Museum of Industrial Olive-Oil Production of Lesvos
Museum in the former communal olive press of Agia Paraskevi, telling the story of industrial olive oil production on Lesvos.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Lesvos stands out among the Aegean islands as an example of intensive industrialisation, which began in the 1880s. In 1912 the island had 113 motorised oil presses, six pomace oil plants and 14 soap factories.
The Communal Olive Press of Agia Paraskevi was founded in 1910 on the initiative of the residents and was called “The Community’s Machine”. It operated almost without interruption from 1911 until 1967. In 1985 the facilities were turned into a cultural venue, and in 2004 the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi handed the building over to the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP) to create the museum, which opened to the public in September 2006.
In the central building visitors follow the main stages of olive oil production: the grinding of the olives, the pressing of the olive paste and the separation of the oil from the water. The flour mill, which operated in summer, is also part of the tour. In the old olive storehouses the cultivation of the olive tree, the by-products (pit, pomace oil, soap), the trade in olive oil and the professions connected with it are presented. The machines have been restored, and the development from steam power to diesel engines can be seen.
Highlights
- Restored olive press of 1910 with steam and diesel machinery
- The flour mill of the communal factory
- Sections on olive soap and olive by-products
- Multimedia applications and an educational acidity experiment for children
- Free Wi-Fi
Permanent exhibition
- Μόνιμη έκθεση του Μουσείου Βιομηχανικής Ελαιουργίας Λέσβου – The stages of olive oil production, the by-products of the olive, the trade and professions of olive oil making, and the history of the communal olive press.
- Founded
- 2006
- Operated by
- Πολιτιστικό Ίδρυμα Ομίλου Πειραιώς
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for children up to 17 years of age |
Free admission: 18 May, 5 June and the last weekend of September
Free admission is also available for certain visitor categories and holders of a Piraeus Bank Group employee card. Tickets can be bought online.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is accessible to people with disabilities and has a ramp, a toilet for people with disabilities and a loan wheelchair. An information leaflet is available in Braille, Greek and English. Guide dogs are allowed.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Children hear the factory’s siren (“mpourou”), see the machines in operation and play with the multimedia application “The Community’s Machine”. In an educational experiment they test the acidity of the oil.
Getting there & parking
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi. There is a café and a shop with items and publications of the Foundation.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Photography | Amateur photography and filming are allowed; professional use requires a special permit from PIOP. |
| Good to know | School and group visits require contacting the museum by telephone at 22530 32300. Educational programmes are offered in Greek only. Pets are not allowed, except guide dogs. |
