In 1935, Arthur Sikiotis returned to Ithaca after having migrated to Australia, to open the first outdoor nightclub in the Ionian region. He called it Romantsa. Romantsa was only 800 meters from where Odysseas palace is believed to have been. Romantsa quickly became the romantic Sunday night meeting place for local Ithacans, but also for people from Cephalonia and Lefkada with dancing and live music. Romantsa survived WWII and the Italian-German occupation. It's passion was woven into the fabric of the local music scene until the 1970's and was resurrected again over the past couple of years by son Nick Sikiotis as a special summer event for the locals who wish to relive an era and to a new generation who wish to experience the romance and passion of what is now an institution, Romantsa.
ithacagreece.com was lucky enough to be invited this year to take some photographs of this years evening of song and nostalgia which featured Makis Andrianatos (musician who played at Romantsa during the 60's) and son of Arthur Sikiotis, Nikos (Nick) who continues to keep the passion alive.