The island of Santorini features one of the most significant archaeological
sites in the world, the "prehistoric town of Akrotiri". It is a place
of great importance to the international archaeological community. It is currently
being renovated and is scheduled to open to the public by May 2012 featuring a
new eco-friendly roof that covers the entire ancient settlement.
The "prehistoric town of Akrotiri" was an active settlement around 3,000 BC, being preserved and almost untouched by time since its last inhabitants left it to save themselves from the ancient, yet catastrophic, volcanic eruption. The eruption, which occurred in 1450 BC, wiped out all life from the island and buried the settlement under tons of lava and ash. Unlike Pompeii, no human remains were ever discovered at Akrotiri - the residents clearly had ample warning of the town's destruction. The city was rediscovered in 1860, when workers quarrying volcanic ash for use in the Suez Canal, brought it to light once again.
The city remained untouched due to the tons of soil that covered it and therefore protected it from being damaged over the time. Systematic excavations began under Professor Spyridon Marinatos of the University of Athens in 1967 and continued until his death in 1974, when Professor Christos Doumas continued his work. When visiting the "prehistoric town of Akrotiri" you can walk through the city to view the pottery, furniture, advanced drainage systems and three-story buildings that have been discovered at the site. Millions of people have visited Santorini in anticipation of viewing this archaeological phenomenon.
The "prehistoric town of Akrotiri" was an active settlement around 3,000 BC, being preserved and almost untouched by time since its last inhabitants left it to save themselves from the ancient, yet catastrophic, volcanic eruption. The eruption, which occurred in 1450 BC, wiped out all life from the island and buried the settlement under tons of lava and ash. Unlike Pompeii, no human remains were ever discovered at Akrotiri - the residents clearly had ample warning of the town's destruction. The city was rediscovered in 1860, when workers quarrying volcanic ash for use in the Suez Canal, brought it to light once again.
The city remained untouched due to the tons of soil that covered it and therefore protected it from being damaged over the time. Systematic excavations began under Professor Spyridon Marinatos of the University of Athens in 1967 and continued until his death in 1974, when Professor Christos Doumas continued his work. When visiting the "prehistoric town of Akrotiri" you can walk through the city to view the pottery, furniture, advanced drainage systems and three-story buildings that have been discovered at the site. Millions of people have visited Santorini in anticipation of viewing this archaeological phenomenon.
Museums
More than 14 museums and exhibitions, public and
private ones, are open to the visitors during the summer time. Santorini has 2
archaeological museums, the "Museum of Prehistoric Thira"
(opened 2004) and the "ArchaeologicalMuseum of Thira" (re-opened
as it is today 1960) located both at Fira town.
At the "Museum of Prehistoric
Thira" you can see findings and some of the famous frescoes
from the Akrotiri ancient town excavations and generally from the Neolithic to
the Late Cycladic period, and at the "Archaeological Museum of Thira"
you can see sculptures and findings from the Archaic, Roman, Hellenistic and
Geometric periods. Both are known to have precious objects found on the island
from the Prehistoric to the Hellenistic years. Both museums are public and
including the "Akrotiri ancient town" (closed at the moment) which is
considered as an open air museum, are of the most important points that
keep the island's cultural heritage. Visiting prices are low at all cases.
Public museums are open daily except Mondays from 09.00 - 15.00
Other museums are:
"Santozeum - Exhibition of the Akrotiri Wall
Paintings" hosts the
authentic copies of more than 34 wall paintings that were found at the
prehistoric town of Akrotiri.
Since not all genuine wall paintings are properly
maintained to be exposed to the public, Nomikos family, an economically
powerful family on the island took on 1998 the decision to construct in France the
authentic copies of the originals and expose them to the public. The collection
was hosted for many years at "Nomikos Conference Centre" at Fira, but
since summer 2011 the collection has moved in a new location, at Nomikos old
mansion, a beautifully renovated neoclassical building, overlooking the caldera
at Fira, close to the cable car. The exhibition is open during the
summer months.
