The Lesvos Museums Network is an initiative of the bodies which manage the Museums of Lesvos that operate in accordance with the legislation.
The aim of the Network is to raise awareness among the citizens of Lesvos, especially the young people about our heritage, to display the collections of the Museums in Greece and abroad, but also to introduce all the visitors of the island to the Museums of Lesvos.
The operational framework of the Network ensures free cooperation, without competition and is based on the principles of independent and equal expression of views and proposals.
The creation of the Network of Museums of Lesvos expresses the belief that by joining forces, the Museums of Lesvos can reach the visitors of Lesvos more effectively through targeted promotion actions and joint events.
Archaeological Museum of Mytilene
The Museum aims at the presentation of the life style in Lesvos from the 2nd century BC to the 3rd century AD. It presents Roman villas with famous mosaics, sculptures and items of religious character or items that were symbols of power and wealth. Three of the six exhibition halls occupy a prominent position with their mosaic floors and among them those of the Roman villa of the 3rd century AD. The conventional name ” Menander’s Residence” is given to the villa, which was an association of theater people.
Address: 8 November, P.C. - 81100, Lesvos
Telephone: (+30) 2251040223
Fax: (+30) 22510 44913
Email: efales@culture.gr
Archaeological Collection of Eressos
The Archaeological Collection of Eressos is housed in a stone building, covering 41 square meters, with an adjoining porch of 29 sq.m. and a spacious courtyard.
The Exhibition is divided into three sections: a) religion and worship (relief carvings and sculpted works) b) burial customs (tombstones, clay sarcophagus of a Clazomenian type, offerings) and c) daily life (objects that reflect public and private life).
In the sun porch several sizable architectural items are exhibited (bases and flywheels of columns, Ionic and Doric capitals, parts of friezes and cornices), relief carvings and Hellenistic and Roman altars. A special space has been planned for a part of a Roman mosaic floor.
In the courtyard sarcophagi, pedestals, inscriptions and sculpted works are also exhibited.
Address: Skala Eressos, P.C. - 81105 Eressos
Telephone: (+30) 2253053037
E - mail: efales@culture.gr
Vareltzidena Mansion
The Vareltzidena Mansion is located on the north side of Lesvos. It is an important example of urban architecture of the late Ottoman period of the island. The present name is a translation of the surname of the owners of the mansion, Bardaktsoglou (Bardak is a Turkish word that means barrel), who marketed the wine.
Address: Petra, P.C.- 81109, Lesvos
Telephone: (+30) 2253041510
Fax: (+30) 2251040112
Email: efales@culture.gr
Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest
In its modern facilities are presented unique fossils of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, one of the most important natural monuments in the world. Also, the natural processes that led to its creation and the geohistorical evolution of the Aegean Sea are presented at the exhibition halls. The Museum organizes various educational programs, periodic exhibitions and cultural events.
Address: Sigri, Lesvos, P.C. – 81103
Telephone-Fax: (+30) 2253054434
E-mail: info@lesvosmuseum.gr
The Ecclesiastical Byzantine Museum of Mytilene
The Museum is at the city center, opposite the entrance of Agios Therapon Church. It houses valuable items of the Byzantine and Post – Byzantine Period: valuable icons, vessels and vestments used in worship, fretwork, rare manuscripts and missals. The collection of icons in the museum date from the period between the 13th and 19th century. Among them there are the icons of the Pantocrator, of St. John the Theologian and St. George, of some unknown icon painters, as well as the Assumption of Our Lady painted by Theophilos, the famous painter.
Address: St Therapon Square, P.C. - 81131, Mytilene
Telephone: (+30) 2251028916
Email: ebmmyt@gmail.com
The Museum – Library of Stratis Eleftheriadis - Teriade
The Museum of Modern Art – Library of Stratis Eleftheriadis – Teriade has been operating since 1979 in the suburb of Varia, very close to Theophilos Museum and hosts the entire publishing work of Teriade, as a result of his cooperation and friendship with the leading representatives of modern art of the 20th century.
One of the important exhibits of the Museum is the 26 picture books, the so-called «Grands Livres», combining text and picture and forming original artwork of famous painters such as Matisse, Picasso and Chagall. The «Grands Livres» are handmade and only a limited number of copies have survived. In the museum there are also the issues of the magazine VERVE, through which Tériade tried to initiate a constructive dialogue between great artists, hosting in their pages existing reproductions of paintings and drawings. These issues have the stamp of great artists such as Matisse, Braque, Bonnard, Rouault and Maillol.
