Built on the foothills of the mythical Paggaio mountain in Kavala, Kipia is a small traditional village with 300 residents. Despite its small size however, it receives an increasing number of visitors each year who come to take a selfie with Aliki Vougiouklaki (actress), Tzeni Karezi (actress), Melina Merkouri (actress and politician), Maria Callas, Konstantinos Karamanlis (former prime minister), Andreas Papandreou (former prime minister), Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Princess Diana and other famous personalities from Greece and abroad.

11

It’s not some sort of “supernatural” gathering we’re talking about, but the impressive exhibits of Theodoros Kokkinidis’ Wax Museum, the second in Greece, after Pavlos Vrellis’ museum in Ioannina, that opened in Kipia in 2010.

The museum is labour of passion and love of the creator who at age 16 sculpted his first wax creation, a sculpture of Michael Jackson. As he’s mentioned in the past, he became interested in sculpting wax figures after he came across some photographs of London’s Madame Tussauds museum, at a time with no internet.

There are 34 figures on display at the museum, most of them Greek personalities of history, politics, arts, literature and sports. The works are so “alive” they impress the visitor. Some of them look at you straight in the eye, others seem about to start singing or talking.

		array(1) {
  [0]=>
  array(5) {
    ["file"]=>
    array(24) {
      ["ID"]=>
      int(27138)
      ["id"]=>
      int(27138)
      ["title"]=>
      string(15) "+Angelina Jolie"
      ["filename"]=>
      string(25) "Angelina-Jolie-scaled.jpg"
      ["filesize"]=>
      int(281545)
      ["url"]=>
      string(74) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Angelina-Jolie-scaled.jpg"
      ["link"]=>
      string(40) "https://www.travel.gr/en/angelina-jolie/"
      ["alt"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["author"]=>
      string(1) "2"
      ["description"]=>
      string(15) "Angelina Jolie "
      ["caption"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["name"]=>
      string(14) "angelina-jolie"
      ["status"]=>
      string(7) "inherit"
      ["uploaded_to"]=>
      int(0)
      ["date"]=>
      string(19) "2021-09-20 09:46:17"
      ["modified"]=>
      string(19) "2021-10-01 13:29:41"
      ["menu_order"]=>
      int(0)
      ["mime_type"]=>
      string(10) "image/jpeg"
      ["type"]=>
      string(5) "image"
      ["subtype"]=>
      string(4) "jpeg"
      ["icon"]=>
      string(58) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-includes/images/media/default.png"
      ["width"]=>
      int(1714)
      ["height"]=>
      int(2560)
      ["sizes"]=>
      array(18) {
        ["thumbnail"]=>
        string(75) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Angelina-Jolie-150x150.jpg"
        ["thumbnail-width"]=>
        int(150)
        ["thumbnail-height"]=>
        int(150)
        ["medium"]=>
        string(75) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Angelina-Jolie-201x300.jpg"
        ["medium-width"]=>
        int(201)
        ["medium-height"]=>
        int(300)
        ["medium_large"]=>
        string(76) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Angelina-Jolie-768x1147.jpg"
        ["medium_large-width"]=>
        int(768)
        ["medium_large-height"]=>
        int(1147)
        ["large"]=>
        string(76) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Angelina-Jolie-685x1024.jpg"
        ["large-width"]=>
        int(685)
        ["large-height"]=>
        int(1024)
        ["1536x1536"]=>
        string(77) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Angelina-Jolie-1028x1536.jpg"
        ["1536x1536-width"]=>
        int(1028)
        ["1536x1536-height"]=>
        int(1536)
        ["2048x2048"]=>
        string(77) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Angelina-Jolie-1371x2048.jpg"
        ["2048x2048-width"]=>
        int(1371)
        ["2048x2048-height"]=>
        int(2048)
      }
    }
    ["desc"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["image_position"]=>
    string(6) "center"
    ["image_link_to"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["open_link_in_new_tab"]=>
    bool(false)
  }
}
Angelina Jolie
Johnny Depp
		array(1) {
  [0]=>
  array(5) {
    ["file"]=>
    array(24) {
      ["ID"]=>
      int(27155)
      ["id"]=>
      int(27155)
      ["title"]=>
      string(16) "+Michael Jackson"
      ["filename"]=>
      string(26) "Michael-Jackson-scaled.jpg"
      ["filesize"]=>
      int(410270)
      ["url"]=>
      string(75) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Michael-Jackson-scaled.jpg"
      ["link"]=>
      string(41) "https://www.travel.gr/en/michael-jackson/"
      ["alt"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["author"]=>
      string(1) "2"
      ["description"]=>
      string(16) " Michael Jackson"
      ["caption"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["name"]=>
      string(15) "michael-jackson"
      ["status"]=>
      string(7) "inherit"
