Archaeological museum of Rethymno, Archaeological museum in Rethymno, Greece

The Archaeological Museum of Rethymno occupies the Venetian church of Saint Francis on Agiou Fragkiskou Street, built by the Barozzi family around 1530. The collection, moved here temporarily in 2016, spans prehistory to the 17th century and includes a Cycladic-style marble figurine from Gerani cave dated to about 4500 BC.

The building is the church of Saint Francis, erected by the Barozzi family around 1530. The archaeological collection was assembled in the second half of the 19th century by an educational association through purchases and donations, and grew with finds from 20th-century excavations. The museum opened in 1954 in the Venetian Loggia, moved in 1990 to a pentagonal building facing the old fortress, and since 2016 has been housed temporarily in the church.

The collection displays Minoan objects from different ancient settlements across the Rethymno region, including clay vessels with hunting scenes, marble statues, and religious items. These pieces reveal how people lived and what they valued in their daily and spiritual lives thousands of years ago.

The museum is located near the Fortezza and is easily reached on foot by walking through the old town. The best time to visit is in the morning when there are fewer crowds and the galleries are more comfortable to explore.

The collection includes an ancient Greek inscription in boustrophedon script that records laws against excessive drinking from the old city of Eleftherna, dating to around 600-450 BC. This rare inscription reveals that ancient Greeks already had rules for responsible drinking habits.