All About Alonissos Museum
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The Alonissos Museum is found on the Greek island of Alonissos. Only meters away from the island’s main port of Patitiri, the museum serves as a cultural touchstone of the surrounding area. They house a collection here that focuses on the daily life and culture of the people of
Alonissos, including farming tools, oil presses, ornaments, and more. Here’s more information about this museum:
About the Alonissos Museum
Established in 2000, the Alonissos Museum is privately owned by Kostas and Angela Mavrikis. The museum is named after the island on which it sits, Alonissos, which is the easternmost island in the Greek Sporades island chain. As far as Greek islands go, it’s less commercialized than other tourist destinations. This makes Alonissos the perfect destination for travelers who love nature, beaches, and a quiet village atmosphere. The Alonissos Museum also educatesvisitors on the island’s rich, humble history.
The museum itself is housed inside of a four-story stone building that is instantly recognizable and visible from the beach at Patitiri. With an additional gift shop, conference room, and in-house cafe eatery, the Alonissos is the largest privately-owned museum in Greece. Exhibits about traditional warfare and pirates are among the museum’s permanent collection. The museum has also hosted seasonal exhibitions featuring contemporary artists.
Along with examples of local Greek artifacts, the museum houses a broad collection of vintage and antique cameras. The museum’s photography exhibit aims to educate the public on the history of photography before the digital age. Box cameras, miniature cameras, and dark room equipment are just some of the items that are displayed in this exhibit.
What to Do at the Alonissos Museum
The Alonissos Museum is located among the shops and cafes of Patitiri. For just a handful of euros, visitors can enjoy a few hours taking a self-guided tour through the history of the local area. The photography exhibit and museum gift shop are found on the ground floor, while the basement houses the museum’s “Alinossos at Work” exhibit. Upstairs, visitors can find the pirate artifact room and a special tribute to lives lost during both WWI and WWII.
Once visitors have completed their tour of the museum, they can enjoy refreshments at Cafe Molinas on the upper floor. The modest eatery is open during museum hours and features two outdoor terraces, both of which offer magnificent views of the harbor below.
Getting to the Alonissos Museum
The island of Alonissos doesn’t have an airport. Therefore, the best way to reach the museum is by ferry. From Athens, the fastest way to reach Alonissos is to drive three hours to Evoia, then take the ferry to Alonissos from there, which takes about two hours.
Alonissos also has frequent ferries to and from the surrounding islands. It’s a popular spot for day trippers visiting from the neighborhing islands of Skopelas and Skiathos, for example. Skiathos also has the closest airport to Alonissos. From Athens, the flight to Skiathos International Airport takes about 30 minutes.
Most ferries visiting Alonissos will arrive at its main port, Patitiri. The Alonissos Museum is within walking distance of the harbor.
Taking the extra step to get to his museum is well worth your effort. It is a great please to get a nice overview of the history and culture of the islands.
Categorized in: About Alonissos, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
