Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians Museum

The History of the Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians Museum

The first thought of creating a Solomos Museum was recorded in 1903, when the manuscripts of the national poet were donated to the committee celebrating the centenary of his birth. However, the Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians Museum was built after the earthquakes of 1953, in the historic square of Agios Markos, on a plot of land donated by the Holy Metropolitan Church of Zakynthos, and was rebuilt with financial assistance from the State, various institutions and many private individuals.

The Museum building houses the only Mausoleum in Greece and numerous relics donated by various institutions and individuals, and has been operating since August 24, 1966. It is a philological-social association, which was established in 1959, and is governed by a six-member board. In 1987, the Association of the “Friends of the Museum” was founded, based in Athens, which supports the Museum with publications and events.

In 1978, the Academy of Athens honored the museum with an award for its CUT action, and in 1992, the work of its expansion began, which was initially carried out with funding from community programs, and then thanks to the sponsorships of the “Stavros S. Niarchos”, “Panagiotis and Efi Micheli”, “Ioannis Kostopoulos” and “Kostas Ouranis” Foundations. The "Hellenic Society of Folklore Museology" implemented a program of disinfestation, conservation of the museum material and overall renovation of its premises. The renovated Museum was inaugurated on March 27, 1999, by the President of the Hellenic Republic. In 2000, it was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award 2001.