Museums

Art Space in Santorini sounds like a truly unique and captivating destination that seamlessly blends art, culture, and the island's winemaking tradition. The combination of an art gallery and a winery housed in a 19th-century cave-like structure in Ekso Gonia village adds an extra layer of charm and character to the experience. The longevity of Art Space, hosting exhibitions for over 20 years, attests to its significance as an art attraction on the island. The juxtaposition of generations-old wine tradition with modern art creates a distinctive atmosphere, making it a must-visit for those seeking a multi-sensory and immersive cultural experience. The diverse art forms, including ceramics, sculptures, and paintings inspired by Santorini's natural beauty, provide visitors with a rich and varied visual journey. The use of two wine cellars as exhibition spaces adds a unique dimension to the gallery, creating a harmonious blend of artistic expression and historical context. After exploring the artworks, the opportunity to sample local wine aged within the restored winery on the premises adds another layer of enjoyment to the visit. The tranquil courtyard offers a perfect setting to reflect on the art encountered, savor the local wine, and immerse oneself in the enchanting ambiance of Santorini. Art Space appears to be a true gem for art and wine enthusiasts, offering a memorable and immersive experience that celebrates the island's cultural heritage and natural beauty in a harmonious and captivating way. ...

Santorini has a long tradition in winemaking thanks to the rich volcanic soil making wine the most popular local product. Every visitor should try as many varieties as possible, from a rich Crescendo to an aromatic Rose to a dry Assyrtiko, and the perfect place to do so is a winery.  The island has several exemplary wineries that provide tours and insight into wine production. In all of the available wine tours the visitor walks around the vineyards themselves and is given a detailed history of how wine has been produced on the island since 1500BC. Above all, wine lovers indulge in a palatable experience with various wine varieties and delicious local delicacies. ...

One of the ultimate adventures you can experience in Santorini is to join a volcano tour. The famous volcano of Santorini is the greatest attraction of the island that has provided evidence of up to 12 large eruptions over the past 200,000 years, while there have been a number of smaller occurrences over the years with the most recent explosion occurring in 1950. The best way to explore the volcano and actually hike on it is through a Santorini Cruise that will actually take you to the volcano, as well as to the small island of Thirassia. The yacht-sailing boat trips also include swimming in the thermal waters of the volcano’s hot springs. Cruise options include: hike the volcano; swim in the hot springs (you can always stay on the boat if you wish); visit Thirassia and explore its villages; stop at Red Beach and White Beach to swim and snorkel; eat lunch or dinner on board and watch the sunset below Oia. ...

The Archaeological Museum The Historical and Cultural Archaeological Museum of Santorini was originally built in 1902, however, due to an earthquake in 1956 it was destroyed and then rebuilt in 1960 by the Ministry of Public Works. There are many outstanding archaeological finds from excavations on the island on display at the museum, such as sculptures & inscriptions from the Archaic to the Roman period and vases & clay figurines, dating from the Geometric to the Hellenistic periods.   The Museum of Prehistoric Thira The finds that are on display on the Prehistoric Museum of Thira come from excavations at Akrotiri and Potamos. These artefacts are dated back to the Neolithic and Cycladic Periods and are presented to a wall painting exhibition that is structured in four units. The 4 parts of the exhibition are: The history of research at Thira. The geology of Thira. The island’s history from the Late Neolithic to the Late Cycladic I Period (early 17th century BC). The heyday of the city at Akrotiri (mature Late Cycladic I period, 17th century BC) The exhibits include Neolithic, Early and Middle Cycladic pottery, Early Cycladic marble and metal artefacts and figurines, as well as fossils of plants that flourished before the human habitation of Thira and other archaeological objects. The Museum of Minerals and Fossils With its foundation in 2006, the Museum of Minerals and Fossils of the Cultural Society of Thira at Perissa attracted great attention due to its valuable display cases that include minerals and fossils from Thira, the rest of Greece and abroad and are connected to the evolution of life on this planet. From the exhibits, the ones that are most known are plant fossils from olive, gorse and palm trees that come from the Caldera of Santorini (dating back to 50,000-60,000 years from today). Worth mentioning is the fact that the museum’s oldest exhibit dates back 1.5 billion years from now and the most recent dates back 50,000 years. Megaro Gyzi Museum The Cultural Center ‘Megaro Gyzi’ was founded in 1980 in order to enhance the cultural background of the residents of Thira . The building of megaro Gyzi is one of the few 17th century family mansions that survived the 1956 earthquake and was restored and donated by the Catholic Diocese of Santorini to house the Cultural Center. The museum features collections of authentic engravings, old historical manuscripts,  paintings of Santorini, old photographs and others. It is worth noting that from the 1st to the 31st of August annually, a festival is organized by the Cultural Center ‘Megaro Gyzi’, including music concerts and painting exhibitions of well-known artists.   The Wine Museum Located at a natural cave and 6 meters below the ground, the Wine Museum was established in1880 from the Koutsogiannopoulos family and it presents the history and life of the wine from 1660 to 1970. You can tour through the winery, have a taste of their exquisite products and enjoy a film of the history of Santorini from 1500 BC till the present day and the evolution of wine production in Santorini.   Icons and Relics Collection The museum of the Icons & Relics Collection of Pyrgos can be found in Agia Triada, which was originally a Catholic church that belonged to a small convent. It contains a collection of priceless hagiographies, wooden sculptures, metal art works & other items for ecclesiastic use, while embroideries, canonicals, holy books and brassware items embellish the collection and most of the exhibits date back to the 17th and 18th century. It also hosts displays on shoemaking, printing, candle making, wine making and typical local food.     ...