An original vintage sixties press photograph showing Paul McCartney building sand castles on the beach at Itea, Greece with Julian Lennon. There is a Barrarr’s Photo Press Ltd copyright stamp on the reverse.

On the 22nd July 1967, John Lennon and Paul McCartney left Heathrow Airport bound for Athens with the purpose of grabbing themselves a holiday after their frantic work schedule over the last few months. They were also going to research the possibility of buying a Greek island.

John and Paul followed in the footsteps of Ringo and George who were seen in Athens on the 20th July. Their plans to buy an island eventually came to nothing but they seemed to have had a great break.

The trip was organised by Magic Alex Mardas. According to an article published in the newspaper To Vima written by Labis Tsirigotakis, The Beatles took a day trip north of Athens where they travelled to the mountainous village of Arachova. In the evening they visited the nearby beach at Itea. On Monday July 24th The Beatles party embarked on a cruise and 2 days later they had reached the northern tip of the Evian Gulf where they bathed at Kamena Vourla on the mainland and then ate at a restaurant at Edipsos on Evia. The following day the Beatles party, with the exception of Ringo who had returned to London, visited the pine covered island of Skiathos. After visiting various other islands near Skiathos - Alonissos, Skyros and Skopelos – the yacht in which members of The Beatles were sailing arrived back in Athens Tourkolimano harbour on Saturday 29th July. They returned to London shortly after.

The photograph measures 20cm x 15 cm (8 inches x 6 inches). The condition is very good.