The "Naval and Maritime Museum" at
Oia contains items, photographs and data from the ships and the homes of seamen
at the beginning of 19th century, when Oia was one of the most famous and busy
ports at the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean. Oia's period of peak lasted more
that 30 years during the time of the sailing ships (moving with sails) and
finished with the beginning of the period of the motorized ships, at about
1940. Oia used to be a very rich village as almost all men were working at the
sailing ships bringing back homes a lot of goods from ports of theMediteranean Sea as
well as Russia where Santorini's wine was vey appreciated. At the
museum you can see and search naval data from the beginning of the 19th
century, you can see marine objects, old handmade maps, naval manuscripts, as
well as a collection of photographs and models of old type sailing ships. The
museum is hosted in an old captain house at the centre of Oia.
The "Megaro Guzy collection" as
a part of the cultural centre "Megaro Guzy" located at Fira. At
"Megaro Guzy collection" you can see old maps of the island and the
around areas, pictures of the past years local formal and everyday clothes,
past years local clothing, engravings, manuscripts, photographs of the island
as it was years ago, as well as paintings with Santorini themes. "Megaro
Guzy" runs under the responsibility of the Catholic episcopate and
community of Santorini and every August organises cultural events since 1988.
At "Lignos Folklore Museum" at
Fira built in 1861 you can see the architecture of the old buildings according
to the cave houses, which were used as wineries.
The owner of the museum Manolis Lignos, after
years of research and consulting succeeded to collect old items from all over
the island to organise a museum presenting the old professions existing on
Santorini, renovating rooms to look like an old winery, carpentry, cooperage,
shoe small craft etc. At "Lignos Folklore Museum" you can
also find old books with the history of the island, old maps, manuscripts,
engravings etc. The personnel is very helpful and enjoys to tour you to all
areas of the Museum and talk you about the history of the island. In the Museum
area you will see the "St. Konstantin’s" church, celebrating on May
21st where a big feast takes place every year, including good food, wine and
local dances. The Museum is open during the summer months from 09.00 - 14.00
and from 18.00 - 20.00
"Minerals and Fossils Museum" at Perisa was founded in 2006 and you can see
minerals and fossils found on the island and the volcano according to stones
from other areas of Greece. "Minerals and Fossils Museum"
is a very small one however it has precious stones and information about
Santorini's geological history. The Museum is open during the summer months.
"Byzantine Art museum - Icons and Relics
Collection" at Pyrgos is a
small museum however you can see precious items used at religious celebrations
during the Byzantine era as well as old hagiographies, icons, wooden
sculptures, embroideries etc. Museum is open during the summer months, it is
located at the centre of Pyrgos village, tickets are free and it's better to
call before going to be sure it is open.
"Museum of Ancient Greek and Byzantine Music
Instruments" at Oia is
the newest Santorini's museum, opened spring 2011 under the idea of it's
creator, Mr Halaris to expose a big part of the wooden string musical
instruments he is constructing in his laboratory. His proposal was accepted by
the local Municipality and now more than 30 ancient Greek and Byzantine wooden
string musical instruments are exposed to the public. However new, the museum
rapidly earned the reputation of being worth seeing according to the fact it is
located in one of the most populated spots on the island, at Oia central
square. Museum is open during the summer months at mornings and at the
afternoon.
The "Koutsogiannopoulos wine
museum" on the way to Kamari is the only wine museum all over Greece,
running by the homonymous family first arrived on the island on 1870. The
museum is hosted in the areas of a big winery, the "Volcan Wines".
"Koutsogiannopoulos wine museum" is a unique architectural
masterpiece since the whole construction consists of a network of
underground tunnels where through human size model dolls, the winemaking
procedure is being explaned. Inside the museum you can also see items and tools
used in the winemaking procedure at the old times, like grape compressors, some
constructed on the island and some others that came from Europe, baskets,
and old bottling machinery. The experience is unique and as visitors admit,
walking the underground tunnels you feel traveling to the past.
