Pikoulakis Tower Museum

About the museum

The museum is housed in the Pikoulakis Tower in Areopoli, next to the church of Agios Ioannis. The complex is a fortified Mani residence with a tower of 1821 and a tower-house of 1850, which was donated to the state by Ioannis Pikoulakis. It is one of the stations of the Mani Museum Network, of which the Mourtzinos Tower in Kardamyli is another member.

The permanent exhibition is titled “Stories of Religious Faith in Mani” and is developed in two sections. The first, on the ground floor, concerns the emergence and consolidation of Christianity in Mani during the Byzantine period, with finds from early Christian basilicas of the 5th–6th century on the coast, at Gytheio, Tigani and Kyparissos, as well as marble sculptures from churches of the middle Byzantine period. Most of Greece’s middle Byzantine marble chancel screens survive in Mani.

The second section, on the upper floor, is titled “The Church: place of worship – space of communication” and presents the basic features of the Christian church, with wall paintings, icons, church books, dedicatory inscriptions and liturgical vessels from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods. Two detached 13th-century wall paintings and an 18th-century chancel cross from Agios Nikolaos in Limeni stand out.

Highlights

• Finds from the early Christian basilicas of Gytheio, Tigani and Kyparissos
• Marble chancel screens and sculptures of the middle Byzantine period
• Two detached 13th-century wall paintings
• 18th-century chancel cross from Agios Nikolaos in Limeni
• Fortified Mani tower with a tower-house

Permanent exhibition

• Μόνιμη έκθεση: Ιστορίες θρησκευτικής πίστης της Μάνης – Two sections on the establishment of Christianity in Mani and on the Christian church as a place of worship, with sculptures, wall paintings, icons and liturgical vessels.

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Λακωνίας

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.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From Athanaton Square in Areopoli the museum is about 5 minutes on foot; from Gytheio about 30 minutes by car and from Sparta about 1 hour.

Amenities & dining

Toilets and a car park are available on site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit