This year, Ermoupoli is celebrating 200 years since its founding. The city officially received its name on June 24, 1826, when merchant Loukas Rallis of Chios proposed “Ermoupoli” during a gathering of prominent local figures – a reference to Hermes, the ancient Greek god of commerce and intellect. The choice proved prophetic. Built by refugees from Chios, Kydonies, Kasos and Psara – and later shaped by settlers from Crete, Macedonia, the Peloponnese and Asia Minor – the city grew into far more than a commercial center. Alongside trade and philanthropy, Ermoupoli became a flourishing hub of culture, education and the arts.

A rich program of events has been organized to mark the bicentennial, but one initiative stands out for both its ambition and the people behind it: the 4th Cultural Documentation Festival in Syros, curated by Pavlos Chatzigrigoriou. Originally from Thessaloniki, he moved to Ermoupoli after completing his studies at the National Technical University of Athens, driven by his love and admiration for its neoclassical architecture. Over the years, he has become one of the driving forces behind several important cultural initiatives, including the Historical Museum of Ermoupolis, where he serves as director. Together with a team of collaborators, he has created a three-day program running from May 22 to 24 that includes screenings, exhibitions, architectural tours, artistic interventions and educational workshops. At the heart of the festival is the idea of cultural heritage as a living space for dialogue, collective memory and intergenerational connection.

For three days, Ermoupoli itself becomes an open cultural stage where history meets contemporary artistic creation and tradition enters into conversation with innovation. Among the highlights is a screening of documentary Agelastos Petra by Filippos Koutsaftis, alongside a discussion between composer Nikos Kypourgos and director Dimitris Vernikos reflecting on their collaboration with Manos Hadjidakis. 

The workshops are also expected to attract strong interest: “Marble Ermoupoli,” organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Tinos Higher School of Fine Arts and Marble Craftsmanship; “Ceramic Ermoupoli,” by CHIMAIRA art & craft; “Paper Ermoupoli,” by Birds & Lofts; and “Intergenerational Ermoupoli,” organized with ANIMASYROS, which brings together children from the “Little Guides” program and members of senior citizens’ centers through stop-motion animation workshops.

The Festival’s Signature Event

The initiative that consistently captures visitors’ imagination is Saturday’s “Open Ermoupoli,” during which twelve emblematic buildings across the city open their doors to the public. This year’s edition has been specially curated around the bicentennial celebrations. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore both visible and hidden spaces, discover their architectural history and learn more about restoration practices. The General State Archives of the Cyclades will also exhibit original drawings by Ernst Ziller.

Ziller – the architect behind Ermoupoli’s imposing town hall, widely considered one of the most beautiful municipal buildings in Greece – also takes center stage in the festival’s major event on Sunday evening. Titled “Inside Ziller’s Mind,” the multimedia production will take place inside the town hall itself, which this year marks 150 years since its completion.

The experience begins with screenings of five documentaries dedicated to Ermoupoli. Visitors will then ascend the building’s monumental marble staircase, where fragments of the city’s history are engraved into the steps, before reaching the tower for a projection-mapping installation narrating the story of the landmark building. 

At the same time, from the roof of the town hall, Alkinoos Ioannidis will be heard speaking as Ziller, recounting memories of the architect’s childhood, while the Orchestra of the Cyclades and its choir will perform beloved works by Manos Hadjidakis live in the courtyards below.

The festival is organized by the Historical Museum of Ermoupoli, the non-profit organization HERMeS, the Municipality of Syros-Ermoupoli and the Region of the South Aegean, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Europa Nostra Athens Hub and ELLET. Admission to all events is free.

Originally published in Greek at kathimerini.gr