Vyzantios, Panagiotis Tetsis, Spyros Vasileiou, Yorgos Vakirtzis, Louzia Montesantou, Ellie Orfanou, Eleni Peraki-Theochari, Irini Apergi, Spyros Vasileiou, Yorgos Vakirtzis, Yannis Faitakis, Tassos, Yannis Tsarouchis, Agni Katzouraki, Michalis Katzourakis, Freddie Karabot∙ photographers like Nelly’s, Nikolaos Tobazis, Dimitris Charisiadis, Maria Chrousaki∙ lithographers like  Othon Pervolarakis and Sevastianos Kourkoulos etc. Many of them were destined with their work to mark their era.

The exhibition refers to the institution of the Epidaurus and Athens Festivals, which at that time were taking their first steps, laying the foundations for the country’s cultural tourism. A separate section is dedicated to the beginnings of tourism in Hydra.

Special reference is made to the digital exhibition Imagining Greece, the work of a group of scientists from various fields of knowledge, which highlights the importance of tourism as an element of identity of post-war Greece. The digital exhibition is part of the research project ‘Tourism and Nation Branding 1945-1990’, funded by Research England and the Onassis Foundation. Part of the material comes from the Collections, Photographic Archive and Historical Documents Archive of the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece – National Historical Museum.

The exhibition is under the auspices of the Hellenic National Tourism Organisation.

Exclusive Donor: Ioannis S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.

INFORMATION

“Advertising Greece. The beginnings of Greek tourism”

Periodic Exhibition

Historical House of Lazaros Kountouriotis, Hydra

+ 30 22980 52421, [email protected]

Duration: 25.3-31.10.2025

Opening Days and Times: Mon-Sun 10:00-16:00