A little island hosting 4 museums, that I advise you to add to your list of visits on Santorini island.

Knowing the dimension of Santorini you can think that there are only beaches on it to see.

Actually among the notewhorty places there are some museums you can’t miss. I believe that visiting a museum it’s the best way to come into contact with the local life.

The most important museums to visit on the island are in Fira:

  • Museum of prheistoric Thira

It is one of the most important museums in Greece. Inside you can find the Akrotíri town and its finds. It reconstructs the evolution of the island and keeps amazing archeological finds and mosaics. In the congress centre “Petros M. Nomikos” you can watch the 3-D images of the Akrotíri frescos. If you need to get fresh, near the site you will find Red Beach and Black Beach.

  • Archeological museum of Fira

It provides information concerning the human presence on Santorini from the Dori colonization until late roman period. It was built in 1960 thanks to the Minister of Public Works to replace the previous one built in 1902. Next to these two important museums, Ancient Thira is worth a visit. Don’t let deceive you! This place is not near Thira, but on the opposite side of the island and further south than the actual place of Thira. Be careful! The wind can let you fall, therefore remember to hold on in the places more open to the wind and to wear tennis shoes.

If you are going to at 2.30 pm it means to enjoy the silence that reigns supreme and a fantastic landscape of Kamari. If you are fit you can climb following the track starting from Perissa and ending at the archelogical site.

Other museums…

  • Museum of the Folklore in Kontohóri

Litographies, manuscripts and books kept in a cave hosting the museum. Inside you will find a courtyard and a garden where to spend time in the shadow of the trees. A typical cellar, a cavern that highlights the volcanic eruption, an art gallery with works of artists inspired by Santorini. Here it is what you will find in this place.

  • Naval museum in Oia

It was founded in 1951 by captain Antonis Dakoronias to attest the importance of the island in the maritime field. Santorini knew its importance above all in the 19° century, when its ships carried soil (to build the Suez Channel) and vinsanto (used by priests of the Orthodox church), coming back carrying other stuff such as little tomatoes. Today inside the museum is hosted in the capetanospito (Captain’s house) and keeps geographical plan, instruments, books, daily use objects and so on.

  • Wine museum in Vothonas

In the end I want to talk to you about this museum hosted by a natural cave 300 mt. long at 6 mt. under the ground. It shows the history of the wine from 1660 to 1970. The museum is in Vothonas on the road to Kamari beach on the inside of Koutsogiannopulos property, who has been producing the wine Vulcano since 1880. You can follow individually a path leading by a audioguide and with sound effects. At the end you will arrive in a  room where you can watch a film about the history of Santorini and its wine production from 1500 BC until today. Besides you can taste wines in the cellar. Fridays it takes place a typical Greek dinner accompanyied by live music and a performance of traditional dance in typical clothes.