Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon

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The collecting of the museum exhibits began in 1888, on the initiative of the Greek Educational Association of Rethymnon. Until 1990 the museum was accommodated in the Loggia. In 1991 it was moved into a pentagonal building that can be seen in front of the Fortezza main gate.

The exhibits originate from various locations in the Prefecture of Rethymnon and cover the prehistoric period, as well as the historic era.

The Neolithic (3500-2900 BC) and the Early Minoan (2800-2100 BC) finds discovered in the Melidoni cave mainly consist of pottery and sculpture.

Finds discovered in the Minoan villas at Apodoulou and Monastiraki, as well as in the peak sanctuary at Vrisinascan be seen in the section of the museum that is dedicated to the Middle Minoan era (2100-1600 BC). The numerous seals and a clay model of an altar of which only the top part is preserved, are very interesting.

Visitors also have the opportunity to see exhibits from the Late Minoan period (1600-1100 BC), the Geometrical era (1000-700 BC), the Archaic years (700-500 BC) and the Classical period (500-300BC).The exhibits from the Hellenistic era and the Roman years are also worth seeing, especially a marble statue of Aphrodite, which is a Roman copy of the famous Hellenistic statue known as Aphrodite of Milos.

The museum also proudly displays a large collection of coins from various periods, which is quite remarkable.

Characteristics

Type of Museum

Museum

Topics

Archaeological

Address

Ναός Αγίου Φραγκίσκου Αγίου Φραγκίσκου 4, Τ.Κ. 74131, Ρέθυμνο

Phone

28310 27506

Relevant Routes and Trails

Opening hours

November 1st – March 31st 
Monday – Sunday: 08:30 – 15:30

April 1st – October 31st
Monday – Sunday: 09:00 – 17:00

Tuesday: Closed

Environmental Indicators

CHOOSE DESTINATION

Accessibility

For the Rural Greece accessibility is fundamental to enhancing an inclusive tourism experience. Following the principles of inclusion and equality, the epaithros Rural Tourism Network and its member businesses are constantly working to enhance the tourism services provided, ensuring that all visitors have the opportunity to experience the authentic beauty of the Greek countryside.

Sustainability

Sustainability in tourism refers to a way of developing tourism that respects and protects the environment while strengthening the local economy and preserving cultural traditions. The aim of sustainable tourism is to provide unique and authentic experiences for visitors without harming the natural and social environment, while ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism activity.

This type of tourism is based on three pillars:

  1. Environmental sustainability: preserving the natural landscape and ecosystems, with actions to reduce pollution, energy consumption and waste.
  2. Economic sustainability: supporting local economies, strengthening small businesses and creating jobs, while respecting the region's natural resources.
  3. Social sustainability: respecting local culture and traditions, strengthening social cohesion and ensuring that tourism activities benefit the quality of life of local people.

With sustainable tourism, visitors can have authentic experiences, knowing that the impact of tourism on the region is positive and lasting for future generations.

Locality

For Rural Greece, localism is one of the most important factors for the development of sustainable tourism, as it promotes a strong link between the tourism product and the local society, economy and culture. Through localism, visitors get the opportunity to explore authentic elements of the destination, such as local products, traditions and culture. This not only boosts the local economy, but also helps to sustain and strengthen local businesses, creating new jobs and supporting the development of local communities.

Furthermore, localism contributes to the sustainability of the tourism sector, as it reduces the use of resources from other regions and encourages the use of local goods and services, reducing the ecological footprint of tourism activities. Thus, integrating localism into tourism practices enhances sustainability awareness, both among visitors and local businesses, creating a more responsible and sustainable tourism destination.