Museums in Rethymno

The Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon is housed in a building right at the entrance of the Fortezza. It houses exhibits from excavations held in the prefecture of Rethymnon, presenting the history of the area from the paleolithic till the Roman times.

The Museum of Cretan Lyra is strongly connected with the tradition and music of Crete. This is actually a workshop of Cretan lyras and one room has been hosts a large collection of lyras and other traditional musical instruments.

In the remote village of Zoniana, 45 km from Rethymno, there is an interesting wax museum with figures from all over the Cretan history. Established in 1998, this Wax Museum is housed in a space of 1,000 sq.m.

The Historical and Folklore Museum of Rethymnon was established in 1973 and it is housed in an elegant Venetian building. The exhibits of the museum come of private collections and donations. They include traditional clothing, tools, ceramics, jewelry, coins, and other items.

Villa Claudio, a lovely mansion of Venetian architecture, was recently restored and it now houses an interesting Military Museum. This museum was inaugurated in May 2010 and hosts military uniforms, weapons of various ages and army vehicles in the yard.