Archaeological Museum of Mesara — Attraction in Municipality of Gortys

When we visited the Archaeological Museum of Mesara in May 2024, it was still brand new and had only been open for a year. And while the museum is prominently located along a main road 7 km east of the town of Mires, we almost missed it. The museum is a bit lost and uninviting in the landscape and it looks more like a modern data center than an archaeological museum of any importance. But it is about the content and not about the packaging. The museum has a beautiful collection and a good and accessible presentation. I can well imagine that this museum is an important asset to the relatively neglected south of Crete. The sites of the archaeological finds are close by and can partly be visited. And now finally here is the appropriate museum that exhibits these artefacts more or less on site. Congratulations! I hope that many art-loving visitors will come and see it. We were just unlucky that the museum had only just opened. We were told that it was strictly forbidden to take pictures because the collection was not yet documented. There were always hall guards with us who made sure that we did not take pictures. You can't tell me that you first open a museum and only then start documenting your collection! In any case, I thought it was a shame and very stupid of the museum. Photography is nowadays a form of free advertising. And this museum still needs a lot of advertising before it has the number of visitors it deserves. When we visited, only 2 other tourists walked in. I hope that taking pictures is now allowed and that the number of visitors increases...

I visited the Archaeological Museum of Mesara in February and had a fantastic experience. The museum was very quiet, allowing me to take my time and fully appreciate the exhibits. The museum is modern, beautifully designed, and thoughtfully curated, making it easy to navigate and enjoy.

The museum’s permanent exhibition, “In the midst of mountains: Human presence in Messara’s plain from prehistoric to Christian times,” offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history. The collection includes ceramics, sculptures, statuettes, seals, jewelry, currency, and ancient writings, all presented with descriptions in both Greek and English. Great insights into the artifacts and their historical context. 

My personal favorites were the large statues, which are truly stunning to see up close. The museum’s thoughtful layout and modern design make it a pleasure to explore. If you’re interested in Crete’s rich past, this museum is definitely...

This is a fabulous museum and should certainly be on all itineraries for those interested in the archaeology and history of Crete. PLEASE do not be put off by the barrier across the entrance. It looked very closed (and deserted) but WAS open! Consequently we were the only visitors for the two or so hours we spent there. The displays are great and include state of the art interactive screens plus a museum app which guides you on a tour of the museum and displays putting them in context. The staff were helpful and friendly. The museum sadly (and dare I say, unnecessarily) have a policy of no photography which involved two members of staff following closely behind us every step of the way. Presumably to police our potential illicit straying from policy. Although slightly annoying this should not deter you from visiting. The collection brings to light the decorative aspects of the nearby palaces and historic sites. A...