In this blogpost we will find out which are the best Santorini museums. The island has a great wealth of historical treasures, making it an ideal destination for travelers that love to learn about the history and culture of Santorini. Discover its fascinating museums, where ancient tales and cultural heritage come to life. Join Golden Ibex as we explore the distinctive features of the must-visit museums on the island! From ancient wonders to maritime heritage, each museum offers a unique experience, illustrating Santorini’s cultural journey. So, don’t wait any longer! Pack your bag, put on your most comfortable shoes, and explorie the exhibits behind their walls!
Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera is one of the best Santorini museums. It is housed in a two-story building completed in 2000 and is located in the heart of Fira. It showcases the rich history and culture during the prehistoric era and was established to house the significant findings from the Akrotiri archaeological site, revealing the Cycladic civilization of the Minoan Bronze Age.The ground floor hosts temporary exhibits, while the first floor features four permanent sections, each dedicated to a different aspect of Thera’s rich history.
- The history of research at Thera
- The island’s geology
- Its history from the Late Neolithic to the Late Cycladic I period
- The flourishing of the Akrotiri city
Visitors can explore a variety of artifacts including crafted pottery, jewelry and frescoes, which collectively offer a glimpse into the society that once thrived on the island. Among the museum’s treasures are fossils of plants predating human settlement, Neolithic pottery, Early Cycladic marble figurines, and impressive bird jugs from the Middle Cycladic period. These pieces highlight the island’s dynamic and creative journey through the ages, establishing Akrotiri as a crucial Aegean center in the 18th and 17th centuries B.C. Visitors to the museum can enjoy a comfortable, air-conditioned environment as they explore the various exhibitions.
Find out more at: Museum of prehistoric Thera
Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum is located in the heart of Fira and is ideal for those interested in Santorini’s rich past. This significant museum is one of the best museums in Santorini and was rebuilt in 1960, after the original structure was destroyed from a big earthquake in 1956. The museum’s opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 to 15:00. Visitors can explore three main collections. The sculptures and inscriptions from the Archaic to the Roman Period and vases and clay figurines from the Geometric to the Hellenistic Periods. The most important exhibits of the museum are:
- A Hellenistic period settlement, found at Mesa Vouno.
- 5th century BC, Geometric vases
- A 7th century BC amphora with geometric decoration
- Many marble figurines from the Cycladic and the Neolithic period.
- A half tone volcanic boulder made Eumastas, a famous ancient athlete.
- A krater with chariot scenes back from the 6th-century BC.
- Artifacts from Chistiana islet and Akrotiri and Chistiana islet.
The Archaeological museum’s exhibits, reveal the evolution of Santorini’s history, and is a portal to this unique island’s past and a great oportunity for history enthusiasts. The museum offers many affordable packages for tickets providing aceess to many archaeological sites of Santorini.
Find out more at: Archaeological museum Fira
Santorini Wine Museum
At Santorini Wine Museum you can learn everything about the winemaking history and procedures, as also to experience the life of a winemaker on the island. Koutsogiannopoulos family has a great tradition on winemaking, so they created this museum to share their knowledge, passion and historical exhibits.
The members of this family are the fourth generation of wine makers and they proudly uphold their family tradition, using techniques perfected over the years.
The museum is one of the best in Santorini, and is located in a 300 meters cave, 8 meters below the ground surface. This natural labyrinth took 21 years of hard work and patience to be completed from Koutsogianopoulos family. Visitors will learn about the history of Santorinian wine through an audio guide available in fourteen languages. They will also learn about the required machinery needed to make wine in the past and nowadays. In addition they can see all the stages of wine making, such as:
- ploughing in the vineyards
- harvesting
- weighing of the grapes
Find out more at: Santorini wine museum
Santorini Atlantis Museum
This museum is dedicated to the myth of lost Atlantis! Visitors over 6 years old can have a digital interactive experience and re-live the destruction of Atlantis. During this superb 9D experience you can have a journey in Greek mythology, history, geology and philosophy. You will be able to:
- Have a discussion with Plato’s animated hologram, the famous ancient Philosopher.
- Find out all the evidence that connect the volcano erupton with the myt of Plato’s Lost Atlantis.
- Explore a unique Diorama of Atlantis and re-live the volcanic eruption that led to its destruction in a 9D experience..
- Follow Plato to his journey for the ideal city
- Witness the geological evolution of the island, through a holographic representation.
If you are a history or mythologylover, seeking for an alternative museum, then you can visit Atlantis museum, where its innovative technology will elevate your experience. The location of the museum is in Megalochori village
Find out more at: Atlantis museum
Naval Maritime Museum
Naval Maritime Museum is located in the village of Oia, ofeing to its visitors a glimpse into Greek naval history. The museum was established in 1956 by Antonis Dakoronias and since 1990 has been housed in a mansion that was donated by Dina Manolessou-Birbili. Naval Maritime museum is open every day except Tuesdays and presents the period that Santorini was a great contributor in naval history of Greece. The last 70 years, the exhibits have grown significatly, presenting the evolution of Greek shipping in Santorini and the Cyclades. The islands pioneering role in the country’s navy, influenced its economy and had a peak during the early 20th century.
The ground floor of the museum ground floor hosts nautical tools and instruments, such as maps, compasses, portholes, log meters, pulleys and more, all with a detailed description of their use. Also, the library of this floor houses documents, books, delivery dockets and nautical charts.
On the 1st floor, there are ship models, uniforms, mariners’ chests, uniforms and rare figureheads. Finally, there is a great range of aquarelles with old sailing vessels and really old photographs of ships and crews.
Find out more at: Naval maritime museum
