Historical information

The building in the photograph was the post office at Stavros, the main village in the north of Ithaca. Like many small villages with declining populations, the Stavros post office no longer operates and locals must travel to main town of Vathi to access a post office and other services.

Significance

The permanent population of Ithaca is approximately 3100 (2016) with the majority based in the main town of Vathi. The population in the 1940s was over 8000. Ithaca's population declined sharply after World War II as a result of immigration and movement to larger cities of Greece. This decline was further exacerbated following the earthquake of 1953 which caused widespread devastation across the island.

Physical description

A black and white photograph with a white crinkled edge of a white rendered house with vines growing across the front. The house has been built close to the road.