Aiming at rescuing and promoting the cultural tradition of the village of Plaka in Elounda, as well as securing the inclusion of Spinalonga in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Gina Xanthaki created a photo album depicting Spinalonga as she has experienced it with the eyes of her soul. As she says, “With the album ‘Spinalonga Through My Eyes’ I try to convey my emotion to those who browse its pages”.

The album, published by Livanis publishers, is a bilingual edition (in Greek and English) and supported Spinalonga’s nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The president of the Greek National Committee for UNESCO, Katie Tzitzikosta, attended the book presentation at the Athens Chamber of Commerce on April 14, 2014, welcoming the initiative.

Gina Xanthakis’ idea of ​​creating an album on Spinalonga’s multiple facets over the years was realized by internationally acclaimed photographer Yannis Tzortzis, a member of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. Yannis Tzortzis captured scenes at various times of day and night, sometimes with the light of dawn and others with the light of the moon, under the burning sun, but also with rain or thunderstorm. “Through the photo album, Spinalonga is revealed as I have come to know it, having observed it 24/7 in all seasons of the year”, Gina Xanthaki notes.

The photographs are accompanied by small texts by Nikos Kazantzakis from his works The Fratricides, Report to Greco, and Ascèse, both in Greek and in English. The album also includes a brief history of the fortified islet by Dr. Manolis Makrakis.

The photo album Spinalonga Through My Eyes won the award in the ‘Arts’ category at the 2015 Public Book Awards.