1. Archaeological Museum
The museum is in Fira. Its collections include sculptures and inscriptions ranging from the Archaic to the Roman period, as well as pottery artifacts and clay figurines from the Geometric up to the Hellenistic period. The most important exhibits are the Theraic jar with the geometric patterns dated from the early 7th century BC; the large volcanic rock (trachyte) weighing 480 kilos; and many findings from the excavations at the cemetery of ancient Thera, such as jars and pottery, as well as kouros statues.

Standing at the centre of Fira, the Archaeological museum reveals the island’s long history. The current building near the cable car terminal, was constructed in 1960 to replace the one that had collapsed during the earthquake of 1956.

   INFO: Tel.: (+30) 22860 22217 -  Open daily, 8:00 - 15:00,  except Monday.

 2. Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira is considered as one of the most important museums in Greece. Its special contents are masterpieces of art in the prehistoric Aegean, such as the famous wall paintings and the unique gold ibex figurine.

The museum houses finds from the excavation site, at Akrtotiri, conducted under the auspices of the Archaeological Society at Athens. Excavations at various other sites on the island, are carried out by the 21st Ephorate of Antiquities. The exhibitions purpose is to to sketch the course of Santorini (Thira) in prehistoric times, through selected finds from the thousands in the storerooms. This was a dynamic and creative course which established the city at Akrotiri as one of the most important Aegean centres during the 18th and 17th centuries B.C.

 INFO: Tel.: (+30) 22860 23217  -  Open daily, 8:00 - 15:00,  except Monday.

3. Thera Foundation P. Nomikos
The Thera Foundation is a non-profit organization that was created in 1969, by Mr. Peter M. Nomikos. Since 2005 Peter C. Nomikos Jr. has taken an increasing leadership position through a variety of new initiatives. 

4. P. Nomikos Conference Centre
The Petros M. Nomikos Conference Centre was inaugurated in 1989 and it is dedicated to realizing and promoting social, cultural and scientific events to support the island of Santorini and the excavations of Akrotiri. Located in the capital and overlooking the Caldera and the volcano, the Conference Center is at a wonderful location. The main hall of the Conference Center has a capacity up to 220 people in theatre style. Many conferences are held each year. The busiest dates are from April to October. 

5. Thera Wallpainting Exhibition & Santozeum
The discovery of the wall-paintings of Akrotiri in the excavations (1967-1974) of Professor Spyridon Marinatos is of outstanding importance. Of all the finds unearthed in the excavations there can be little doubt that the wall-paintings constitute the most significant contribution to our knowledge of Aegean art and society. The Thera Foundation hopes that by making the wall-paintings of Akrotiri widely available for study and enjoyment it is making a significant contribution to the understanding of early Aegean culture. Since 2011 the exhibition is hosted at Santozeum.

The collection of the Akrotiri Wall Paintings was developed in conjunction with The Thera Foundation, The Getty and Kodak Pathé. Excavated in Akrotiri between 1967-1974, the wall paintings provide outstanding insight into the ancestry of Santorini, and situate the ancient society as highly developed in the early Aegean world. Found on the walls of ancient Theran elite homes, they render ancient life, belief and historical events. Contemporary viewers can enjoy their artistic merits exhibited on the walls of this private house, in a sense as they were intended to be viewed as interior embellishments in antiquity.

The Santozeum is an artist run, interdisciplinary creative platform that fosters dialogue between the arts, humanities and sciences in both the local and international community. It aims to create a dynamic environment for young and emerging artists, providing a residency program in the arts, while connecting a global network of pioneers and professionals to Santorini. Founded in fall 2010, the Santozeum is a creative salon housed within a 1950s construction, fully renovated. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the caldera, its patios merge public and private spaces, while winding gardens and stunning vistas provide respite from the summer crowds.

