Europe of the previous century meets Cyprus of 2026 at Larnaka Airport
In an event where history intersected with the present within the multicultural environment of Larnaka Airport, the exhibition “Carte Postale. EU Journey through the Lens of Time” officially opened to the travelling public. The exhibition was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, in a particularly moving ceremony that highlighted the significance of the exhibition as a cultural journey through time and European heritage.
The exhibition features rare postcards from the collection of the late Antonis Hadjipanayis, an individual who devoted his life to preserving small yet valuable fragments of Europe’s urban memory. As carriers of wishes, emotions, and cultural expression, the postcards reveal the charm of European cities in the previous century, an era when images travelled slowly, personally, and with a sense of anticipation.
As Cyprus prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in January 2026, the exhibition gains a symbolic significance. It serves as a reminder that European identity has been shaped over centuries through exchanges, relationships, and narratives that transcend borders. Through the archive of Antonis Hadjipanayis, the past enters into dialogue with Europe’s present and future.
The exhibition has been curated with care and respect by the collector’s son, Panikos Hadjipanayis, and his grandson, Antonis Hadjipanayis, continuing a family tradition that transforms a passion for history into a cultural offering for the public.
During the inauguration ceremony, the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, stated:“This exhibition represents a virtual journey to the early 20th century, a time when almost everything was fundamentally different from today. It was an era when communication took place through correspondence, literally from hand to hand. Although this method of sending wishes and sharing memories may be considered outdated today, it has a unique charm—one that older generations will remember and younger ones deserve to discover. At the same time, the exhibition, organised in cooperation with Hermes Airports, serves as a warm send-off to the thousands of visitors who will travel to Cyprus in view of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I congratulate Hermes Airports. Last year, and again this year, we reached historic records in passenger numbers at our two airports, a result also of the close cooperation with the Government. I once again congratulate Hermes Airports for showcasing this rare material from the collection of Antonis Hadjipanayis, as well as his son and grandson for their initiative and inspiring idea.”
In her address, the Chief Executive Officer of Hermes Airports, Ms. Eleni Kaloyirou, noted:
“The exhibition we inaugurate today is not only a collection of postcards; it is a journey into the soul of Europe. Larnaka Airport is transformed into a vibrant crossroads of European memory and cultural heritage, hosting the invaluable archive of the late Antonis Hadjipanayis. The exhibition carries particular importance, as it is launched only three weeks before Cyprus assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. For us at Hermes Airports, it is an honour to offer this cultural experience to travellers a space that serves daily as a meeting point for people, stories, and destinations.”
Speaking at the event, the curator of the exhibition and son of the late collector, Mr. Panikos Hadjipanayis, stated:“It required extensive research through thousands of postcards to select the 250 presented here. In exploring available resources, including Artificial Intelligence, I found no precedent for such an exhibition—one showcasing vintage postcards from all EU member states. I must note that from the very beginning of my effort, with the invaluable assistance of my mother, to locate and archive my father’s personal records and documents, the first organisation to express interest in further collaboration was the Communications Department of Hermes Airports. When I considered how I could utilise, showcase, and share — through my father’s archive — a small piece of his Cypriot presence abroad, the airport was the first place that came to mind. Today, that vision has become a reality.”
