K. Mitsotakis at the new Archaeological Museum of Chania

In Chania, Crete, Greece, the new Archaeological Museum of Chania was presented tonight, a great cultural treasure, which is expected to give a new development dimension and perspective to the city. Located in the area of ​​Halepa, the second historic pole of Chania after the Venetian residential core, the new Museum that opens its doors to visitors tomorrow morning, through the exhibition narrative of its collections follows the long course in time that passes them prehistoric settlements and historical cities of Western Crete and highlights the continuous and uninterrupted presence and activity of people in this place, through the centuries.

“Today I am doubly excited, firstly because tomorrow the new Archaeological Museum opens its doors for the people of Chania but also for all the visitors of the city, which today I had the opportunity to visit for the first time. I want to congratulate from the bottom of my heart the services of the Ministry Of Culture, especially Mrs. Papadopoulou, for the great, rapid work they did to transfer from the old Archaeological Museum to this new state-of-the-art building the archaeological collection of Chania, a cultural reserve that goes back centuries and is a point of reference. Cretan culture, but also all the influences that he received over the centuries.As you would have the opportunity to see, we are dealing with a state-of-the-art bioclimatic building, which I believe will withstand the test of time and will significantly upgrade Chania as an autonomous cultural destination, as it deserves in our city “, noted the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who was guided together with his wife Mareva Grabovski – Mitsotaki to the new Museum, by the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni and the Head of the Antiquities Tax Office and Director of the Museum Eleni Papadopoulou.

The new Archaeological Museum of Chania exhibits a significant number of objects from the Collection of Konstantinos and Marika Mitsotaki, which date from the 4th millennium BC. until the 3rd century AD This is an extremely remarkable collection, donated to the Greek State by the Mitsotakis family and which the Prime Minister admired in the exhibition space together with his sister and MP from Chania, ND Bakogianni, who was also present at the tour. Thanks to the collectors, the exhibits of the Collection remained in their place of birth.

“The second reason why I am particularly excited – why should we hide it anyway – is the fact that the collection of Konstantinos and Marikas Mitsotakis, which was donated by my parents to the Greek state 22 years ago, found its place in this Museum. My father and mother always believed that this collection should be the property of the Greek people and with great enthusiasm they donated their entire collection to the then Archaeological Museum, which is now housed on the first floor, in a worthy place. And I think my parents would be very happy and very proud if they had the opportunity to see how this collection, which was a work of life for them, is on display, regardless of whether they were severely attacked at the time for it. Congratulations again and may our new Museum be lucky and caloric. As the Minister said, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow the entrance will be free. after all, the people of Chania to enjoy it, our young children, our schools to visit it, to learn more about the cultural wealth of the region of Chania. And of course I am sure that many visitors will now combine their visit to Chania with their presence here in this Museum, which of course has already been included in the team of Museums for which there is an electronic ticket, so the “Access to it will become easier and easier,” he said.

“We are very pleased to present to the citizens and visitors of Chania the New Archaeological Museum of the city. With great pleasure and honor we welcome the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the first visitor to the new Museum of his particular homeland. In very interesting, in terms of architecture , the building of the Museum, the treasures of its Collections are highlighted in a modern and exemplary way, many of which are unique, while others are exhibited for the first time. cultural reserve of the region and functions as a dynamic development resource for Megalonisos, with a contribution to the local and national economy “, pointed out the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni.

“With great joy and great emotion today we welcome here the Prime Minister, as the first visitor, to our new Museum which opens tomorrow. The new museum that with much love and care we have all prepared at the Ministry of Culture for a year and a half And I say a year and a half because it’s no longer the time our city has been left without a museum.It was September 13, 2020 when the old museum in St. Francis closed and today our new museum is ready.A modern building, equipped with “best storage systems for laboratories and exhibition spaces, which is really a lever of development and an ark of culture at the same time. We are very happy and we hope the people of Chania and visitors of Chania and all of Crete to love it as we love it,” he noted. the Head of the Antiquities Tax Office and Director of the Museum Eleni Papadopoulou.

The new Archaeological Museum of Chania

The new building of the Archaeological Museum of Chania in the area of ​​Halepa is designed by the architect Theofanis Bobotis and his collaborators and is characterized by the composition of two distinct linear monolithic volumes that emerge from the ground. It is a symbolic reference to the items of culture that are below its surface, but at the same time a bioclimatic option with the best possible adaptation of the building to the strongly sloping plot.

The total area of ​​the Museum is about 6,000 sq.m. in a property of approximately 12 acres. The new Archaeological Museum of Chania was implemented through the financing of mainly European programs but also national resources, which were carried out by the Services of the Ministry of Culture. The total cost of construction and completion of the Museum is estimated at about 15,000,000 euros, of which about 14,000,000 euros come from European programs.

The spaces of the permanent collections and the periodical exhibitions occupy an area of ​​2,000 sq.m.

In order to achieve the above goals, in addition to the supervisory and digital media, the creation of specific representations was chosen, which give important aspects of life in prehistoric and historical times. Also, two tactile tables were created inside the showroom for visually impaired visitors.

In the hall of the floor, a considerable number of objects of the Collection of Konstantinos, Marika and Kyriakos Mitsotakis are exhibited, which date from the 4th millennium BC. until the 3rd century AD

On the first floor of the Museum is the room of educational programs of 90 sq.m. On the same level, the amphitheater is designed for 120 seats, 3 of which for people with mobility problems. And this space with special wood paneling inside and outside follows strict standards in terms of acoustics and sound insulation, has a translation space and is fully equipped.

The four maintenance workshops, with an area of ​​500 sqm, are ground floor with natural light and fully organized. They are distinguished for their modern and perfect equipment that is constantly enriched, providing the appropriate conditions for the processing of the most demanding maintenance of objects.