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Home Cyprus Information, Cyprus Attractions, Useful Facts about Cyprus Thalassa Ayia Napa Municipal Museum - Cyprus

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Thalassa Ayia Napa Municipal Museum - Cyprus

Category: Places of Interest

Description:

The Thalassa Ayia Napa Municipal Museum of the Sea is located at the centre of Ayia Napa and is directed by the Pierides Foundation, in association with the Hellenic Institute for the Preservation of Nautical Tradition and the Tornaritis-Pierides Marine Life Foundation.

It first opened its doors in August 2005 and it is the cornerstone for the local cultural infrastructure of Ayia Napa, Cyprus, with regards to the sea.

It is the first museum of its kind across the Mediterranean region with the main object being to present to the local and foreign visitors of Cyprus the impact and the significance of the sea upon the history of the island from prehistoric periods right up to the present day.

The museum is a three story building made by marble, onyx, wood, metal and offers unique experiences appealing to all our senses with its 'bird eye view'. Incorporating six levels, the exhibits are presented in underground showcases or are freely placed in the museum whereas others hang from the roof.

The first level presents the history of Cyprus throughout the centuries from 12 large audiovisual panels. The second and third levels display Cypriot antiquities covering 8000 years from the Neolithic period to the Venetian rule (6000 B.C. to 1570 A.D.).
Among the most important exhibits are a composite vase of the Early Bronze Age III (2100-1900 B.C.), a stunning clay model of a ship with sailors and captain of the Cypro-Archaic II period (600- 480 B.C.) and four red figured plates decorated with fish of the Classical (475-325 B.C.) and Hellenistic periods (325-30 B.C.). Also the replica of a Mesolithic (9200 B.C.) papyrus vessel is exhibited at the second level.

The main exhibit at the fourth level and of the museum itself is the life size replica of the ancient ship of Kyrenia 'Kyrenia II' from the Classical period (400 B.C.), which was built in 1985. The 'Kyrenia II' has been exhibited in several cities in Greece and New York, Japan's Nara, Sevilla and Hamburg. A documentary film about the excavations and preservation of the ship can be seen.

On the fifth level fossilised fishes, shells, corals, ammonites, trilobites and rudists of the late Cretaceous period (130 to 65 million years) are exhibited.

The Marine Life section is located in a semi-basement level showing the marine fauna of the Mediterranean which intends to stress the importance and necessity of preserving the marine environment. The exhibits include marine organism such as shells, barnacles, corals, sea-urchins, starfish, crabs, lobsters, sponges, sea fans, marine plants and others found in various parts of the island. It also has stuffed fish, mammals, sea turtles of the Cypriot and Greek seas and an important collection of sea and lake birds in their natural habitat.

The complex also has an attractively designed cafeteria, gift shop, open air amphitheatre and a multipurpose hall for periodic shows, lectures, seminars, and workshops.

General Information

Opening Hours:

Summer Season (01 June - 30 September)

Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 13:00

18:00 - 22:00

Sunday 09:00 - 13:00

Winter Season (01 October - 31 May)

Monday 09:00 - 13:00

Tuesday- Saturday 09:00 - 17:00

Sunday Closed

Admission Fees:

Individual Group (10 or more)

General €3 €2 per person