      ["uploaded_to"]=>
      int(0)
      ["date"]=>
      string(19) "2021-09-20 09:52:48"
      ["modified"]=>
      string(19) "2021-10-01 13:30:45"
      ["menu_order"]=>
      int(0)
      ["mime_type"]=>
      string(10) "image/jpeg"
      ["type"]=>
      string(5) "image"
      ["subtype"]=>
      string(4) "jpeg"
      ["icon"]=>
      string(58) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-includes/images/media/default.png"
      ["width"]=>
      int(1714)
      ["height"]=>
      int(2560)
      ["sizes"]=>
      array(18) {
        ["thumbnail"]=>
        string(76) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Michael-Jackson-150x150.jpg"
        ["thumbnail-width"]=>
        int(150)
        ["thumbnail-height"]=>
        int(150)
        ["medium"]=>
        string(76) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Michael-Jackson-201x300.jpg"
        ["medium-width"]=>
        int(201)
        ["medium-height"]=>
        int(300)
        ["medium_large"]=>
        string(77) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Michael-Jackson-768x1147.jpg"
        ["medium_large-width"]=>
        int(768)
        ["medium_large-height"]=>
        int(1147)
        ["large"]=>
        string(77) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Michael-Jackson-685x1024.jpg"
        ["large-width"]=>
        int(685)
        ["large-height"]=>
        int(1024)
        ["1536x1536"]=>
        string(78) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Michael-Jackson-1028x1536.jpg"
        ["1536x1536-width"]=>
        int(1028)
        ["1536x1536-height"]=>
        int(1536)
        ["2048x2048"]=>
        string(78) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Michael-Jackson-1371x2048.jpg"
        ["2048x2048-width"]=>
        int(1371)
        ["2048x2048-height"]=>
        int(2048)
      }
    }
    ["desc"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["image_position"]=>
    string(6) "center"
    ["image_link_to"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["open_link_in_new_tab"]=>
    bool(false)
  }
}
Michael Jackson
Jennifer Lopez
		array(1) {
  [0]=>
  array(5) {
    ["file"]=>
    array(24) {
      ["ID"]=>
      int(27223)
      ["id"]=>
      int(27223)
      ["title"]=>
      string(28) "+Πριγίπισσα Dianna"
      ["filename"]=>
      string(38) "Πριγίπισσα-Dianna-scaled.jpg"
      ["filesize"]=>
      int(190638)
      ["url"]=>
      string(87) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Πριγίπισσα-Dianna-scaled.jpg"
      ["link"]=>
      string(43) "https://www.travel.gr/en/prigipissa-dianna/"
      ["alt"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["author"]=>
      string(1) "2"
      ["description"]=>
      string(15) "Princess Diana "
      ["caption"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["name"]=>
      string(17) "prigipissa-dianna"
      ["status"]=>
      string(7) "inherit"
      ["uploaded_to"]=>
      int(0)
      ["date"]=>
      string(19) "2021-09-20 09:56:16"
      ["modified"]=>
      string(19) "2021-10-01 13:31:42"
      ["menu_order"]=>
      int(0)
      ["mime_type"]=>
      string(10) "image/jpeg"
      ["type"]=>
      string(5) "image"
      ["subtype"]=>
      string(4) "jpeg"
      ["icon"]=>
      string(58) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-includes/images/media/default.png"
      ["width"]=>
      int(1685)
      ["height"]=>
      int(2560)
      ["sizes"]=>
      array(18) {
        ["thumbnail"]=>
        string(88) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Πριγίπισσα-Dianna-150x150.jpg"
        ["thumbnail-width"]=>
        int(150)
        ["thumbnail-height"]=>
        int(150)
        ["medium"]=>
        string(88) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Πριγίπισσα-Dianna-197x300.jpg"
        ["medium-width"]=>
        int(197)
        ["medium-height"]=>
        int(300)
        ["medium_large"]=>
        string(89) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Πριγίπισσα-Dianna-768x1167.jpg"
        ["medium_large-width"]=>
        int(768)
        ["medium_large-height"]=>
        int(1167)
        ["large"]=>
        string(89) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Πριγίπισσα-Dianna-674x1024.jpg"
        ["large-width"]=>
        int(674)
        ["large-height"]=>
        int(1024)
        ["1536x1536"]=>
        string(90) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Πριγίπισσα-Dianna-1011x1536.jpg"
        ["1536x1536-width"]=>
        int(1011)
        ["1536x1536-height"]=>
        int(1536)
        ["2048x2048"]=>
        string(90) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Πριγίπισσα-Dianna-1348x2048.jpg"
        ["2048x2048-width"]=>
        int(1348)
        ["2048x2048-height"]=>
        int(2048)
      }
    }
    ["desc"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["image_position"]=>
    string(6) "center"
    ["image_link_to"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["open_link_in_new_tab"]=>
    bool(false)
  }
}
Princess Diana
Yannis Tsarouchis

