Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Kalymnos is located at Pothia, at the district of Agia Triadha and was inaugurated in the year 2009 Β .The museum building was constructed by the Ministry of Culture, in a property donated for the purpose by the Solonian Home for the Elderly in 1997. In the same property is located the Vouvalis Mansion, an exceptional example of 19th century urban architecture, where a small part of the Prehistoric and Byzantine collection were previously housed.
The exhibits include the Lady of Kalymnos, antiquities from the Prehistoric to the Post-Byzantine era, chronically presenting the history of the island over millennia. At the same time, the large number of sculptural votive offerings in the sanctuary of Delian Apollo as well as a huge cult statue of Asclepius impress every visitor.
Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum of Kalymnos was founded in 1994 and it is located in the coastal zone of Pothia, in the building of the former Vouvaleios Technical School, next to the Town Hall. At the museum you can see and learn about the island’s sponge diving tradition, history and methods of sponge fishing .Also if you visit the museum you’ll see many artifacts from the wrecks of ancient ships as well as articles on sponge diving and sponge treatment.
The exhibition is divided in three different parts where the visitors have the opportunity to see objects with reference to sponge diving profession and a great number of exhibits related to sponge- fishing as well as the elaboration of sponges.
Museum of marine life and findings
It is located at the coastal village Vlichadia. It is a private museum, a life’s work of Valsamidis brothers, who were born and live in Kalymnos, with exhibits related to sponge fishing, a big variety of sea plants and sea animals and a collection of trade amphorae and other finds from ancient shipwrecks.Β
It is one of the richest private collections in Greece and they needed over forty (40) years to collect these findings. Various kinds of sponges, corals, shells, fish, strange sea creatures, sponge diving equipment, World War II findings, pictures, documents, coins, ancient amphora and even an ancient wreck, are included in their collection.
Traditional Kalymnian House
It is located in the southern outskirts of the monastery of Agioi Pantes and Agios Savvas 1, 5 km from Pothia Town, in the region Vothynoi. It is a private Folklore Museum established by Mrs Faneromeni Skylla with objects of popular culture and household items of old houses.
Main Photo Credits : archaeologicalmuseums.gr