Archaeological Museum of Pylos

About the museum

The Archaeological Museum of Pylos opened in 1961 in the so-called Antonopoulos Building in the centre of Pylos, thanks to a donation from the Greek expatriate dentist Christos Antonopoulos. Since August 2018 it has been housed in the renovated Maizon Building inside the Niokastro, the fortress of newer Pylos.

The Maizon Building was built by the French expeditionary corps of the Morea under General Maizon, when the French took over the fortress in autumn 1828. The permanent exhibition, titled “On the Traces of Pylos…”, invites visitors to discover the archaeological history of Pylia from prehistory to Roman times, through finds from systematically excavated sites in the area.

The Niokastro was built by the Ottomans in 1573, after their defeat in the naval battle of Nafpaktos (Lepanto). It has a hexagonal shape and low, thick walls, which reflect the introduction of firearms into warfare. The same ticket applies to the museum, the fortress and the exhibitions within it, such as the Pasha’s Building and the Makrygiannis Bastion.

Ottoman rule over the castle lasted until the Greek War of Independence, with two brief interruptions: in 1686 it was taken by the Venetians under Morosini, and in 1770 by the Russians, with the Orlov brothers. On 8 October 1827 the Niokastro offered an unobstructed view of the naval battle of Navarino, where the three Great Powers, Britain, France and Russia, destroyed the fleet of Ibrahim Pasha. Inside the fortress, large rusted anchors and a cannon with cannonballs survive, while the restored Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour stands out, a former mosque with an octagonal dome.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “On the Traces of Pylos…”
• Finds from Pylia from prehistory to the Roman period
• Museum in the Maizon Building of the Niokastro
• One ticket for the museum, the fortress and its exhibitions
• The restored Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, a former mosque with an octagonal dome
• View of the Bay of Navarino, where the naval battle of 1827 took place

Permanent exhibitions

• Στα ίχνη της Πύλου… – The permanent exhibition presents the archaeological history of Pylia from prehistory to the Roman period through finds from excavated sites in the area.
• Φρούριο Πύλου: οθωμανικό κάστρο και ναός της Μεταμορφώσεως – A tour of the fortifications with the restored former mosque, the anchors and the cannon from its military past.

Founded

1961

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Μεσσηνίας

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of every month from 1 November to 31 March.

Other categories of visitors are entitled to free admission or a reduced ticket in accordance with the Ministry of Culture's regulations. The ticket is valid for the Archaeological Museum of Pylos, the Niokastro and the exhibitions inside the castle (Pasha's Building, Makrygiannis Bastion).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum has a ramp and an accessible toilet.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The Niokastro is a 12-minute walk from the central square of Pylos and 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Kalamata.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The Niokastro site has a museum shop, toilets and a car park.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit