Greece › Santorini › Museums › Museum of Prehistoric Thera
Updated: June 17, 2021
By Santorini Dave
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The Museum of Prehistoric Thera is located close to the main bus station in Fira and showcases an amazing collection of ancient Thera artifacts.
This interesting and well laid out museum gives a sense of Santorini’s rich history and ancient civilizations. It houses art and artifacts from the excavations of the ancient village of Akrotiri, a Cycladic Bronze Age settlement, as well as the ancient settlement of Potamos in southeast Crete. Akrotiri, on Santorini’s southwest tip, was destroyed in a 16th-century BC volcanic eruption that occurred after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the nearby island of Amorgos, and was buried in ash. The volcanic ash preserved what remained of the frescoes, many objects, and artwork.
The exhibition is laid out on one floor in four areas: Geological ancient Thera (Fira), Santorini’s history from the late Neolithic period (early 17th century), the peak of Akrotiri society in the 17th century, and aspects of Akrotiri society that include the colony’s emerging bureaucratic system, the organization of architecture and city planning as an urban center, the rich and diverse pottery repertoire, the influences of vase and wall painting, elegant jewelry worn by the citizens, and the city and islands’ complex network of contacts outside Akrotiri and the island.
It is located on the main road in Fira, 70m from Lucky’s Souvlaki, 80m from the main bus terminal, and about 120m from the main square in Fira.
Museum of Prehistoric Thera Hours and Information
- Season: Closed during the winter season (beginning of November to end of March). Also closed on Good Friday and Holy Spirit Day.
- Hours: April 1 to October 31 – Open daily 8:30am to 3:30pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
- Website: odysseus.culture.gr
- Location: Fira, Santorini 847 00
- Telephone: +30 228 602 3217
- Admission Fee: €6. Combined ticket at €15 per person includes single admission to the archaeological site of Akrotiri, archaeological site of Ancient Thera in Kamari, and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. Valid for 3 days.
- Free Entry: 6 March (in memory of Melina Mercouri) • 18 April (International Monuments Day) • 18 May (International Museums Day) • The last weekend of September (European Heritage Days) • National Holidays
- Parking: Multiple free parking lots less than 5 minutes away. One is right opposite the museum.
- Bus: The main bus station in Fira is just around the corner.
- Cable Car: 7-minute walk (600m) from the Fira cable car station.
Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The entrance of the Museum of Prehistoric Thera is across a public parking lot and close to the main bus station in Fira.
The museum has electronic turnstiles at the entrance.
A map of Santorini marked with the different time periods of the exhibits in the museum greets visitors on entry.
Exhibits include volcanic rock from thousands of years ago.
Clay and metal figurines.
Colorful vases.
Many of the artifacts have been painstakingly put back together.
There is even a scale model of the ancient city of Akrotiri.
Kitchen utensils.
Bronze dagger and bronze scales.
Clay and metal seals.
Wall paintings and murals.
Paintings.
Painted jugs and cups.
Wall painting.
Painted vases.
A parking lot is right across from the entrance.
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