Museums to Visit in Thessaly, Greece
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Greece is filled with many gems, and it can be overwhelming to try to get it all in. If you visit Thessaly, you will be greeted by a place that is rich in history. Because of that, there are plenty of religious monuments, archaeological sites, and museums. Here are some of the museums you can explore when in Thessaly:
Museum of Worry Beads
Located in Pelion, Thessaly, the Museum of Worry Beads belongs to the museum of the same name in Nafplion. The museum can be found in the mountain village of Portaria, which is surrounded by beautiful greenery. There are charming cobblestone paths, old mansions, and lovely spring waters in Portaria as well. The Museum of Worry Beads is housed in a building that used to be the Old Portaria Bakery.
The Museum of Worry Beads showcases the incredible variety of worry beads, which are so important and connected to the Greek culture. Worry beads are also known as “komboloi.” During your visit to the museum, you will learn about worry beads and their history.
Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History and the Mushroom Museum of Meteora is a must-see when in Thessaly, Greece. The museum opened in 2014 at the center of Kalambaka. The aim of the museum is to present the natural history and importance of Meteora and different aspects of natural history around the world. At the Museum of Natural History, you will see a collection of birds that live throughout Greece and Europe. There are even some from different areas of the world. There is also a mammal collection and mushroom collection at the museum.
Greek School Museum
Located in the mountainous village of Zagora in eastern Pelion, the Greek School was one of the most important schools during the 18th century. The first school in Zagora was located in the Monastery of Savor Christ, but when the village became more developed, a larger school was needed. Famous Greeks including Rigas Ferreos and writer Antimos Gazis attended the Greek School.
Now a museum, also known as Ellinomouseio, meaning Greek Museum, showcases items that date from the 16th century to the 19th century. There is a section dedicated to Rigas Ferreos who died in 1798 and is considered the first victim of the Greek Revolution, which was declared in 1821. His exhibit includes maps and manuscripts.
Tsalapatas Rooftile and Brickworks Museum
Located in Volos, the Tsalapatas Rooftile and Brickworks Museum aims to offer a glimpse into the daily life at a factory in the 20th century. This type of factory played an important role in Volos during the time. The Tsalapatas Rooftile and Brick Factory was built during the 1920s and named for its co-founders, Nikolaos and Spyridon Tsalapatas. During the factory’s long life, it produced bricks of different sizes, French-style roof tiles (Marseille), and Greek-style roof tiles (Byzantine).
Visitors to the museum will see old production machines and tools, but all production stages of bricks and tiles. Children can view scale and animated models that explain how tiles and bricks are made and they can even enter the Hoffmann kiln, which burned 24 hours a day to fire roof tiles and bricks.
While in Thessaly, you’ll want to visit at least some of these museums. They showcase the rich culture and heritage of the area.
Categorized in: About Thessaly, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
