Index. The vision. The man behind the dream. A unique blend of Walter Gropius and local architecture. The rich and famous. Entering the 21 st century

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1 History Book

2 History Book

3 Index The vision 07 Porto Carras History Book Copyright 2016 Property of Porto Carras S.A. Athens 2016 The man behind the dream A unique blend of Walter Gropius and local architecture The rich and famous Concept & Design: Communication Lab Photos courtesy of: Porto Carras Entering the 21 st century Tomorrow s vision 33 45

marina and vineyard, you might find it hard to believe that this verdant landscape was once an inaccessible

4 The vision B ehind every great accomplishment, there is always the story of a man s aspiration. As you walk among Porto Carras Grand Resort s five star hotels, casino, thalassotherapy centers, golf course, marina and vineyard, you might find it hard to believe that this verdant landscape was once an inaccessible wilderness. Yiannis Carras was the man who envisioned the creation of a legendary resort amidst this peaceful scenery of green on blue. 07

5 It all began back in 1963 when Yiannis Carras sailed off Athens in his yacht and crossed the Aegean Sea all the way to Halkidiki. Along with his family and friends, he set on this celebratory cruise in honor of the 1000 year history of the monastic community of Athos. However, only a few miles before reaching their destination, a fierce sea storm forced captain Yiannis to seek shelter in a nearby protected 08 bay. When the skies cleared up, an exotic scenery of transparent turquoise waters, fine sand and verdant slopes was revealed. Yiannis Carras was so captivated by the bay s natural beauty that he promised himself to build a luxurious, yet sustainable, palace that everyone in Greece would be talking about. And he managed to do a lot more than that. 09

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well-travelled bon viveur, with a seasoned taste for art, gastronomy and the good life.

7 Y The man behind the dream iannis Carras was a shrewd, decisive business man with a love for challenges. Raised in a family of strong maritime tradition, it is no surprise that he grew to become a shipping magnate but also a well-travelled bon viveur, with a seasoned taste for art, gastronomy and the good life. Both in gentle and rough seas, he loved to travel in his yacht, which he stirred wearing his trademark red knit cap. I am going to have a palace built here, the whole country will be talking about Yiannis Carras 13

8 When he discovered his dream location in Halkidiki, the surrounding area was nothing but swamps and pristine, yet inaccessible, beaches. The public road network ended miles away and there was no water or electricity network. Yiannis Carras vision of turning this place into a haven where his international circle of friends could experience genuine Greek hospitality was so strong, that he was willing to undertake the development of all necessary infrastructure. The first thing he had to do was buy the land. The 1,763 acres sold to him by Saint Gregory s monastery was the largest piece of property to be bought in the history of Halkidiki. It took Yiannis Carras three years in order to drain the swamps, open roads and create the appropriate underlying infrastructure for the development of a luxury resort. Landscape interventions included planting 45,000 olive trees and creating one of the country s largest vineyards, extending to over 4,750 acres

A unique blend of Walter Gropius and local architecture M ore than determined and capable of building this impressive infrastructure, Yiannis Carras was one of Greek tourism s pioneers: he envisioned

9 A unique blend of Walter Gropius and local architecture M ore than determined and capable of building this impressive infrastructure, Yiannis Carras was one of Greek tourism s pioneers: he envisioned a self-sustaining resort whose guests could engage in a variety of recreational activities. Masterplans designed by Bauhaus founder, Walter Gropius included hotel complexes, a marina, sports infrastructure, golf courts, a winery, stables, a dairy farm and olive groves. The great architect died before the work was completed, but Meliton hotel s soft, color-neutral curves are considered a Gropius trademark. Along with Village Inn and Sithonia, all three became an emblem of Halkidiki and a model for the development of future hotel complexes in the area. The resort s marina was the first one to be created in northern Greece, with provisions for leisure yachts. 17

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Villa Galini is another unique aspect of Porto Carras

Built and designed by renowned Greek architect Costas

chateau combines elements of local traditional

12 Villa Galini is another unique aspect of Porto Carras architecture. Built and designed by renowned Greek architect Costas Kapsambelis, it became a lifestyle icon both for its unique design and its infamous guests. Set on cliff, with unlimited views of the big blue, this chateau combines elements of local traditional architecture, monastery furniture, rare works of art, antiques from all over Europe, Gina Bachauer s piano and a bathroom designed by Salvador Dali himself

Francois Mitterrand called Porto Carras a heaven on earth and Michele Morgan loved sailing to its friendly coves.

13 P The rich and famous orto Carras has been a resort playground to the rich and famous since the 80s. By helicopter or by private yacht, some of the most important political figures, royalty, artists and celebrities escaped to Villa Galini and Porto Carras to get away from it all. Francois Mitterrand called Porto Carras a heaven on earth and Michele Morgan loved sailing to its friendly coves. John Kennedy Junior preferred to spend his time here incognito, whereas Prince Albert of Monaco did not mind the flashlights. Surrealist painter Salvador Dali found inspiration in Villa Galini s Red Room that he opted for on all of his visits. Russian president Vladimir Poutin was enchanted by his stay and Queen of Holland Juliana came for 48 hours of relaxation which she prolonged into a 40 day stay. A heaven on earth François Mitterand 25

Constantine Karamanlis, as Greece s Prime Minister,

his favorite secluded cove and practicing golf in

The resort s restaurants, marina and, eventually,

French croissette, honored by international guests

14 Constantine Karamanlis, as Greece s Prime Minister, would spend his summer vacation here, swimming in his favorite secluded cove and practicing golf in the courts. The resort s restaurants, marina and, eventually, its casino, became Greece s equivalent to the French croissette, honored by international guests of the magnitude of Valéry Giscard d Estaing, Rudolf Nureyev, Margot Fontein and the Rockefellers

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the top of the international travel market.

17 A top destination for the 21 st century A t the turn of the twenty-first century, Porto Carras Grand Resort entered a new era. After its acquisition by Technical Olympic Group in 1999, the mission of its new President Konstantinos Stengos, is to bring the Porto Carras brand to the top of the international travel market. The full-scale reorganization and modernization of the legendary resort and its complexes included the creation of a state of the art spa and thalassotherapy centre and the spectacular renovation of the Villa Galini which is now a proud member of the Historic Hotels of Europe. 33

18 Soon after the renovation was completed, Porto Carras Grand Resort was chosen to host the 2003 European Union Summit, where the preliminary draft for the European Constitution was presented

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euro sums in its continuous improvement and development.

23 Tomorrow s vision H aving celebrated its 17th anniversary under the inspired and committed management of the Stengos family, Porto Carras Grand Resort never seizes to invest multi-million euro sums in its continuous improvement and development. Top of the agenda is fostering sustainable development in the broader area and also major works that contribute to the protection of natural resources. 45

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27 Sithonia, Halkidiki, Tel.: , Fax: ,

ΑΚΤΙ ELIA.

ΑΚΤΙ ELIA. ΑΚΤΙ ELIA V I L L A S www.aktieliavillas.wordpress.com A view into the project Introduction A private, non commercial project consisting of four independent bioclimatic summer villas, with private gardens