Museums and Archaeological sites in Pelion Greece
There are several interesting museums and archaeological sites in and around the Pelion peninsula. These museums and sites are well worth visiting if you get the chance, and are a great way to better understand the history, traditions and past of this magestic region of Central Greece.
The Athanassakeion Archaeological Museum - Volos
The most important museum in the region is The Athanassakeion Archaeological Museum, which is located in the city of Volos. The museum dates from 1909, when it was built with financial aid from Alexis Athanassaki, who was from the village of Portaria. The neoclassical style of the building makes it instantly stand out amongst the other more modern buildings in Volos.
The Museum houses a wonderful selection of interesting artifacts and various objects of antiquity. Visitors to the museum will also see a wonderful collection of findings from the Paleolithic and Neolithic period in the region. These collections emphasize the historical importance of Magnesia and Thessaly in the early years of civilization.
Some
of the most important collections one can see in the museum include ...
A collection of Neolithic figurines, clay models and vases
Gold Jewellery
Coins from both Thessaly as well as other parts of the ancient Greek world
Some of the most interesting and important items on display in the museum
include ...
Neolithis figurines from Thessaly, dating from 6500 - 4500 B.C
Mycenaean model of a chariot, dating from the 13th Centure B.C
A representation of a tomb from the Protogeometric period, dating from 1050
- 900 B.C
A gold necklace from ancient Pelinneon, dating from the 3rd - 3nd Century
B.C
The museum is situated at 1 Athanasaki Street in Volos. The telephone number
for the museum is ( +30 ) 24210 25285. Opening hours for the museum are
Tuesday-Sunday: 08.30-15.00. The museum is closed on Mondays. Please contact
the museum on the above telephone number to confirm that opening times if
you are planning to visit, as they may be subject to change.
The Museum of Art Folklore - Makrinitsa Pelion
The Museum of Art Folklore is located in the stunning "Topali Mansion" that is located in the famous Pelion village of Makrinitsa. The mansion itself was built in 1844, and is a wonderful example of the architectural style of Pelion.
Inside the museum, you can see a wonderful selection of exhibits such as household objects, books, clothing, tools, flags and guns. The Topali Mansion was characterized as a "Work of Art and Historical Preserved Monument" in 1985.
The museum is open daily from 10.00am to 17.00pm, and is well worth visiting
should you find yourself in or close to the village of Makrintsa.
The Greek Museum ( Old school of "Rigas" ) - Zagora Pelion
Located in the beautiful village of Zagora is the old school of "Rigas" (1777), or the "Greek Museum" as it later became known. This is actually the oldest school in all of Pelion, and was the place of study for many famous Greeks.
Former students of the school included Rigas Ferreos (leader of the revolution
against the Turks), Anthimos Gazis, Grigoris Konstantas and Kallinikos Lapatis
(Patriarch of Konstatinopole). This Museum is a very popular choice for
an afternoon activity if you are in the region, and you can also pay a visit
to the nearby library of Zagora, which is home to a wonderful selection
of around 15,000 old manuscripts and books.
The Aggelinis Museum - Horto Pelion
The Aggelinis Museum is a small museum located in the charming hamlet of
Horto. The museum is a wonderful place to visit, and gives visitors the
chance to see some of the interesting objects on display, including old
traditional and precious objects, tools, relics and books.
The Old Library - Milies Pelion
Located in the beautiful village of Milies is an extremely important and interesting library. Visitors are more than welcome to pay a visit to the library where they can see a unique collection of old documents detailing the Greek Revolution. There are also a wonderful display of old books, maps and chemistry and physics instruments.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AROUND PELION
Visitors travelling to Pelion from south Greece and Athens will pass by a unique selection of archaeological sites on their way towards Volos and Pelion. These sites are of extreme historical importance, and offer a fantastic days activities, and are most definately worth visiting if you have the chance. There are several ancient archaeological sites around Volos and Pelion including those of Dimini, Sesklo and Thebes.
Dimini Archaeological Site
The site of Dimini, located approximately 15km from Volos, is a unique site that has provided the most complete picture of a Neolithic settlement. The site was initially known for the remains of a Neolithic settlement on top of a hill there. Pottery found at the site dated from the Late Neolithic period.
After many years of continuous work and excavations, a very important Mycenaean settlement was discovered, and was later identified as ancient Iolkos, the city of Jason. The excavation of the Mycenaean settlement began in 1980 by V.Adrymi-Sismani, and is still being carried out today.
Some of the highlights of this site include the well-organized Late Neolithic settlement, the Mycenaean tomb, attributed to the Kings of the Mycenaean settlement, and many other unique and interesting finds.
The Dimini Archaeological site is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday, but
is closed on Mondays. Please call ( +30 ) 24210 85690 for further information
if you are planning to visit the Dimini Archaeological site.
Fthiotides Thebes Archaeological Site - Anhialos
Excavations at the site of Fthiotides Thebes began in 1924 by G.Soteriou, and continued in 1956 by P.Lazarides. The excavations that were carried out have revealed a large number of important monuments and structures that date from the Late Roman to Early Christian years.
During the Early Christian perfiod, the name of the town of Anhialos was
actually called Fthiotic Thebes. This is why today, the modern town of Anhialos
is often reffered to as Nea Anhialos, meaning new.
Some of the highlights of the excavations of the Fthiotides Thebes site
include the basilica of Bishop Peter and the Martyrium Basilica both dating
from the 4th - 6th century.
Admission to the Fthiotides Thebes Archaeological site is free, and the
opening hours are from 08.30. Closing hours change according to the season.
For further information, please call ( +30 ) 24280 76468 or ( + 30 ) 24280
77057.
Sesklo Archaeological Site
The impressive Neolithic settlement of Sesklo was discovered at the end of the 19th century. Through years of continued excavations and research, it was established that the settlement was one of the main Neolithic settlements in all of Greece, as well as the rest of Europe.
The settlement developed on the hill of Kastraki, and was inhabited from the mid 7th century to the 4th millenium B.C. The settlement covered an area of at least 100,000 sq.meters during the Middle Neolithic period. Still visible today are the stone foundations of blocks of houses on the Kastraki hill.
Many unique and interesting findings were discovered at the site including pottery dating from the Middle Neolithic period. Stone tools were also discovered, giving an important insight into the way that these civilizations lived and worked.
The site is one of extreme interest, and all visitors to the region should try to pay a visit to the archaeological site. Opening hours for the archaeological site are from 08.00 but closing times vary over the seasons.
