Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

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Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

SIGHTS

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is the museum in which the Minoan civilization is presented almost in its entirety. It is one of the largest and most valuable museums in Greece and one of the most important in Europe.

SIGHTS

Its exhibits include representative specimens from all periods of Cretan prehistory and history, spanning approximately 5,500 years, from the Neolithic to Roman times. Unique masterpieces of Minoan art occupy a dominant position in its collections. The collection of Minoan antiquities is the most important in the world and the museum is considered the museum par excellence of Minoan culture.

The first archaeological collection in Heraklion was created in 1883. In 1900 it was housed in two rooms in the courtyard of the metropolis of Agios Minas. With the start of major excavations in Crete, it included the first important findings, while at the same time it was granted to the Cretan State.

In 1904-1907, the first museum hall was built, while in 1908, after the addition of a second hall, the antiquities were moved there.

The current building was started in 1937 on the plans of Patroklos Karantinos.

In 1979, 35,000 Heraklionites protested against the export of antiquities from the Archaeological Museum as part of cultural exchanges. Finally the government backed down and the plans were not implemented.

From November 2006 to the beginning of 2014 the Museum remained closed to the public due to interior renovation work. A small temporary exhibition with the most important exhibits of the Museum could be seen in the special room that has been set up on the northern side of the Museum. Since March 2014 the renovated museum is now fully accessible and more impressive than ever