Photo credit: Archive of the Tomato Industrial Museum “D.Nomikos”
With the following brief presentation, we want to highlight their role as part of Santorini’s cultural route, as this network of tomato processing factories extends throughout the island and is an integral part of its history and the industrial heritage of the Cyclades.
At the same time, we ask everyone who knows stories or has archival material (photos, letters, etc.) about the tomato factories of Santorini, if they wish to share them with us, to contact us at 22860 85141 or by e-mail: info@tomatomuseum.gr in order to record, preserve and disseminate them as part of Santorini’s cultural heritage.
Photo credit: Archive of the Tomato Industrial Museum “D.Nomikos”
1) GEORGIOS NOMIKOS: Vlychada
We will start with the tomato factory of Georgios Nomikos, which has been converted into the Tomato Industrial Museum “D.Nomikos” and a cultural center for the last ten years. It was the main factory for the processing of small-fruited tomatoes and at the same time a sample of Cycladic folk architecture. It was built in 1945 and had a daily capacity of 3,500 baskets.
Photo credit: Christoforos Doulgeris
2) NIKΙ: Vlychada
Continuing in the area of Vlychada, we find the factory of Emmanuel Karamolegos, which was built during the Second World War on the southernmost coast of the island. The location was ideal due to its proximity to the agricultural areas of Emporio and Pyrgos. It now belongs to the Association Cooperative of Theraic Products.
Photo credit: Christoforos Doulgeris
3) STELLA: Perivolos
Moving towards the eastern side of the island and the beach of Exomitis, we find the tomato factory of Stelios Mendrinos, which was built during the Occupation. Its characteristic chimney dominates the beach to this day and although it has changed use, one can still see part of the mechanical equipment that existed.
Photo credit: Christoforos Doulgeris
4) AVIS (Agricultural Industry of Santorini): Airport area
The factory was founded in 1935 in the area south of Monolithos. The factory employed about 110 people (workers and employees) during the period of intensive work, i.e. the summer months, and about 40 for the rest of the year. The parallel canning of other products that took place at the facilities was also of particular interest. Unfortunately, today only the entrance of the factory remains to remind us of its location.
Photo credit: Christoforos Doulgeris
5) ANTONIS KARAMOLEGOS: Airport area
Heading north along the eastern side of Santorini, we come across the factory of Antonis Karamolegos. It is a characteristic example of local industrial architecture and today operates as a winery.
Photo credit: Christoforos Doulgeris
6) DIMITRIOS NOMIKOS: Monolithos
In 1922, Dimitris Nomikos built the first canned tomato production factory in the Balkans in Monolithos. For the operation of the factory, he had procured the most advanced and modern technology for the time from all over the world and it operated for about 40 years.
Photo credit: Santorini, Thira, Thirassia, Aspronisi, Volcanoes, Ioannis Mich.Danezis, Athens 2001, p. 494
7) SANTO: Monolithos
In 1952, the Agricultural Cooperative of Santorini built an industrial unit for the production of tomato products on the beach of Monolithos. The characteristic architecture of the building is still preserved today. It is the only factory that continues to produce paste from the Santorinian cherry tomato.
Photo credit: Christoforos Doulgeris
8) STATHIS KANAKARIS: Exo Gialos Fira
The factory of Stathis Kanakaris was also founded in the 1940s and is the northernmost factory on the eastern side of Santorini. It was part of the broader effort to exploit the demand for processed tomatoes.
Photo credit: Iosif Perros
9) GRIGORIS KOUTSOGIANNOPOULOS: Old Port of Fira
It is the only tomato factory on the western side of the island and occupies a special place in the old port of Fira. In the 1930s it produced spirits and wine, while after the Occupation period it started operating as a tomato processing factory.
This webpage was created in the framework of the European Heritage Days 2024 under the theme “Routes, Networks and Connections” as part of the double digital action on the website and the social media of the Tomato Industrial Museum “D.Nomikos”, for the presentation and promotion of the network of tomato factories in Santorini.
