2 Must-Visit Museums in Crete!

Crete is one of the hottest tourist destinations of our times simply because it captivates all holidaymakers with glistening bays and beaches, breathtaking landscapes, steep and rich gorges as well as delicious gastronomy. Besides all these features, what makes Crete stands out most of all is its rich cultural and historic heritage. Crete seems to have been dipped in history and boasts with remnants of archaic civilisations that passed through the island.

Today we present two fascinating museums depicting the island’s glorious past!

Maritime Museum of Crete explores the centuries-old relationship of the island with the sea starting from the Minoan period, to the Byzantine, Turkish, and Venetian as well as German periods. The museum’s collection is spread over two floors where visitors marvel at ancient models of ships, nautical equipment, photos, paintings as well as videos.

Archaeological Museum of Chania provides a fascinating journey through history. Chania inspires all its visitors with its glorious history which dates back to about 2200 BC, at the time the majestic Minoans first founded the ancient city kingdom of Kydonia. The amazing Gothic Church of San Francesco is home to the city’s Archaeological Museum. The building was built by the Venetians and was later used by the Turks as a mosque.

The museum exhibits artefacts that date back to Neolithic period and Roman era. Visitors marvel at Minoan ceramics, gold jewellery, burial urns as well as clay tablets. The most impressive of all are clay figurines depicting women with bird-like faces, Roman mosaic floors, votives depicting ceramic bulls as well as a marble-made bust of Hardian, a Roman Emperor.

Enjoy your exploration…it sure will be a historic one!