Museum sights in Greece
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Knossos
The ruins of Knossos (k-nos-os) were uncovered in 1900 by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. Heinrich Schliemann, the legendary discoverer of ancient Troy, had his eye on the spot, believing an ancient city was buried there, but he was unable to strike a deal with the local landowner in Turkish-controlled Crete.
Intrigued by Schliemann's discovery of engraved seals in Crete, and later pottery finds in Kamares, Evans sailed to Crete in 1894 and set in train the purchase of a share of the Knossos site, which gave him exclusive rights to the excavation. He returned five years later and began digging with a group of Cretan workmen. The first treasure to be unearthed…
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Kanellopoulos Museum
The imposing 1884 mansion on the northern slope of the Acropolis houses the Kanellopoulos family’s extensive collection, donated to the state in 1976. After a major refurbishment and expansion, it was due to open in late 2008. The collection includes jewellery, clay-and-stone vases and figurines, weapons, Byzantine icons, bronzes and objets d’art dating from every period of Greek history.
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Museum of Byzantine Culture
The Museum of Byzantine Culture is a well-presented modern museum that uses ambient lighting and a good running wall text to enliven the 3000 or so artefacts in its permanent collection. They include frescoes, mosaics, embroidery, ceramics, inscriptions and icons from the early Christian period to the Fall of Constantinople (1453) in Macedonia.
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Nautical Historical Museum
The sparkling Nautical Historical Museum documents Greece's maritime history and Galaxidi's unique ship-building lore, which flourished during the days of commercial sailing ships.
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Museum
Menetes has a small but well-presented Museum on the right as you come in from Pigadia. Opening hours are upon request - the owner of Taverna Manolis will open it up for you.
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archaeological museum
The archaeological museum contains sculptures, pottery and coins dating from the Neolithic period.
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Folklore Museum
The Folklore Museum displays traditional embroidery and costumes.
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Archaeological Museum of Iraklio
The outstanding Archaeological Museum of Iraklio is second in size and importance only to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens because of its unique and extensive Minoan collection. The museum recently underwent a major restoration.
The collection covers Cretan civilization from Neolithic times until the Roman empire and includes pottery, jewellery, figurines and sarcophagi, as well as some famous frescoes, mostly from Knossos and Agia Triada. All testify to the remarkable imagination and advanced skills of the Minoans. Among the highlights are the famous Minoan frescoes from Knossos, including the Procession fresco, the Griffin Fresco (from the Throne Room), the…
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metopes
Ancient Delphi managed to amass a considerable treasure trove, and this is reflected the magnificent Delphi Museum (22650 82312; www.culture.gr/war/index_en.jsp; adult site or museum around €6, adult/student site & museum around €9/around €5, free Sun Nov-Mar; museum ;07:30-19:30 Apr-Oct, 08:30-18:45 Mon-Fri, 08:30-15:00 Sat, Sun & public holidays Nov-Mar; site ;07:30-19:30 Apr-Oct, 08:00-17:00 Nov-Mar).
Upon entering the museum, in room 3 you'll first notice parts of the frieze from the Siphnian treasury, which depicts not only the battle between the gods and the giants, but also the Judgment of Paris, who was called upon to decide which goddess was most beautiful …
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Delphi Museum
Ancient Delphi managed to amass a considerable treasure trove, and this is reflected the magnificent Delphi Museum .
Upon entering the museum, in room 3 you'll first notice parts of the frieze from the Siphnian treasury, which depicts not only the battle between the gods and the giants, but also the Judgment of Paris, who was called upon to decide which goddess was most beautiful (he chose Aphrodite). Also residing in this room is the Sphinx of the Naxians, dating from 560 BC. In room 4 are two fine examples of 6th-century-BC kouroi, the 'twins of Argos'.
In the rooms to the left are fragments of metopes (figures within the frieze) from the Athenian treasury depicting th…
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Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum has finds from the prehistoric period through to ancient Macedonian and Hellenistic times. The most famous exhibit, the Gold of Macedon, presents precious objects (6th- to 2nd-century BC) from the royal tombs and other central Macedonian excavation sites. The craftsmanship is phenomenal; delicate filigree wreaths, pins for fastening dresses, and grave masks from Sindos are among the best.
