A Century Later: Capturing Authentic Santorini Through Nelly’s Lens

One hundred years ago, renowned Greek photographer Elli Sougioultzoglou-Seraidari, known as “Nelly’s,” visited Santorini and captured the island’s everyday life and landscapes through her lens. Her black-and-white photographs highlight the unique beauty of the Aegean scenery, playing with light, shapes, and textures.

Nelly’s is considered one of the first photographers in Greece to focus extensively on landscapes. Many scholars view her work as the starting point of modern Greek landscape photography. Her images of Santorini showcase the island’s iconic white chapels and windmills, which would later become globally recognized symbols of the Cyclades.

Nelly’s, In Pyrgos, 1925-1930. (Photographic Archives of the Benaki Museum)

Her work emphasizes the striking contrast of light and shadow, the interplay of geometric forms, and the textures of volcanic stone and whitewashed surfaces. Through her lens, Nelly’s not only captured the physical beauty of Santorini but also conveyed a deep understanding of the island’s cultural identity.

Interestingly, her visits to Santorini coincided with the discovery of Cycladic architecture by early modernist architects, including Le Corbusier. While many European photographers of her time sought exotic elements in Greek landscapes, Nelly’s approach was rooted in a genuine appreciation of the local culture and way of life.

Nelly’s, Imerovigli, 1925-1930. (Photographic Archives of the Benaki Museum)

Between 1925 and 1930, Nelly’s spent five summers in Santorini with her family, documenting the island through personal experiences. She walked along the caldera, capturing the dramatic volcanic cliffs. At Skaros, she photographed the rugged rock formations. On Kamari’s black sand beach, she observed the seamless connection between land and sea. She also wandered through the narrow paths of Pyrgos and Fira, documenting the rhythms of daily life.

While Nelly’s became famous for other photographic subjects, her Santorini collection gained wider recognition in 1987 when Dimitris Tsitouras curated the album “Nelly’s Santorini 1925-1930,” later reissued with additional material in 2015. In 1984, Nelly’s donated her entire archive—over 50,000 negatives and 20,000 original prints—to the Benaki Museum’s Photographic Archives, preserving a valuable part of Greece’s cultural heritage.

Nelly’s, In Pyrgos, 1925-1930. (Photographic Archives of the Benaki Museum)

A Special Exhibition in Santorini This Summer

In the summer of 2025, both locals and visitors will have the rare opportunity to view Nelly’s iconic Santorini photographs at a retrospective exhibition. The event, organized in collaboration with the Benaki Museum’s Photographic Archives, will take place at the “Kastellana Photography Center” in Pyrgos.

The exhibition will run daily from August 10 to September 30, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with free admission for all visitors.

Throughout August and September, special events and discussions will explore Nelly’s work and the role of photography in preserving cultural heritage. There will also be workshops for children and adults.

This exhibition is a tribute to the 100th anniversary of Nelly’s first visit to Santorini, honoring her vision of the island’s authenticity and timeless beauty—a vision that continues to inspire artists and travelers worldwide.

The exhibition is part of the Municipality of Thira’s initiative, “Santorini 2025: A Year Dedicated to Authenticity.”