Historical Museum of Crete, Historical museum in Heraklion, Greece.
The Historical Museum of Crete is housed in a neoclassical mansion built in 1903 and holds a collection of artifacts spanning from early Christian times to the modern era. The building was expanded with a contemporary western wing along Sofokli Venizelou Avenue, providing an overview of different periods in Cretan civilization.
The Society of Cretan Historical Studies established this institution in 1953 to preserve artifacts and knowledge about the island's long and diverse past. The founding in the 20th century responded to the effort of documenting regional historical records for future generations.
The museum displays two original El Greco paintings, including View of Mount Sinai and Baptism of Christ, representing the only works by the artist in Crete. These pieces draw visitors interested in the artistic connections between the island and European Renaissance movements.
The museum is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:30 and Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:00, but remains closed on Sundays and holidays. Plan enough time to explore all sections, especially if you are interested in the paintings and the detailed city model reconstruction.
The museum houses a detailed 4 by 4 meter scale model depicting Heraklion during its Venetian period in the mid-17th century, when the city was known as Chandax. This carefully crafted model allows visitors to see the architecture and city layout from an earlier era that now lies hidden beneath the modern urban landscape.
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