The Municipality of Mykonos invests in Culture: The modernization of the Aegean Maritime Museum is complete, a project of cultural rebirth for the island and the Aegean.

The Municipality of Mykonos, with a strategic focus on strengthening the island’s cultural identity and highlighting the maritime history of the Aegean, played a decisive role in financing a landmark project concerning the modernization and comprehensive upgrade of the Aegean Maritime Museum’s operations.

The Museum, founded in 1985 and operating as a non-profit private legal entity, is one of the most important cultural institutions in the Aegean. Its mission is to preserve, study, and promote Greek maritime history and tradition, with particular emphasis on the merchant fleet and its activity throughout the wider Aegean region.

Funding was secured through the collaboration of stakeholders via a programmatic agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Mykonos, and the Aegean Maritime Museum, within the framework of the Operational Programme “Fisheries and Sea 2014–2020,” specifically under Priority 4 “Increasing Employment and Territorial Cohesion,” through a call issued by the Intermediate Body “Cyclades Development Company S.A. (Local Authorities).” The Municipality of Mykonos played a key role in preparing and maturing the project, providing substantial technical, administrative, and political support throughout the entire process.

The intervention included the renovation of the Museum’s infrastructure, respecting its traditional 19th-century Cycladic architectural character, as well as the upgrade of internal functionality, exhibition and preservation conditions, and the introduction of new technologies. Special emphasis was placed on the digitization of collections, the protection of valuable archival material, and the implementation of a virtual tour through the Museum’s new website: www.aegean-maritime-museum.com.

The strategy adopted incorporates the “phygital” approach—combining physical and digital environments—offering visitors an authentic yet immersive experience. The promotion of our maritime heritage is now accessible to anyone interested, from Mykonos to even the most remote corners of the world.

The Museum hosts one of the most significant maritime history collections in Greece, with exhibits covering the period from the pre-Minoan era to the early 20th century. These include navigational instruments, ship models, rare engravings, maps, coins, tools, and maritime documents of great historical value. Of particular importance is the maritime library, which includes approximately 5,000 rare editions, manuscripts, and photographic archives, and continues to grow.

In the Museum’s courtyard, marble replicas of funerary steles depicting shipwreck scenes and sailors lost at sea are on display, while the lighthouse “Armenistis” (built in 1890) stands prominently, restored and exhibited as a symbol of maritime memory.

The Aegean Maritime Museum was also the first museum in Greece to undertake and complete the preservation of living historical exhibits. These include the sailing vessel “Evangelistria” (a perama-type ship, built in 1940) and the steamship “Thalis o Milisios” (built in 1909), both of which are maintained in excellent condition and are currently hosted at the Naval Base of Palaio Faliro.

Honoring the island’s deep connection to seafaring, the Municipality of Mykonos demonstrated through the successful completion of this project that cultural heritage is not a static imprint of the past, but a dynamic pillar of identity and development. The modernization of the Aegean Maritime Museum constitutes a legacy for future generations, highlighting the island’s role as a hub of culture, history, and contemporary creativity.

For more information:
Department of Culture, Municipality of Mykonos

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