Ios Diaseli Cheesery and Museum

Location: Diaselia
Don't miss: Museums guide (free admission dates and other useful info)

Located on the highest point of Ios, the Diaseli Cheesery and Museum offers visitors a unique experience, by the end of which you will have heard, seen, touched and savored the island’s history.

The Haros family have a long-standing tradition in cheese-making. Though the installations have been modernized and operate according to all the appropriate specifications, the owners preserve the invaluable knowledge that is passed on from generation to generation, and the recipes remain unchanged over time. What makes their products so unique is that the animals of the estate continue to graze on the same plants that have been growing on the island for hundreds of years, such as thyme and oregano, to retain their spicy taste. The products receive such regular and constant care that, when you try them out, you do not just feel their ingredients; you are immersed in the whole history of their creation and all the devotion that has been put into them.

The Museum

The museum was founded by the Haros family with the help and generous contribution of the entire local community so that the invaluable antiques that were collected chronicle the agrarian life of Ios over the centuries. Guests will be shown around a traditional cheesery and an 18th-century house, an age-old well, a threshing floor, agricultural tools of the last three centuries and other beautiful household objects that will take you on a journey through time. Meanwhile, the family will provide you with a wealth of information about the various steps of the traditional cheese-making process. The tour ends with a degustation of various of the estate’s handmade products, such as a selection of around 8 different types of cheeses, exquisite thyme and heather honey, pure olive oil, and other delicious treats and drinks.

The Shop

After wandering around the museum, you can purchase your favorite products or buy gifts for your loved ones from the store you will find on the premises. Even if you do not feel like touring and sampling the products, a visit to the shop is sure to expand your concept of Greek cheeses. Here you can find the mouth-watering, creamy Skotyri, a trademark of Ios made of matured myzithra and small pieces of graviera, pepper goat graviera, a hard yellow cheese with a delicate spicy flavor and aroma, the unique inosperitis, which matures into a fine wine must of Vinsanto, the salty almyriki and an assortment of other goat cheeses that will just blow your mind!

Official website: www.diaseli.com

How to get there

The cheesery is located on the area of Diaseli, on the junction that leads to Psathi. You can get there by car or combine your visit with a hike through the inland.