Athens sends Love Letters to the Cities of Europe
Athens is shooting from the heart during the month of February. The Greek capital has enlisted the help of Eros (or Cupid, if you swing that way) to send notes of love and hope to other cities of Europe.
The new pandemic-era campaign, inspired by letters of longing and desire exchanged during great ordeals of the past, also features intimate video postcards from Athens, addressed to her much-missed visitors from abroad.
Launched by This is Athens & Partners ahead of Valentine’s Day, the digital campaign is presented in three languages (English, French and German) and consists of six video messages that are short and sweet like tiny candy hearts – each one signed off, “Love, Athens”.
Whether you’re living in Athens under lockdown – or are reading this from afar – if you’re missing the Athens you know and love, you can watch all six Love Letters from Athens videos here on the campaign’s website.
The romantic videos are inspired by life in the city, culture, art, architecture and history and spotlight poetic Athenian locations, such as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in the foothills of the Acropolis, Plaka, and the all-marble Panathenaic Stadium, home to the first modern Olympics.
Simultaneously, in the spirit of fellowship during these difficult days, Athens reaches out to other European cities and capitals – such as Paris, Rome, Lisbon and Madrid – in a sign of optimism and faith that travelers will return.
Dear Rome, We’ve been together in eternity. You know we’ll blossom again! Love, Athens, reads one typical sentiment in the “Until we meet again…" digital series.
Dear Lisbon, The sea, the open sea. What a power it gives us to dream, says another.
The overall campaign "Love Letters from Athens" is part of the shared strategy developed for This is Athens & Partners, a group of major tourism stakeholders investing in the development and promotion of Athens as a destination in international markets.
Says Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis: "In this difficult period, such partnerships are proving to be more valuable than ever. With this campaign, Athens is addressing other European cities, sending a message of solidarity, but also of faith that the city will be ready to welcome travelers again, when conditions are different.”