Valsamidis Sea World Museum
The private Valsamidis Sea World Museum in Vlychadia on Kalymnos displays sponges, marine animals and finds from ancient shipwrecks.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Valsamidis Museum in Vlychadia on Kalymnos is private and is the life's work of the Valsamidis brothers, who were born and live on the island. The collection was assembled over more than forty years by the sponge diver Stavros Valsamidis and is considered one of the richest private collections in Greece.
The museum includes sponges, corals, shells, fish and unusual sea creatures, among them stuffed sharks, a large sea turtle and rays. One section is devoted to sponge fishing and presents the tools and diving suits of divers from 1872 to the present day. A separate section houses objects from the First and Second World Wars, such as torpedoes and pieces of aircraft.
In a specially arranged space there are amphorae from the 6th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, a complete wreck of an ancient merchant ship and finds from the submerged city of Telendos. The collection is complemented by around 2,000 photographs on the history of sponge fishing and by a demonstration of sponge processing. There is also a shop on site.
Highlights
- Sponges, corals and shells
- Stuffed sharks, rays and a large sea turtle
- Wreck of an ancient merchant ship with amphorae
- Tools and diving suits of sponge divers from 1872
- Finds from the submerged city of Telendos
Permanent exhibitions
- Αίθουσα σπογγαλιείας και θαλάσσιων ευρημάτων – Sponges, corals, shells, diving equipment and objects from the First and Second World Wars tell the story of sponge fishing and of the sea around Kalymnos.
- Ναυάγιο και αμφορείς – A complete wreck of an ancient merchant ship with amphorae and finds from the submerged city of Telendos are displayed in a specially arranged space.
- Operated by
- Οικογένεια Βαλσαμίδη
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
On site there is a shop with sponges, corals and shells.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | At times when the museum appears closed, visitors can ask at the taverna next to the museum, which belongs to the family. |
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