The Onassis Foundation has redefined cultural accessibility with the completion of its major project, “From Digitization to Digital Culture,” in 2025. This ambitious initiative transforms the Onassis Library into a dynamic digital repository, preserving seven centuries of history and making it freely available to researchers and the general public worldwide without geographical restrictions.

The new web portal hosts more than 200,000 digitized documents spanning from the 15th century to the present day. The platform grants access to six distinct collections, including the Hellenic Library, the Travel Accounts Book Collection, the library of Aristotle Onassis himself, and the Historical and Literary Archive.

A centerpiece of this digital preservation is the C. P. Cavafy Archive, which offers open access to over 2,000 items, including the Alexandrian poet’s manuscripts, personal library, and private effects. Users can also explore the rare volumes contained within Aristotle Onassis’ Personal Library and view the Onassis Foundation’s extensive art collection.

Beyond archiving, the project employs cutting-edge technology to engage users. The Foundation has developed six specialized digital applications, including a Virtual Reality (VR) Tour that allows remote users to navigate the library’s physical space and an Augmented Reality (AR) Digital Guide that brings exhibits to life and a Digital Exhibitions application that showcases the Onassis Foundation’s art collection.

Educational tools, such as the C. P. Cavafy’s Timeline and an interactive map of Cavafy’s Alexandria, allow visitors to navigate historical data and digitized records.

Photo Credit: Margarita Yoko Nikitaki / Onassis Foundation