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Santorini Museums

Santorini Island is more than beautiful beaches and astonishing sunsets; it also has a wealth of history and tradition. If you are truly interested in exploring Santorini you should visit many of the Santorini's museums which are exposing very rare exhibits to the public from excavations at Akrotiri to Ancient Thira in "Mesa Vouno" to the priceless icons.

Many of the Santorini's museums can be found in Fira (Thira), which is the capital of Santorini.

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Santorini Archaeological Museum

Archaeological Museum was built in 1960 by the Ministry of Public Works in order to replace the old museum (built in 1902), that had collapsed during the earthquake of 1956. It easily can be found close to the cable car station.

 

Archaeological Museum of Santorini houses outstanding archaeological finds (sculptures and figurines) from excavations on the island. There is a huge amount of geometric red and black vases from the fifth century BC displayed at the Archaeological Museum, as well as a number of certain amounts of Minoan ware, household items and some particularly impressive frescoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Museum of Prehistoric Thira

The Museum of Prehistoric Thera deserves to be at the top of every visitor's itinerary, boasting a large collection of truly outstanding relics, which were excavated from the historical site of Akrotiri. The excavations are made by members of the German Archaeological Institute under the auspices of the Archaeological Society at Athens.

Particular favorites for those visiting the Museum of Prehistoric Thera include an ancient gold figure of an ibex, which dates back to the 17th century BC, as well as some well-preserved wall paintings (frescoes) and other art works, a number of which are display within glass cases. The Museum of Prehistoric Thera is also home to fossils, pieces of pottery, a clay oven and more besides. To date, only a fraction of Akrotiri has actually been excavated and so the collection is set to grow over the years to come.

 

George E. Argyros Museum in Messaria

The Argyros Mansion recently has been included in monuments of Santorini Island. Today It plays a significant role within the Messaria community for its morphological and its architectural value. The Mansion traditional architecture is spiced up with elements of eclecticism. All the furniture and utensils on upper floor are conserved and attended to as in a museum. This way, the visitor can get acquainted with the residence of a 19th century landowner of Santorini.

The Mansion was built in 1888 by the landowner and wine merchant George Argyros, but was partially damaged during the 1956 earthquake. Since then, the mansion remained uninhabited for many years. The Argyros Mansion's complete restoration finally was approved by the Ministry of Culture and in 1985, the building was identified as a Work of Art encircled by a 50 meters protection zone.

 

 

Megaro Gyzi Cultural Center

The museum is opposite the Roman Catholic Church.

Megaro Gyzi is one of the few 17th century old family mansions to have survived the earthquake of 1956. It was donated by the Catholic Diocese of Santorini for the activities of the Cultural Center. With the support and contribution from the Catholic Diocese of Santorini it has been carefully restored in a way that it retains much of its original character in an effort to preserve those distinct features of the local architectural heritage

The Cultural Center 'Megaro Gyzi' was founded in 1980, the main purpose being spiritual development and the cultural improvement of the residents, as well as the promotion of Santorini . It is a unique building of its era in Santorini, since the ground floors develop around a patio, attributing a distinctive architecture to the inner open area that was created. This area is partly covered with an elegant cross-shaped dome.

The main purpose of the Cultural Center is the spiritual development, the cultural improvement and the

advancement, of Thira and its residents for the main part, but also of the whole Cycladic area in general. Within the dictates of this purpose, particularly during the tourist period, organizes painting exhibitions, concerts and musical recitals, theatrical performance, photographic exhibitions, lectures, traditional dances, film showings and other events.

There are Permanent Collections housed in Megaro Gyzi such as authentic engravings, old historical manuscripts, paintings of Santorini and old photographs of scenic Santorini.

 

 

Naval Maritime Museum in Oia

The Naval Museum resides in an old Captain's Mansion in picturesque village of Oia.

In Oia, the picturesque traditional town on the northwest coast of Santorini, an 19th century mansion has been restored and converted into a museum that houses the Maritime History of Thira.

Rare figureheads, Seamens' Chests, old maritime equipment, carrening drawings and patterns, models of old and new Thiran ships, acquarelles featuring old sailing vessels as well as rare photographs and a library, all register year by year the contribution of the Thirans to the glorious history of the Hellenic Navy.

Hence the two-story captains houses built on the highest part of the village which are a reminder of the village's former affluence.

 

Lignos Folklore Museum in Kontochori

The Folklore Museum is housed in a cave house built in 1861 in Kontochori - Fira. The museum is an old winery with workshops for carpenters, barrel makers, shoemakers and tinsmiths and an art gallery. There is also a library. Within the grounds one can discover the chapel of Agios Konstantinos with its belfry and festivities room. The garden and courtyard offers seating areas amongst trees and flowers.

 

 

Icons & Relics Collection in Pyrgos

The Icons & Relics Collection of Pyrgos houses a collection of priceless hagiographies, wooden sculptures, metal art works & other items for ecclesiastic use. Most of the exhibits date back to the 17th & 18th century. It also hosts displays on shoemaking, printing, candle making, wine making and typical local food.

The museum can be found in Agia Triada, originally a Catholic church belonging to a small convent. It had been completely abandoned, and in the early seventies only the north wall and part of the Sanctum were standing. Under the 'Association of Pyrgos Residents in Thira' initiative and Mrs. Liza Patiniotis, president of the Association at that time, efforts were made to rebuild the church in 1975 in order to house the collection. Mrs. Patiniotis had the foresight to gather the items of the collection immediately after the 1956 earthquake. The second Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities with the cooperation of Thira's Holy Metropolis and the community of Pyrgos, managed in 1997 to exhibit once again the collection that had been remained closed for so many years.

 

 

Museum of Minerals & Fossils in Perissa

The Museum of Minerals & Fossils of the Cultural Society of Thira was founded in 2006 and is located in Perissa, close to the Church of the Holy Cross. Display cases include minerals and fossils from Thira, the rest of Greece and abroad. Amongst the exhibits is an invaluable rich collection of minerals from Lavrio. Mr. Nikos Sigalas is President of the Cultural Society of Thira and responsible for the museum.

Of the fossils that cover all groups of organisms, the ones of particular interest are plant fossils from olive, gorse and palm trees that come from the caldera of Santorini and date back 50,000-60,000 years from today.

It is a very rare old flora which is unique in the whole of the Mediterranean and provides an essential record of the evolution of plants of the past, not only in the Aegean but also across Europe.

 

Wine Museum in Vothonas

The Wine Museum in Vothonas, on the way to Kamari beach, is an extraordinary natural cave, 6 meters below ground and 300 meters long. It presents the history and life of wine Santorini from 1660 to 1970.

The Museum offers a personal tour, where one can view semi-mobile and still life figurines, accompanied by audio guides and sound effects.

At the end of the passage way, there is a room where the visitor can watch a film of the history of Santorini from 1500 BC till the present day, the evolution of life and wine production in Santorini. There is also an opportunity to join in the ritual of wine tasting, which is held in the winery.

Every Friday a traditional Greek night with a buffet meal is held. Entertainment includes live music and local dancers in traditional costumes giving a display of Greek dancing.

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admin posted at 2008-6-8 Category: swarovski