Alyko Hotel Ruins in Naxos, Greece
Nestled in a picturesque corner of Naxos with sandy coves and a cedar forest, the ruins of the Alyko Hotel have become a pilgrimage site for graffiti artists and those looking to enjoy their work.
The story of the hotel began in the late 1960s. Following an extended period of civil unrest that began after World War II, Greece fell under the control of a right-wing military junta led by military officer Georgios Papadopoulos, who became prime minister and later president. Papadopoulous and his allies, known as the “black colonels,” presided over a period of terror marked by the imprisonment, torture and exile of political dissidents.
It was during this chaotic era that a group of Belgian investors, without the proper permits, began construction on a hotel which was to have a thousand rooms. Residents of the island opposed it immediately, fearing that the mammoth building would endanger the natural beauty and historic cemetery on the site. The hotel’s unauthorized status came to light after the junta was overthrown in 1974, and construction was officially halted.
Since then, the ruins of the Alyko Hotel have become a canvas for artists from around the world. Among the most photographed of the clandestine exhibits are those by Indonesian artist Wild Drawing, or W.D., whose inspiration ranges from modern social issues to ancient mythology.