Finally the museum hosts works of Baudin, Bores, Chagall, Giacometti, Gromaire, Layrence, Le Corbusier, Leger, Matisse, Miro, Picasso, as well as the works of Greek artists, such as Vakirtzis, Theophilus Kalliyianis, Kanellis, Maroudas, Rorris and Tsarouchis. All these come from the personal collection of Teriade. Besides the permanent exhibition, the Museum organizes retrospective exhibitions of Fine Arts.
Address: Varia, P.C. - 81150, Mytilene
Telephone: (+30) 2251023372
E-mail: info@museumteriade.gr
Theophilos Museum
The Theophilos Museum was built in 1964 in Varia, a suburb of Mytilene (3,5 km north of the city), where the popular artist was born and spent his childhood years. Its construction was financed by the famous Mytilenian publisher of art books in Paris, Stratis Eleftheriades (Teriade).
In 1965, Teriade donated the Museum to the Municipality of Mytilene, together with 86 paintings of Theophilos from his own private collection. Their subjects are inspired from history, mythology and folk art. They also depict scenes of everyday life, costumes, landscapes, etc.
Address: Varia, P.C. - 81100, Mytilene
Telephone: (+30) 2251041644
Municipal Art Gallery of Mytilene
The Municipal Art Gallery is housed in an old three-floor building (it belonged to Halim Bey) and it is a typical sample of the local architecture. This impressive mansion is located in Epano Skala area. It hosts one of the most valuable art collections, which George Simos- Petris and his sister Elli Simou donated to the Municipality of Mytilene. George Simos – Petris was one of the country’s most important art critics, a “thinker” of visual art and a close friend of the greatest Greek artists.
Address: Adramyttiou 46, P.C. - 81100, Mytilene
Telephone-Fax: (+30) 4800222510
E-mail: info@pinakothikimytilinis.gr
Municipal Art Gallery of Mithymna
The Municipal Art Gallery of Mithymna was set up in August 1981 with 77 works of art which artists themselves and art collectors donated to the Gallery. The Gallery’s collection includes some old artworks like two drafts of Giannoulis Halepas, but also many works of a new generation of artists who were active during 1960s and 1970s. Most of these artists taught later for a long time in the School of Fine Arts in Athens. Today, the Gallery widens its collection with new works of modern artists. Thus, except for the traditional means, the visitors have the chance to view documents, varying from installations in nature to constructions and conceptual projects.
Address: Mithymna, P.C. - 81108, Lesvos
Telephone-Fax: (+30) 2253071323, (+30) 6947174563, (+30) 6983611849
Museum of Industrial Olive Oil Production in Lesvos
The Museum of Industrial Olive-Oil Production in Lesvos (MBEL) in Agia Paraskevi, of Lesvos, has been founded and designed by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP), which is also responsible for its operation. It is housed in the premises of the old communal oil-mill, which has been given to the Foundation by the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi.
The old machinery and equipment that have been preserved, and fully restored, are being exhibited in a unique way by demonstrations, supported by digital shows. The development of the various machines is presented, with special emphasis on the changes of the introduction of mechanical power brought into the process of oil production. In the main building the three basic steps of the oil production process (crushing the olives, pressing the olive-pulp, separating oil from water) are shown, while reference is made to the auxiliary operation of the flour-mill.
Address: Aghia Paraskevi, P.C. - 81102, Lesvos
Telephone: (+30) 2253032300
Fax: (+30) 2253032301
E-mail: piop@piraeusbank.gr
Vranas Olive Press Museum
Vranas Olive Press Museum is located in Lesvos, at Papados village, in the wider region of Gera, 20 km from Mytilene. It is one of the oldest Olive Mills of Lesvos which belonged to the family of Odysseas Elytis. In 1999 it became the property of Archipelagos Company – a non-profit organization with significant cultural action in the Aegean – which undertook the ambitious project of its restoration and conversion into a museum.The restoration work lasted for about three years (2006-2009) showing every respect to the simple architecture of the buildings. At the same time, the historical machinery of the factory was repaired and it started to operate, giving the visitor a real picture of the traditional production process of the olive oil. In addition, the 112 financial books of the former olive-oil press, which are part of the most rare and complete financial records ever found in Greece, were preserved by the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation.
Address: Papados Geras, P.C. - 81106, Lesvos
Telephone: (+30) 2251082007
E-mail: info@vranasmuseum.gr
Digital Museum “Georgios Iakovidis”
The Digital Museum “Georgios Iakovidis” is located at the painter’s birthplace, the village of Chydira of Lesbos. It is the first fully digital museum of art in Greece. Organized according to a special museological study based on new technologies, it presents the life and work of the renowned Greek painter through a variety of digital means of projection and interaction.
Address: Chydira, P.C. - 81110, Lesvos
Telephone: (+30) 2253051128
E-mail: info@jakobides-digital-museum.gr
