Santorini Argyros Mansion museum

Location: Messaria

Argyros Mansion in Santorini: Argyros Mansion (Archontiko Argyrou) is a wonderful traditional mansion in the village of Messaria, in the center of Santorini Greece. Argyros Mansion is renowned for its elegant Neoclassical architecture. This mansion was built in the year 1860 and visitors can get a view of life in Santorini through the past two centuries.

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The mansion is characterized for its high-quality architecture, the arched ceilings, and exquisite floors. There is a sense of romance in the air inside. The museum is located on the first floor and has a good collection of artifacts and antiquities that offers fascinating insight on the fabled Greek tradition, culture, and heritage. You will come across unusual paintings, antique furniture and many items dating back to the 19th century. The neighborhood surrounding the mansion is dotted with small shops.

This palatial mansion was the main residence of George Argyros, a prosperous landlord and trader of local wine. He built this remarkable mansion in the 1880s and since then it is a family heritage. Sadly, a part of the edifice was badly damaged in the earthquake of 1956, after which the building remained uninhabited for 35 years. In 1985, the building was declared "valuable sample of traditional architecture" by the Greek Ministry of Culture and then its renovation started. Today, it works as a museum hosting permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Opening hours: From May 1st to October 31st, Daily (except Mondays and Thursdays), 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-19:00

How to get there

Argyros Mansion is located in Messaria village.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked Santorini transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 690 679 4316, 0030 22860 22555.

Car rental: There’s the option of renting a car in Santorini with as little as 14.5 euro per day and pick it up directly from your hotel. You can then visit Argyros Mansion but also many other places of interest in Santorini.

Public transfers: In Messaria village lies the 4th stop of the bus route Fira > Perissa. Argyros Mansion is a 5-minute walk away. Fira is where the central bus station of the island is located. There are bus connections between this bus station and the most areas of the island. There are buses to Perissa approximately every 1.5 hours. Consider that time schedules might change according to the season. Check the official timetables here.
Tip: Since buses don’t always stop in every scheduled stop of their itinerary, our advice to visitors is to inform the driver about their final destination, so that he makes a stop there.