Enjoy the Folklore Museum on Mykonos
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Once you set foot on Mykonos, it is easy to feel transported. Between the whitewashed buildings and the turquoise blue waters, the island is simply mesmerizing. While many people come here in order to enjoy the beaches, parties, and nightlife, there is another side to it. Sites such as the Folklore Museum offer a great way for visitors to learn about the culture on the island and it is definitely worth a visit. Here’s more information:
Getting to the Folklore Museum
The Folklore Museum is located next to the Paraportiani Orthodox Church in the neighborhood of Kastro in Chora, which is the main town on the island. To get there, you can easily rent a car, take a taxi, or even take public transportation. It all depends on where you originate. If you’re staying in Chora you can easily walk to the museum. To get to Mykonos, consider taking a flight into the regional airport or a ferry from one of the main ports in Greece.
About the Folklore Museum
The Folklore Museum opened in 1958 and was founded by Professor Vasilios Kyriazopoulos. It focuses on artifacts, such as local cultural items such as pottery, preserved canons, photos and architectural details, that have all come from the 1800’s. The collection here is representative of the culture before modernization of the island occurred.
It’s housed in an old sea captain’s house and is a testament to life on Mykonos in the 19th century. Visitors can ask questions of the attendants and explore this out of the box museum. It isn’t a traditional behind-the-glass format, and you can get up close to many of the artifacts as you explore.
The exhibits are arranged in a free form with exhibits crowded together offering visual interest in 360 degrees. Visitors are treated to the classic, white building styles the island is known for and can spend hours discovering all the little details of the museum.
What to Do at the Folklore Museum
The main thing to do while at the museum is the museum is actually three museums in one. The agricultural museum showcases tools and other agrarian artifacts from the 19th century. It’s also a house that showcases what it was like to live in a middle-class home during that part of the century.
The museum’s collection focuses on items that the professor believed would be interesting to people at a later time. His prediction turned out to be true because those who come here are interested in experiencing the early folk culture of the island.
Many displays are also translated into English and offer a unique insight into what everyday life was like. The museum is open every afternoon and organizes educational seminars on a variety of topics. Admission is free and they cover their operating costs through donations.
While on the island of Mykonos, it is a good idea to visit the Folklore Museum to get a feel for the culture of the island.
Categorized in: About Mykonos, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
