Description of the attraction
In 1953, the Historical Museum of Crete was founded by the Cretan Society for Historical Research. The museum is located in a neoclassical building, which was built in 1903 and belonged to the Kalokerinos family. In 1952, Andreas Kalokerinos donated the building to the Society for Historical Research to create a museum.
The exposition presented in the museum covers a large period of time, from the early Christian times of Crete to the present day. The main goal of the founders of the museum was to collect and preserve valuable archaeological, ethnographic and historical material. The collection of the museum was gradually enriched, and the museum itself expanded (a new wing in a modern style was added to the main building). The museum is engaged in research and publishing activities, holds temporary exhibitions and various educational programs.
The tour of the museum begins with the hall of A. Kalokerinos, which presents an overview exhibition of the history of Crete. The main exhibit of this hall is a model of the city of Heraklion in the middle of the 17th century (the peak of the popularity of Venetian power) measuring 4x4 meters. Further, the museum's extensive collections are presented in chronological order and by subject. The museum's exposition includes ceramics, sculptures, decorations, murals, prints, portable icons, manuscripts, ritual objects, weapons and much more. Separately, it is worth highlighting the rich numismatic collection, which presents coins, banknotes, medals, stamps and archival documents reflecting all stages of the Cretan economic history from the early Christian period to the 20th century.
The pearls of the museum's collection are two paintings by the famous artist El Greco "View of Mount Sinai and the Monastery of St. Catherine" (1570) and "Baptism of Christ (1567). These are the only works of the artist exhibited in Crete.
Of particular interest is the exposition dedicated to the life and work of the famous Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, which includes personal belongings, manuscripts and the first editions of his works in different languages of the world. The modern history of Crete is also well covered, with special emphasis on the revolutionary events of the 19th century and the Second World War. The ethnographic collection of the museum will acquaint visitors with the life and traditions of the inhabitants of Crete. This section presents the reconstructed interior of a rural house.
The library of the Historical Museum contains rare publications, periodicals, the archive of the local newspaper, a rich collection of historical archives and photographic materials. The library is aimed at both the general public and researchers.
