The Archeological Museum of Naxos houses works of art and objects of every day use dating from the Late Neolithic period to Early Christian times (5300 BC - 5th c. AD). These finds came to light in the excavations which have been continuing on the island since the Second World War.

Excavations over the last forty years have brought a large number of archaeological sites (Grotta, Aplomata, Pithos in Chora, Melanes, Sangri, Iria, Tsikalario in central Naxos, Panormos, Korphi t'Aroniou in east Naxos), and also the many finds that are now housed in the Naxos Museum.




The Archaeological Museum building, which has been declared a historical monument, was built in the period from 1600 to 1800, and is an impressive example of the architecture that developed on Naxos at the time of the island's prosperity during Frankish period. It is a five-storey structure and was built on the course of the Frankish fortification wall, incorporating two of the towers. It was designed to house a school of Jesuits, founded in the 17th c., and ultimately, in the late 19th c. - early 20th c., housed the famous commercial school, one of the pupils at which was Nikos Kazantzakis. It was later made over to the Archaeological Service and has been used to house the Museum since 1973.

The archaeological collections of the Naxos Museum include some important finds, especially from the Early Cycladic periods (3200 to 2300 BC), though also from the earlier historical phases; many of these finds are unique.
The collections of Early Cycladic marble figurines is second to only to that of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, and there are also some very fine collections of vases dating from the Mycenaean (late 2nd millennium BC) and Geometric periods (9th - 8th c. BC).


Archeological Museum of Naxos
Naxos Chora

Telephone: (+30) 22850 22725


Summer Opening Hours:

Opening Hours for Archaeological Sites, Museums and Monuments
until 31 October 2003

Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Sunday: 08.30-15.00

Holidays: Holy Spirit Day, 15 August, 28 October: 08.30-15.00


Tickets:

Full admission: € 3
Reduced admission € 2