Santorini Maritime Museum

About the museum

The Santorini Maritime Museum was founded in 1951 from the personal collection of Captain Antonis Dakoronias and was initially housed in his grandfather’s mansion. Its activities were interrupted after the devastating earthquake of 1956, and in 1980 it found temporary accommodation. In 1988 Dina Manolessou-Birmpili donated her family home in Oia for the museum’s permanent housing. The building was rebuilt by the shipowners Nikolaos and Dimitrios Nomikos, and the museum reopened in 1992 as a charitable foundation. After the renovation and new exhibition of 2022 it continues to present the history of Santorini shipping.

The exhibitions mainly concern the 19th century, when Santorini sailing ships crossed the eastern Mediterranean from the Black Sea to Egypt, carrying Theran earth for the Suez Canal or the famous Visanto wine. Rare figureheads, anchors, small cannons, sea chests, sextants and other navigational instruments, shipbuilding tools, hull moulds, models of old and newer ships, watercolours of sailing ships, documents, charter parties, dowry contracts and wills, as well as rich photographic material, are on display.

Highlights

• Rare figureheads, anchors and nautical instruments
• Models of ships owned by Santorini shipmasters
• Watercolours of sailing ships, charter parties and historical documents
• 19th-century captain’s house in Oia

Permanent exhibition

• Ναυτική ιστορία της Σαντορίνης – Nautical instruments, figureheads, ship models, watercolours and documents on Santorini shipping, mainly of the 19th century.

Founded

1951

Operated by

Κοινωφελές ίδρυμα «Ναυτικό Μουσείο Οίας»

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum is in the village of Oia, about five minutes’ walk from the Fira–Oia bus stop.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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