More particularly you’ll see: Theodoros Kolokotronis (Greek general in the 1821 War of Independence), Laskarina Mpoumpoulina (Greek naval commander, heroine of the 1821 War of Independence), Ioannis Kapodistrias (the first head of state of independent Greece in 1827), Konstantinos Karamanlis, Andreas Papandreou, Odysseas Elytis (Nobel Laureate poet), Constantine P. Cavafy (one of the most famous Greek poets), Mikis Theodorakis (composer), Yannis Tsarouchis (painter), Melina Merkouri, Maria Callas, Kostas Voutsas (actor), Tzeni Karezi, Aliki Vougiouklaki, Mimis Plessas (composer), Rena Vlahopoulou (actress), Zozo Sapountzaki (actress), Voula Patoulidou (Olympian athlete), Thodoris Zagorakis (footballer).

There’s also a sculpture of Theodoros Kokkinidis himself, that he made. As far as foreign celebrities are concerned you’ll see: Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elvis Presley, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Whitney Houston, Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, Tom Hanks, as well as princess Diana.

		array(1) {
  [0]=>
  array(5) {
    ["file"]=>
    array(24) {
      ["ID"]=>
      int(27225)
      ["id"]=>
      int(27225)
      ["title"]=>
      string(32) "+Ρένα Βλαχοπούλου"
      ["filename"]=>
      string(42) "Ρένα-Βλαχοπούλου-scaled.jpg"
      ["filesize"]=>
      int(328231)
      ["url"]=>
      string(91) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ρένα-Βλαχοπούλου-scaled.jpg"
      ["link"]=>
      string(43) "https://www.travel.gr/en/rena-vlachopoyloy/"
      ["alt"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["author"]=>
      string(1) "2"
      ["description"]=>
      string(26) "Rena Vlahopoulou (actress)"
      ["caption"]=>
      string(36) "????????????????????????????????????"
      ["name"]=>
      string(17) "rena-vlachopoyloy"
      ["status"]=>
      string(7) "inherit"
      ["uploaded_to"]=>
      int(0)
      ["date"]=>
      string(19) "2021-09-20 09:56:27"
      ["modified"]=>
      string(19) "2021-10-04 08:14:39"
      ["menu_order"]=>
      int(0)
      ["mime_type"]=>
      string(10) "image/jpeg"
      ["type"]=>
      string(5) "image"
      ["subtype"]=>
      string(4) "jpeg"
      ["icon"]=>
      string(58) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-includes/images/media/default.png"
      ["width"]=>
      int(1714)
      ["height"]=>
      int(2560)
      ["sizes"]=>
      array(18) {
        ["thumbnail"]=>
        string(92) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ρένα-Βλαχοπούλου-150x150.jpg"
        ["thumbnail-width"]=>
        int(150)
        ["thumbnail-height"]=>
        int(150)
        ["medium"]=>
        string(92) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ρένα-Βλαχοπούλου-201x300.jpg"
        ["medium-width"]=>
        int(201)
        ["medium-height"]=>
        int(300)
        ["medium_large"]=>
        string(93) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ρένα-Βλαχοπούλου-768x1147.jpg"
        ["medium_large-width"]=>
        int(768)
        ["medium_large-height"]=>
        int(1147)
        ["large"]=>
        string(93) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ρένα-Βλαχοπούλου-685x1024.jpg"
        ["large-width"]=>
        int(685)
        ["large-height"]=>
        int(1024)
        ["1536x1536"]=>
        string(94) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ρένα-Βλαχοπούλου-1028x1536.jpg"
        ["1536x1536-width"]=>
        int(1028)
        ["1536x1536-height"]=>
        int(1536)
        ["2048x2048"]=>
        string(94) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ρένα-Βλαχοπούλου-1371x2048.jpg"
        ["2048x2048-width"]=>
        int(1371)
        ["2048x2048-height"]=>
        int(2048)
      }
    }
    ["desc"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["image_position"]=>
    string(6) "center"
    ["image_link_to"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["open_link_in_new_tab"]=>
    bool(false)
  }
}
Rena Vlahopoulou (actress)
Aliki Vougiouklaki
		array(1) {
  [0]=>
  array(5) {
    ["file"]=>
    array(24) {
      ["ID"]=>
      int(27211)
      ["id"]=>
      int(27211)
      ["title"]=>
      string(40) "+Κωνσταντίνος Καβάφης"
      ["filename"]=>
      string(50) "Κωνσταντίνος-Καβάφης-scaled.jpg"
      ["filesize"]=>
      int(332532)
      ["url"]=>
      string(99) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Κωνσταντίνος-Καβάφης-scaled.jpg"
      ["link"]=>
      string(46) "https://www.travel.gr/en/konstantinos-kavafis/"
      ["alt"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["author"]=>
      string(1) "2"
      ["description"]=>
      string(21) "Constantine P. Cavafy"
      ["caption"]=>
      string(0) ""
      ["name"]=>
      string(20) "konstantinos-kavafis"
      ["status"]=>
      string(7) "inherit"
      ["uploaded_to"]=>
      int(0)
      ["date"]=>
      string(19) "2021-09-20 09:55:17"
      ["modified"]=>
      string(19) "2021-10-04 08:17:57"
      ["menu_order"]=>
      int(0)
      ["mime_type"]=>
      string(10) "image/jpeg"
      ["type"]=>
      string(5) "image"
      ["subtype"]=>
      string(4) "jpeg"
      ["icon"]=>
      string(58) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-includes/images/media/default.png"
      ["width"]=>
      int(1714)
      ["height"]=>
      int(2560)
      ["sizes"]=>
      array(18) {
        ["thumbnail"]=>
        string(100) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Κωνσταντίνος-Καβάφης-150x150.jpg"
        ["thumbnail-width"]=>
        int(150)
        ["thumbnail-height"]=>
        int(150)
        ["medium"]=>
        string(100) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Κωνσταντίνος-Καβάφης-201x300.jpg"
        ["medium-width"]=>
        int(201)
        ["medium-height"]=>
        int(300)
        ["medium_large"]=>
        string(101) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Κωνσταντίνος-Καβάφης-768x1147.jpg"
        ["medium_large-width"]=>
        int(768)
        ["medium_large-height"]=>
        int(1147)
        ["large"]=>
        string(101) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Κωνσταντίνος-Καβάφης-685x1024.jpg"
        ["large-width"]=>
        int(685)
        ["large-height"]=>
        int(1024)
        ["1536x1536"]=>
        string(102) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Κωνσταντίνος-Καβάφης-1028x1536.jpg"
        ["1536x1536-width"]=>
        int(1028)
        ["1536x1536-height"]=>
        int(1536)
        ["2048x2048"]=>
        string(102) "https://www.travel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Κωνσταντίνος-Καβάφης-1371x2048.jpg"
        ["2048x2048-width"]=>
        int(1371)
        ["2048x2048-height"]=>
        int(2048)
      }
    }
    ["desc"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["image_position"]=>
    string(6) "center"
    ["image_link_to"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["open_link_in_new_tab"]=>
    bool(false)
  }
}
Constantine P. Cavafy
Ioannis Kapodistrias

The wax figure exhibition is housed in the three elegant halls of the museum, with hall arranged in a way fitting for the people in it. So, you’ll see Mimis Plessas sitting on a piano and next to him Rena Vlahopoulou singing. Aristotle Onassis at his desk, Yannis Tsarouchis having a cup of coffee, Whitney Houston standing behind a microphone. All the works are accompanied with information about the life of the person they present. At the same time there is a small space where visitors can learn about the process of sculpting a wax figure.

The most recent additions to the collection are those of Theodoros Kolokotronis and Laskarina Mpoumpoulina that are standing next to Ioannis Kapodistrias, thus honouring the bicentennial of the 1821 Independence War.

Take photos and selfies freely. However remember that you must not touch the exhibits as they are prone to damage and are preserved at a specific temperature. At the museum shop you’ll find cards and books with photos of and information on the exhibits. The entrance fee is €5 for adults, €4 for highschool and middle school children and €3 for primary school children.

Kipia has been listed as a traditional settlement since 1978 and is built on the foothills of Paggaio mountain, an ideal destination for alternative tourism. Southeast of the village, ruins of a temple of the Hellenistic and Roman years have been found, as well as remains of an early Christian basilica. The village is 1.5 hour away from Thessaloniki (134 km via the Egnatia Road) and 30′ from Kavala (28 km).
If you’re ever in the Kavala area, it’s worth including in your itinerary a visit to Kipia and the Greek “Madame Tussauds” museum that is a great example of how the passion and talent of a young person can add a place of only 300 residents that was of no interest before to the tourist map.
Info:

kerinaomoiomata.gr
Tel: 0030 6937 803780 & 0030 6976 519429