About Us
The Story Behind the Building
Rumors have it that the construction of the first two storeys of the house were commissioned and dwelt in back in 1923 by a relative and close collaborator of Mario Lago, Rhodes first Governor under the second phase of the Italian Rule on the island.
In 1936, with De Vecchi taking over from Lago as Rhodes’ Governor, this residence was abandoned by its owner. Thus started a long period over which the premises remained uninhabited. This construction is believed to have played host to various clandestines who sought refuge in the most recondite areas of the premises throughout the Greek Civil War and most certainly up until the conclusion of the Paris Treaty (March 1948) having heralded the end of the Italian Rule of the Dodecanese, allowing for Rhodes and the rest of the Twelve Islands to become part of the Hellenic National Territory.
It was before 1960 that a Greek woman, Vereniki, bought from the Hellenic State (under the ownership of which the premises had in the meantime passed) what had at the time still been a two-storey building and it was her who commissioned the addition of another two storeys, in 1966.
The building’s new owners proceeded to a radical refurbishment and total rearrangement of the interior and the exterior of the premises in 2016, albeit always fully respecting the historical background, the architectural style and the ambience of both the construction and the surrounding area.
Our Logo
FACES ART SUITES chose the Eagle, perennial symbol of might and supremacy, for its logo.
The bird’s neck bears the effigies of a man and a woman.
This deliberate metaphor is about dynamic people anxious to spread their wings and fly to new destinations, towards new experiences, ready to embrace and endorse new cultures.
With its claws, the eagle is shown to brandish a paint brush and a pen.
Why the brush
FACES ART SUITES has made a point of maintaining very good relations with young Greek artists, hence the number of screen print reproductions of works of art hosted on our premises
Why the pen
FACE ART SUITES feature names inspired by notions and circumstances that have always been central to humans. Next to the name of each Suite, there has also been set forth a saying by Nikos Kazantzakis, one of modern Greece’s most prominent intellectual figures whereas in each Suite we have placed works by said author, duly translated for you to discover and enjoy.
Why the laurel wreath
In ancient times, laurel was god Apollo’s sacred plant. Ancient Rhodians worshiped Apollo for his blessing – that is, for the relentless, unconditional sunshine he bestowed upon their island. A laurel wreath at the feet of the Eagle has since time immemorial denoted might and supremacy.
Why the crown
Last but not least, a crown is shown above the head of the man and the woman featured in our logo, recalling the luxury and comfort we mean to offer you, our guests, throughout your stay at FACE ART SUITES.
Further General Initiatives
Private and common-use areas on our facility premises play host to reproductions of Greek artists, both upcoming and confirmed ones. Within each suite you will find the résumé of each artist as well as a pricelist of the works of art on show. Those of our guests eventually interested in acquiring any of the originals will be provided with a contact phone number of the author, for direct communication.
OUR ASPIRATIONS
It is our dear hope that sometime during the 2017 summer season we will be in a position to provide you with translated copies of books by young as well as acknowledged Greek writers.
OUR MOTIVES
What motivates all such endeavors of ours is our wish to acquaint you with a different aspect of modern Greece.
We would like you to get a feel of Greek culture and civilization, through the eyes of some artists who chose to create and develop their craft in the country you are visiting, intellectuals who have earned international acclaim – like Odysseus Elytis (Nobel Prize 1979) and George Seferis (Nobel Prize 1963) – and world-renown poets and writers, like Yiannis Ritsos and Nikos Kazantzakis. It pays to mention that when, back in 1957, the Nobel Prize for Literature was finally awarded to Albert Camus rather than to Nikos Kazantzakis, it was Camus himself who declared that Kazantzakis had deserved that award a hundred times more.