"Art Space Museum and Exhibition
Centre" located at Exo Gonia
(on the way to Kamari) is operating since summer 1999, hosting modern artworks
of Greek and European artists. "Art Space Museum and Exhibition
Centre" buildings were build in 1861 to host one of the biggest wineries
of it's time. Most of it's spaces are "canavas"which means cave
houses specially made to work as wineries. Some of the Museum's spaces are up
to 10 meters beneath the surface of the ground, which is something
unique to see. Most of the modern art exhibitions take place at these areas. An
important thing is that it's owner Mr Argyros on 1999 decided to renovate the
old winery with the minimal possible interference, trying to keep the place as
it was when it was build. "Art Space Museum and Exhibition Centre"
besides it's permanent exhibitions, hosts many different pieces of art every
summer made by famous Greek, European and American artists. Mr Argyros and the
personnel are very helpful and enjoy to tour you to all areas of the Museum and
talk you about the history of the place.
"Chrysos Museum" also known as the
"vanishing Santorini museum"located at Pyrgos is a housing complex trying to simulate how the
traditional villages were build. Isnide the buildings you can see items, pictures
and dolls in human dimensions representing the everyday occupations and
lifestyle of the residents of the island the past years. Museum is open during
the summer. Many events take place in it's areas during the summer months.
"Argyros Mansion - Museum" located at Mesaria is one of the few renovated
old mansions on the island with it's all old household preserved as it was in
the past years. The mansion and it's gardens operate as a Museum during the
summer months and while touring them you will learn about the history and the
everyday living on the island. Special interest have the kitchen room with it's
old equipment and the dining room with the old furnishing. Mr Argyros and the
personel are very helpful and enjoy to tour you to all areas of the Museum.
Museum is open during the summer.
"Bellonio Cultural Centre" also having a public library, the only one on
the island, is not a museum but according to being in the centre of Fira town
and to it's equipments, operates as a showroom to many exhibitions taking place
yearly. "Bellonio Cultural Centre" has hosted since 1994 the most
important cultural events on the island and still does all year long.
"Nomikos Conference centre" however it's not an museum, the past years and
up to 2010, in part of it's areas has hosted the "Exhibition of
the Akrotiri Wall Paintings". "Nomikos Conference centre" mainly
operates as conference centre but also hosts cultural events during the summer
months. Located over the caldera cliffs with the view of the volcano offers
it's visitors and amazing view. "Nomikos Conference centre" has
hosted the most important conferences on the island.
All public museums are open daily, except Mondays,
09.00 - 15.00. Private museums or collections are open every day the summer
months 9.00 - 15.00 and 17.00 - 20.00 but some stay open all day long.
"Museum of Prehistoric Thira" Fira, tel. 22860
23217
"Archaeological Museum of Thira" Fira, tel.
22860 22217
"Santozeum - Exhibition of the Akrotiri Wall
Paintings" Fira, tel.
"Naval Maritime Museum" Oia, tel. 22860 71156
"Megaro Guzy collection" Fira, tel. 22860 23077
"Lignos Folklore Museum" Fira, tel. tel. 22860
22792
"Minerals and Fossils Museum" Perisa, tel. 22860
22231
"Byzantine Art museum - Icons and Relics
Collection" Pyrgos, tel. 22860 31812
"Museum of Ancient Greek and Byzantine Music
Instruments" Oia, tel. 22860 22231
"Koutsogiannopoulos wine museum" on the way to
Kamari, tel. 22860 31322
"Art Space Museum and Exhibitions" Exo Gonia,
tel. 22860 32774
"Chrysos Museum" also known as the
"vanishing Santorini museum" Pyrgos, tel. 22860 31101
"Argyros Mansion - museum" Mesaria, tel. 22860 31669
Bellonio Cultural Centre - Public Library Fira, tel. 22860
24960