The Derveni Crater (330-320 BC), a vast, ornate Hellenistic vase of bronze and tin used initially for mixing wine and water and later as a funerary urn, has intricate relief carvings illustrating the life of Dionysus, with mythical figures, animals, vines and iv…
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Archaeological Museum
It's worth the hike up to the Archaeological Museum, which has an extensive and well-displayed collection from eastern Crete. While it has no major showpiece, it is probably the second most significant Minoan collection and includes clay coffins, ceramic musical instruments and gold from the island of Mohlos.
The chronological exhibits begin with Neolithic finds from Mt Tragistalos, north of Kato Zakros, and early Minoan finds from Agia Fotia, then finds from Malia and Mohlos. The highlight is the odd-looking Goddess of Myrtos, a clay jug from 2500 BC found near Myrtos. Another stand-out Minoan item is a stone ritual vessel in the shape of a shell, found in a late Minoan …
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Historical Museum of Crete
A fascinating collection from Crete's more recent past is presented at the excellent Historical Museum of Crete. The ground floor covers the period from Byzantine to Turkish rule, displaying plans, charts, photographs, ceramics and maps. On the 1st floor are the only two El Greco paintings in Crete - View of Mt Sinai and the Monastery of St Catherine (1570) and the tiny recent addition, Baptism of Christ.
Other rooms contain fragments of 13th- and 14th-century frescoes, coins, jewellery, liturgical ornaments and vestments, and medieval pottery.
The 2nd floor has a reconstruction of the library of author Nikos Kazantzakis. Another room is devoted to Rethymno-born former pri…
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Archaeological Museum
The superb Archaeological Museum - Ancient Olympia's archaeological site museum - about 200m north of the sanctuary's ticket kiosk, is a great place to start or end your visit to the site of Ancient Olympia.
There is a scale site model, and the reassembly of the pediments and metopes from the Temple of Zeus are spectacular (despite not being complete). The eastern pediment depicts the chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos, the western pediment shows the fight between the Centaurs and Lapiths, and the metopes depict the Twelve Labours of Hercules.
Don't miss the 4th-century Parian marble statue of Hermes of Praxiteles, a masterpiece of classical sculpture from the Temple…
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Archaeological Museum
Hania's Archaeological Museum is housed in the superb 16th-century Venetian Church of San Francisco that became a mosque under the Turks, a movie theatre in 1913 and a munitions depot for the Germans during WWII. The museum houses a well-displayed collection of finds from western Crete dating from the Neolithic to the Roman eras. Artefacts from 3400 BC to 1200 BC, to the left as you enter the museum, include tablets with Linear A script.
There is some exquisite pottery from the Geometric era (1200-800 BC) and a case of bull figurines. Among the Hellenistic and Roman exhibits, the statue of Diana is particularly impressive. There is a marble fountain in the pretty courtyar…
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Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
The history of the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, on the northeastern side of town, is more interesting than the site. Like most of the deities in Greek mythology, the goddess Artemis had many aspects, one of which was Artemis Orthia. In the earliest times this aspect of the goddess was honoured through human sacrifice. The Spartans gave this activity away for the slightly less gruesome business of flogging young boys in honour of the goddess.
The museum houses a collection of clay masks used during ritual dances. The sanctuary is signposted at the junction of Odos Ton 118 and Orthias Artemidos. One of the other remaining remnants of ancient Sparta is the sanctuary of Leoni…
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Byzantine Museum
The best sight within the sublime Its Kale (Inner Citadel; h08:00-17:00, 20:00-22:00 Tue-Sun)is the Byzantine Museum , housed in two buildings near the Fetiye Cami(Victory Mosque), which include Ali Pasha's former palace. The museum features early Christian and Byzantine art, pottery, coins and silverware, and even post-Byzantine icons and manuscripts. The priceless treasures include early printed Greek books from Venice and ornate silver jewellery boxes with cloisonné enamel. Textual accompaniments give a fascinating overview of Ioannina's history from the 4th to the 17th century, and divulge other unexpected facts, like that the Rome-based jewellery empire, Bulgari, was…
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Natural History Museum of Crete
Established by the University of Crete, the leading Natural History Museum of Crete has relocated to impressive new five-level premises in the restored former electricity building on the waterfront. Only two wings had opened at the time of research, including an impressive interactive discovery centre for kids, compete with labs and excavation projects.
