Korgialeneio Historical and Folklore Museum

About the museum

The Korgialeneio Historical and Folklore Museum is housed on the ground floor of the listed post-earthquake building of the Korgialeneio Library, in the centre of Argostoli. Two of its exhibitions are on the ground floor of the new wing. The library was founded in 1924 by the will of the benefactor Marinos Korgialenios. Its building was destroyed by the earthquakes of 1953 and was later rebuilt. The archives of the Cephalonia Prefecture are also housed in the same building.

The exhibition traces the history of Cephalonia from the Venetian conquest around 1500 to the earthquakes of 1953, through the everyday lives of people and the historical developments that shaped the island, such as successive conquests, union with Greece, wars and earthquakes. Urban and rural life are presented, with clothing, household economy, family and social life, folk art and leisure. Church art, pre-earthquake architecture and town planning, the destruction of 1953 and the reconstruction, and honours for prominent figures who left their mark on the island, have a special place.

The permanent exhibition is organised in thematic sections: the urban and the rural section, church art and the Plan of Argostoli, with the aim of giving visitors the feeling of a warm, family setting. Separately, the Collection of Byzantine Icons of Sp. Charokopos and the Collections of Frangiskos and Stefanos Vallianos are presented. The museum is administered together with the library by the Korgialeneio Municipal Council and supervised by the Ministry of Culture.

Highlights

• The history and everyday life of Cephalonia from the Venetian period to the 1953 earthquakes
• Urban and rural sections with costumes, household items and folk art
• Collection of Byzantine icons by Sp. Charokopos
• Collections of Frangiskos and Stefanos Vallianos
• Section on pre-earthquake Argostoli and the reconstruction after 1953

Permanent exhibitions

• Μόνιμη έκθεση του Μουσείου – The history and folk culture of Cephalonia in sections on the urban and rural life, church art and the Plan of Argostoli.
• Συλλογή Βυζαντινών Εικόνων Σπ. Χαροκόπου – Independent exhibition of Byzantine icons, in a space in the new wing.
• Συλλογή Φραγκίσκου και Στεφάνου Βαλλιάνου – Independent collection of family objects, presented in the spirit of the permanent exhibition.

Operated by

Κοργιαλένειο Δημοτικό Συμβούλιο

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum is about 100 metres from the central square, 300 metres from the port and 500 metres from the KTEL intercity bus station of Argostoli. Access is on foot or by taxi.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop with cards and publications of the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit