Most popular Museums to visit in Halkidiki Region

Archaeological Museum of Polygyros - Tel: +30 23710 22148

Located in the Heroes Square in the city center it displays representative archaeological findings from all of Halkidiki. The exhibits cover a time span ranging from the Bronze Age to the Roman period and originate from ancient Stagira, Toroni, Pyrgadikia, Afitos, the ancient city of Olynthos and elsewhere. Among the most important exhibits are included an unfinished Kouros of the Archaic period, a marble head of Dionysus from Ancient Afytos, a column of a black figure from Vrasta (late 6th century BC) and findings from the city and the cemetery of ancient Olynthos. 

The new building of the Museum, which took place in October 2016, includes 582 square meters of exhibition space, a periodical showroom, a training room, a workshop for maintenance offices and offices, a storage area and a refreshment room. The re-exhibition of archaeological material will be the work of the NSRF 2014-2020. Until the start of the re-exhibition, the Archaeological Museum of Polygyros will host periodic exhibitions and other high-profile, interest and aesthetic activities.

Archaeological Museum of Olynthos - Tel: +30 23730 91000

It is located in the archaeological site of ancient Olynthos. It features only audiovisual material, which is intended to give visitors a complete picture of ancient Olynthos, starting with the history of the city and continuing with a description of the excavation and restoration. The findings of the excavations are displayed in museums of Thessaloniki and Polygyros.

Photographic material and short texts describe the urban design of the city as well as the shape of a typical private home, local organization (food preparation, food storage, knitting) and the economic life of the city (stonework, waxing, agricultural activities, entertainment , symposia). Information is also provided on the course of the excavation work, from Robinson’s time in 1928 to the last works carried out in 1990 and 1992.

Anthropological Museum of Petralona - Tel: +30 23730 71671

It is located ​​next to the cave, at a distance of 2 kms from the village of Petralona. It features important discoveries, such as copies of the mausoleum of the European Archanthropus of Petralona, the oldest traces of fire ever discovered, the first stone and bone tools (11 million years old) and findings from open spaces before the time of the caves. The museum also has a conference room, geological and paleontological conservation laboratories and a library.

The Museum is a traditional two-storey building ~ 1000m2, built with a tile roof, while on its north stone wall is represented the map of Cave along with the tourist route inside it – designed by Panos Polydropopoulos. On the ground floor are the warehouses of the finds, the maintenance and recording workshops, as well as in the separate room the library of the Museum. The upper floor, in addition to the Exhibition Hall, there is also a spacious decorated Anteroom, the Lecture Room (above the library) and the Office of the Directorate.

The Antelope is located in the center of the 2nd floor and features two statues of Armanthrone, one of the artefacts (Buthieraxpouliani – according to MiklosCretsi), five large frescoes, and a countertop with the visitor’s book and a showcase with the publications of SA .and the Anthropological Museum.

Christian exhibition in Ouranoupolis - Tel: +30 23770 71389

The exhibition is housed in an old building near the tower of Ouranoupolis and at the embarkation point for Mount Athos. The aim of the exhibition is to show visitors that Halkidiki has several important treasures of the Christian era, in addition to the countless treasures that belong to the monasteries of Mount Athos. The exhibits (icons, fragments of wall paintings, crosses and other items) dated to the Early Christian, Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods and originate from all over Halkidiki.

On the first floor there are 14 portable icons (11 major and 3 smaller) of the 18th and early 20th century, from monasteries, churches and chapels of Halkidiki. Particular attention is paid to the icon of Panagia and Christ enthroned, which dates back to 1728. Also noteworthy are the folk-type frescoes detached from the sanctuary and prosthetic arches of the Chapel of St. Trinity, belonging to the Monastery of Ag. Anastasia (16th-17th centuries). Visitors can also admire a bronze cross of the 11th-12th century, a small bone blade of Christ of the 10th -11th century, and a service calendar for the September immovable that were created in 1806 and rescued in the area of ​​the open Cassandra prison.

On the second floor there are Christian finds from excavations made in Halkidiki: enamel pottery, uncoloured pottery, lamps, bronze coins, jewels, seals and arrow heads from Potidea, Toroni, Palaiokastro, Agios Mamas, New Sulla ), Galatista (the tomb of AgiaParaskevi), and the cemeteries of Ierissos. Other exhibits include the Corinthian and Ionian capitals and a perforated plate from the Early Christian Basilles of Sofronio and Ag. Georgiou in Nikiti.

Historical and Folklore Museum of Arnaia - Tel: +30 23723 50100

It is housed in the Iatrou mansion one of the most beautiful buildings in Halkidiki, near the central square of Arnea. Benefactors were the local residents who offered valuable and rare items of everyday life and family heirlooms. The museum exhibits farming tools, beekeeping items and carpentry, tools of bread and coffee preparation, weaving equipment, rich photography material, the first radio of the village from 1941, as well as a fire pump 200 years old.

The need to establish and operate a Historical and Folklore Museum in Arnea in order to save and to disseminate its cultural wealth met with the warm and immediate reception of the local community. This reaction manifested itself rapidly by offering objects of folklore tradition from already existing collections, but also in isolation.

Great emphasis has also been placed on the photographic material from the village life in the past, which adorns every corner of the museum. In the tallest room of the mansion there is also an old-fashioned room with all the furniture and the objects that existed in such rooms in the traditional houses of Arnaia. Finally there is the possibility of showing films about the history of the place and the venue of educational programs.

Folklore Museum of Afytos - Tel: +30 23740 91239/91511

It is housed in a traditional building in the center of the village and was founded in 1980 with the initiative of N. Paralis and the local Folklore Association. The folklore collection includes utensils, agricultural tools and pottery, as well as pottery items, an art which has a long tradition in the village. Occasionally it hosts various artists exhibitions.

It is a remarkable example of urban architecture and expresses the provincial neoclassicism prevailing in Macedonia in the early 19th century. Today it is used as a place of culture. On the ground floor there is a lending library and an exhibition space hosting exhibitions of the village associations as well as various artists. In the basement there is a collection of agricultural tools while on the floor is a traditional house of Afytos. All the exhibits of the museum (furniture, woven, kitchen utensils, and tools) are courtesy sponsor of the village residents.

Museum of the Ouranoupolis Tower - Tel: +30 23770 71651

At the famous Prosforiou Ouranoupolis Tower are displayed many findings from Athos and other areas of Halkidiki. Important exhibits are bronze helmets of the 6th BC century, ancient coins, wall paintings of the 17th century, a brocade epitaph from Ormylia, etc.

Museum of fishing vessels and tools in Moudania - Tel: +30 23730 26166

The longstanding relationship of man with the sea and fishing unfolds in the very interesting exhibition of this museum: ancient anchors, hooves, nets, balots, representations of fishing techniques, pedestrians and much more. In the museum you can find old and modern fishing techniques, fishing gear, navigation tools, miniatures of fishing vessels and the great magic of the underwater world which is displayed in a specially designed room with the help of audiovisual media. A special exhibit of the museum is the bougiantes, a traditional fishing craft that was used at the Marmara Sea and in our country became known when the refugees settled here. Moreover, many fishing items are exhibited brought by the refugees from their fatherland.

However, the tour of the exhibition does not end here: the visitor’s fishing route continues through the magical world of the seabed and its acquaintance with submarine states and marine organisms. Photographic material, movies, animations, marine organisms and the imposing presence of a pastor’s outfit depict the wealth of the sea. You can also see the excellent shellfish collection of the Moudania Navy Club. Outside of the exhibition area there is training and multipurpose room, as well as a library – reading room.

Forest Museum of Taxiarchis - Tel: +30 23710 94295

Founded by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, it aims to offer visitors the specialized knowledge, experience and entertainment. The museum occupies an area of ​​200 sq.m. and in its windows are representations of the habitat of the wild boar, wolf, fox, snakes and other animals and birds of the forest, and in special display cases is cited a collection of the predominant plants of the region. In a separate room was built a projection and entertainment room with computers and applications that inform visitors about the flora and fauna of the region.

Inside the hall, special showcases have been constructed to show almost all the fauna and flora of the region, the timelessness of forestry and the various courses of specialization in forestry science. Also in a special room there is a multiroom theater with special content projections and PC applications to inform all visitors. The Museum is addressed to all ages, but much more to schoolchildren, since beyond the scope of entertainment, it also has environmental education.

Historical and Folkloric Museum of Nikiti - Tel: +30 2375023615

The Historical and Folkloric Museum of Nikiti is housed in the stone school of the old settlement. The school was built in 1870 and is a historic listed monument. The restoration and conversion of the school into a museum was based on special studies (museological-museographic and special architectural study), on-site and bibliographic research and study of collections. The folklore collection includes about 1500 objects, donations by the inhabitants of Nikiti to the Nikitian philologist Dimitrios Dimaras during the last 20 years. For the creation of the permanent exhibition, the collection was enriched with new donations and historical evidence.

More than 500 objects in organic relation with archival material, modern photographic imagery, oral testimonies and cinematic narrative become the means to reveal a variety of stories about the settlement and life of the people of Nikiti.

Folklore Museum of Polygyros - Tel: +30 23710 22619 (Municipality)

The Polygyros Folklore Museum started its operation in 1998. It is housed in the Karaganis house in the city center, and includes traditional costumes, agricultural tools and representation of an urban house of the early twentieth century. All the exhibits are donations of residents and citizens of Polygyros.

On the first floor the visitor has the opportunity to see the interior of a 19th century town house with reception rooms (lounge with sofas and low round tables, dining room, etc.), bedrooms (with metal beds, wardrobes and bedding), living room, kitchen all cooking appliances, cauldrons, pan, fireplace). In a separate room is the traditional loom. Authentic uniforms from the broader area of ​​Polygyros are exhibited at various corners of the house, while Karagani’s mayor’s office was recently formed. The museum operates with the care and love of the members of the Voluntary Women’s Group Polygyros.

Folklore Museum of Bithynia - Tel: +30 23730 21368

The House exhibits household utensils, agricultural tools, costumes, photographs, etc. from Bithynia of Asia Minor, the birthplace of refugees in the region.