St. Valentine’s is upon us and romance is taking over Athens. Much like anywhere in the world, the city’s hotels, restaurants, spas, florists and pastry shops have prepared special events and gifts for love-struck Athenians and guests.

But, besides the chance for a private celebration, the city hosts many public events in celebration of love.

Two very special exhibitions celebrating love open on Valentine’s Day. Xippas Gallery inaugurates an exhibition featuring the wonderful erotic works of late Greek designer, Minos Argyrakis.

A more playful exhibition on love opens at Metapolis Art Centre, where the Metapolis photo team will host Instalove: cameras and cell phones create a photographic narration of love under the heading Love and Photography must be instant.

There is even a theme movie premiere for the day: Love in the End, the ultra-romantic story of three young couples in love and a cinematic journey in Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Istanbul. There is also a musical celebration of romance: Love in Portofino, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s concert in Portofino, featuring love songs in six languages, will be screened at the Foundation of the Hellenic World.

Single people are not excluded from the romantic atmosphere: dating games will be hosted at Six D.O.G.S. bar and Frown Tails new media centre for those who want this to be their last single Valentine’s Day.  

The life and work of twelve legendary artistic couples will be presented in a series of 4 lectures by Katerina Zacharopoulou, hosted at the Cycladic Art Museum from February 14-March 7.


The lectures let one in on the antagonisms, neuroses, and tumultuous relationships of Pablo & Dora, Diego & Frida, Man Ray & Lee, Christo & Jeanne-Claude, Marina & Ulay and many more, uniquely reflected upon their artworks. To quote Marc Chagall: "In the arts, as in life, everything is possible provided it is based on love."