Apart from the broader evolution of humankind, the museum explores the flora and fauna of Crete, the island's ecosystem and habitats, and its caves, coastline and mountains. It also looks at the Minoan environment, including a reconstruction of a Minoan cottage and its inhabitants. It's a pleasant 10-minute walk along the …
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Archaeological Museum
The excellent Archaeological Museum houses a well-displayed and important collection of local finds spanning Neolithic to Roman times, with emphasis on the Minoan civilization. One of the most significant exhibits is the Palekastro Kouros - a figure pieced together from fragments made of hippopotamus tusks and adorned with gold (see the boxed text). Finds from the palace at Zakros include a wine press, a bronze saw, jars, cult objects and pots that are clearly scorched from the great fire that destroyed the palace. Among the most valuable objects are the Linear A tablets, which reflect the palace's administrative function.
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Ethnological Museum of Thrace
The traditional customs of old Thrace come alive at the Ethnological Museum of Thrace. Housed in a mansion built in 1899, the museum is divided into rooms, each devoted to a specific topic, ranging from traditional costumery and musical instruments to oil presses, a dye-room and sweet-making equipment. The accompanying texts will tell you, among other things, how many silkworms it takes to make 25g of silk and which Greek sweet is made by slamming the ingredients against a wall.
If you are travelling further in Thrace, the friendly staff can outline the most interesting sites. There's a small café out back.
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Ecclesiastical Art Museum of Alexandroupoli
Priceless icons, many brought by refugees from Asia Minor and Turkish Thrace, are exhibited at the Ecclesiastical Art Museum of Alexandroupoli. The museum, which also boasts early printed Greek books, is in the grounds of the Cathedral of Agios Nikolaos, which itself houses a miracle-working 13th-century icon of the Panagia Trifotissa, brought from Aenos (Enez in Turkish) on the other side of the River Evros.
The story goes that by praying before the icon, villagers whose eyes had been damaged by the glare of sunlight reflected on the salt marshes around Aenos had their vision restored.
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Archaeology Museum
Apiranthos is an atmospheric mountain village of unadorned stone houses, marble-paved streets and alleyways that scramble up the slopes of Mt Fanari. Its inhabitants are descendants of refugees who fled Crete to escape Turkish repression; they retain a strong individuality and a rich dialect, and the village has always been noted for its spirited politics and populism. The village has an impressive trio of museums.
The Archaeology Museum is part-way along the main street. It has a marvellous collection of small Cycladian artefacts. Admission free.
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Teriade Museum
From the northernmost section of Pavlou Kountourioti, take a local bus 4km south of Mytilini to the village of Varia, where an unexpected treasure awaits: the Teriade Museum, with its astonishing collection of paintings by world-renowned artists like Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Le Corbusier and Matisse. The museum honours the Lesvos-born artist and critic Stratis Eleftheriadis, who Gallicised his name to Teriade in Paris.
Teriade was instrumental in bringing the work of primitive painter and fellow Lesvos native Theophilos to international attention.
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Naval Museum
The Naval Museum has an interesting collection of model ships dating from the Bronze Age, and naval instruments, paintings, photographs and memorabilia from the Battle of Crete.
It is housed in the Firkas Fortress, once the old Turkish prison.An authentic replica of a Minoan ship, which sailed from Crete to Athens as part of the Athens 2004 Olympics ceremonies, will be the star attraction of the museum's new Ancient and Traditional Maritime Museum annexe in the Venetian ship sheds being created at the far end of the harbour.
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Museum of Natural History
Apiranthos is an atmospheric mountain village of unadorned stone houses, marble-paved streets and alleyways that scramble up the slopes of Mt Fanari. Its inhabitants are descendants of refugees who fled Crete to escape Turkish repression; they retain a strong individuality and a rich dialect, and the village has always been noted for its spirited politics and populism. The village has an impressive trio of museums. On the main road, to the right of the start of the village's main street, is the Museum of Natural History .
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