   INFO: Tel.: (+30)  210 7241516  -  Tel.: +30 6939 763399  Santozeum 

6. Megaro Gyzi
Τhe Cultural Centre Megaro Gyzi in Fira, was founded in 1980 with the initiative and financial funding of the Catholic Diocese of Santorini. It is housed in Megaro Gyzi in Fira, to a 17th century old family mansion of exceptional architectural interest, which survived the earthquake of 1956.

   i) The Mansion
The Manor΄s front entrance decorates the Gyzi family crest. From the Gyzi Manor after the 1956 earthquakes only the basement remained, where the utility room of the old estate was. It is a unique building of its era in Santorini, since the ground floors develop around a patio, which attributes a distinctive architecture due to the inner open area created; this is partly covered with an elegant cross-shaped dome and partly uncovered. With the support and contribution from the Catholic Diocese of Santorini it has been carefully restored in a way that it retains much of its original character in an effort to preserve those distinct features of the local architectural heritage. The building was modified minimally to meet the functional demands of a Cultural Centre accommodating exhibition space and facilities for cultural events.

   ii) The collections
The Megaro Gyzi Museum is situated in the Halls of the Cultural Centre, where six Permanent Collections are exhibited. Collection of authentic engravings, of old historical manuscripts, of paintings of Santorini, of paintings donated by Pinto΄s couple, of old photographs of scenic Santorini and Santorini΄s strata.

    iii(  Cultural events
From 1981 to 2006 the Cultural Centre Megaro Gyzi has been organizing cultural events, while from 2007 and onwards organizes annually during August (1-23/8) the Megaro Gyzi Festival, a festival of various cultural events including music concerts, art and painting exhibitions, theatrical performances etc. All visitors, foreign and Greek, enjoy these events at no charge, since there is a free general admission policy.

 INFO: Tel.: (+30) 22860 23077  /  Open: May - October, Monday - Saturday: 10:00 – 16:00, Sunday closed.

 Megaro Gyzi is situated across the Catholic Cathedral.

 There is also a shop where you will find the publications of Megaro Gyzi Museum, replicas of the exhibits and many more.

13. Pyrgos Ecclesiastical Collection
Aghia Triada, in the castle of Pyrgos, was the catholic of a small convent and was devastated by an earthquake in 1956. Under an initiative by the late Liza Patiniotou-Marinou, President of the Association of Pyrgos Residents in Thera, and the locals, the church was rebuilt. The site remained closed until 1997. From 1995 to 1998, the Community of Pyrgos-Kallisti collected and preserved the relics. With the cooperation of the Second Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities and the support of the Holy Metropolis of Thera, they inaugurated the site in August 1997. Since then, it is open as a permanent exhibition of holy images and ecclesiastical relics.

The exhibition
It includes icons from local and Cretan icon painters, wood-carvings and metal-works, ceramics, ecclesiastical embroideries, vestments, liturgical books and other objects of ecclesiastical use, dating mainly from the 17th-18th century. Among these objects, one can find the tissued sleeve garters with representations from the Presentation of the Virgin Mary and the Hypapante, as well as “podea”, an embroidery placed below the icon of the Virgin Mary. 

     The collection’s icons
The first icon of the collection is Panagia Vrefokratousa (Virgin and Child), the second one is the composition Theia Leitourgia (Mass) and then, the visitor can see the icons of Aghios Ioannis, Aghios Georgios, Koimisi this Theotokou (Assumption of the Virgin Mary), dating back to the 17th century, Christ as the Great High Priest, coming from the church of Panagia, and Aghios Iakovos, a Byzantine icon from the namesake church. Also, there are despotic icons from the chapel of Faneromeni, with the Enthroned Virgin and Child and the tunic of Christ. From the old church of Faneromeni comes the icon of Aghia Ekaterini.

   Other exhibits
The Cross with the trilobed ends of the antennas and the “icons of mourning” with Virgin Mary and John are excellent examples of wood carvings. The three tabernacles and the epitaphios complete the collection of woodcuts dating back to the 18th and the 19th centuries.

 INFO: Tel.: (+30) 22860 31812  /  Open: April to October

14. “Santorini of the past”
It was in Pyrgos, Kaliistis in a traditional building complex of an old kanava built in 1895 that the present day owner, Giannis (John) Drosos-Chrysos, born and bred in Santorini and lover of his island, was inspired to create a place which would give the visitor the opportunity to enjoy a museum-like collection of artifacts and photographs. This collection would reflect the bygone traditional way of life of the island as well as the economic activities of the inhabitants of the time. The visitor will begin with the wine-making process, continue with tomato and fava processing, the mansion and the farmhouse, the limnaris, the pocharis, the musicians, the barrel-maker, the tinker, the photographs and end with the original family kanava.

 INFO: Tel.: (+30) 22860 31101