Heraklion Archaeological Museum

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest and most important museums in Greece, and among the most famous museums in Europe. t houses representative artifacts from all periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times. Located in the town center, it was designed by the architect Patroklos Karantinos and was built between 1935 and 195 on a site previously occupied by the Venetian monastery of Saint-Francis which was destroyed by earthquake in 1856. The ruins of the monastery are visible in the museum's garden. The museum building is an important example of the Greek modernist style of architecture. The colors and building materials used, along with the multi-colored veined marble, are reminiscent of the painted marble revetments of the Minoan palaces. The two-story building includes exhibition rooms, an AV media room and laboratories. The museum also has a vestibule, a gift shop leased from the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Department, and a cafeteria on the garden. Along with the permanent exhibition, the museum organizes temporary exhibitions in Greece and abroad, creates and implements educational programs, collaborates with scientific and scholarly institutions, and houses a variety of cultural events.