Culture
Andros embodies a journey in the world of culture and art. An island with a long history and an admirable maritime tradition, with many archaeological sites, temples with a long history and museums with eye-catching exhibitions. A Cycladic island of global cultural interest and heritage.
The Archaeological Museum of Andros
The Archaeological Museum of Chora Andros is located in Kairi Square in Chora of Andros. It was founded in 1981, with the sponsorship of the Vasilis and Elise Goulandris Foundation, and was designed by the architect Stamos Papadakis. Inside the museum we find exhibits from the archaeological excavations on the island with finds from the archaeological site of Zagora, several sculptures from the Roman and Archaic periods and a collection of sculptures from the pre-Byzantine and Byzantine periods.
One of the most important finds is the Hermes of Andros. It is a replica of the homonymous statue of Praxiteles found in 1883 in Paleopolis. Also another great exhibit of the museum is the copy of the Charter of King Feraios. In the museum there are also headless Kouroi and the Roman copy of the torso of Artemis from the 2nd century BC.
Closed on Monday
Tuesday: 09:00 – 16:00
Wednesday: 09:00 – 16:00
Thursday: 09:00 – 16:00
Friday: 09:00 – 16:00
Saturday: 09:00 – 16:00
Sunday: 09:00 – 16:00
From November 1 to March 31 – Friday and Sunday 09:00 – 16:00
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Andros
The Museum of Contemporary Art was inaugurated on 28 July 1979 by the Vasilis and Elise Goulandris Foundation in Chora of Andros. It was the family’s wish to create a Museum of Contemporary Art with modern standards, in order to meet the requirements of organizing international exhibitions in a small space.
The Museum has an area of 200 sq. m. and is the work of the architect Stamos Papadakis. It was designed to house and present the collection of works of the Andriotis sculptor Michalis Tombrou, which he bequeathed to his own city. Part of the collection of the Vasilis and Elise Goulandris Foundation was later added to the exhibits. The increasing number of Greek and foreign visitors prompted the founders to expand the Museum in a new building. On July 20th, 1986, the new wing of the Museum of Contemporary Art was inaugurated, next to the old wing, with a total area of 1000 square meters and designed by Christos Kontovounisiou
Throughout the year, a large part of the collection of the Vasilis and Elise Goulandris Foundation, with over 300 artworks by distinguished Greek and foreign artists, is exhibited in the new wing, while the Foundation organises temporary exhibitions of artworks by very important artists of our century every summer in the New Wing.
July – September
(during the summer periodical exhibition)
Wednesday – Sunday
11:00-15:00 & 18:00-21:00
Monday
11:00-15:00
Tuesday
closed
The Maritime Museum of Andros
The Maritime Museum of Andros was founded in 1972 in the town of Andros, with the aim of collecting maritime objects. The love for the sea and the maritime profession, which the people of Andros follow as a tradition, prompted the establishment of the Museum. The classification of the exhibits was made by captain Konstantinos Pantsopoulos. The main exhibit of the Museum is the traditional Andriotian uniforms, which are displayed in a showcase of the Museum. Children are dressed in copies of these traditional uniforms at school and cultural events.
In the Maritime Museum of Andros you can find old shipping contracts, old insurance policies of the Andrian Insurance Association, various nautical diaries describing the life of the men in the ships before the 1821 struggle, lithographs of Andrian ships, etc. It also has models of modern and old Andrian ships starting from the old schooners to the present-day supertankers.
The above exhibits are original and present the whole history of Andrian merchant shipping from 1750 to the present day.
Monday: 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00
Thursday: 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00
Friday: 11:00-15:00 and 18:00-22:00
Saturday: 11:00-15:00 and 18:00-22:00
Sunday: 11:00-14:00 & 17:00-20:00
From July to October.
Kairios Library
The Kairios Library was founded in 1987 as a legal entity under private law of non-profit character. It was created in honour of the great intellectual of the 1821 revolution Theophilos Kairis. He was a great teacher and preached the revolution in Andros in 1821 as a member of the Society of Friends (Filiki Eteria), and later founded a higher education institution where he was teaching literature, philosophy, mathematics and astronomy.
Today, the library houses about 3,000 volumes from the private collection of Theophilos Kairis. There are also historical archives, many rare publications, manuscripts, works of art and a small archaeological collection. Its halls have been created to enchant book lovers. During the summer there are literary exhibitions, and musical events.
Monday – Friday
10:30 – 15:30
Archaeological Site of Paleopolis in Andros
Paleopolis was the ancient capital of Andros and the only city on the island during the Classical Age. It was founded in the 7th-6th century BC and flourished, but was destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century AD and part of it sank into the sea. After its destruction, a temple dedicated to Apollo Pythios from the 6th century BC, the wall, the sanctuaries, etc. are preserved. Also the Kouros that decorates the Archaeological Museum of Andros originates from there. Archaeological excavations have revealed the city of classical times with its market, parts of three paved streets and two galleries, sewage and irrigation network.
Today it is a beautiful green village on the hillside of Mount Petalo. The ancient city was lower, near the harbour, the half-submerged pier of which can be seen from the village. Archaeological excavations began in 1987 and continue to this day.