Archaeological Museum of Chania
Before the early 20th century, findings that come from building construction in Patras, sent to the National Archaeological Museum or stored in schools, first at 1st High School of Patras and in the City hall being a first archaeological collections.
This collection is occasionally changed the place of storage, hosted at various city buildings. Ancient objects from the decade of 20s housed at the Roman Odeon too. The first archaeological collection housed since 1934 on the ground floor of a two floor house of John Karamandanis, at 42 Maizonos street, which was granted by the owner for this purpose.
Then the entire building belongs to the Ministry of Culture as a bequest in 1965 and operates as part of the exhibition. Exposed mainly Mycenaean vases from cemeteries around the city areas as well as sculptures from excavations of Patras and other positions and a large floor mosaic from the Roman villa. With assistance from the curators who occasionally served in ST’ E.P.C.A, make efforts to renew the exhibits and to improve the image of the exhibition rooms of the small museum already considered inappropriate even by static side. The last intervention in 1985, the exhibition developed in all areas of the ground floor and the first floor of the building functioned all the administrative offices of ST’ EPCA. In the basement operated stores. Since that period the issue of finding a new place for the Museum with the construction of a new modern building as the alternative solution to taking the old Municipal Hospital was unsuccessful, it takes place by giving the Ministry of Culture in 1984 extent of the ΚΕΔ for its construction. With a national competition organized in 2001 the Office of "Th. Bobotis and Associates Ltd. " was responsible for the development of architectural and other studies for the new museum, which began to be built year 2005. After construction of the building the organization of the exhibition belongs to Scientific Committee of Ministry of Culture, which completed its work in two phases in July 2009 (first phase) and July 2011 (second phase). The financial management of the organization of the exhibition was the T.D.P.E.A.E.
Located on the highway that leads to Athens and being practically a landmark of the city of Patras, the Archaeological Museum dominates by its innovative architectural style and design. Spacious in layout, equipped with various facilities and amenities (conservation laboratories, conference and administration offices, multi-media room, parking lot etc), it accommodates an auditorium, museum-shop and a large hall (200s.m.) for periodical exhibitions. Thematically divided into units, the permanent collection is displayed in three imposing galleries allowing multiple views and good perspective of the exhibits. Exceptional, if not unique, about the Museum interior arrangement is the suspended / elevated passage, which allows overhead and overall view of two galleries. This smart and spectacular in terms of architectural design feature proves particularly useful during presentations and guided tours. More important, it allows ideal inspection of the enormous Roman mosaic floors, which define one of the Museum highlights.
Also outstanding is the building?s facade combining different materials (wood, metal, stone) in full harmony. Its geometry is equally groundbreaking, with a spherical dome of titanium above an artificial pool. In this way, the architect incorporated the element of water perhaps metaphorically alluding to the establishment of Patras by the sea - a strategic location with an impact upon the city s development over the centuries.
The Archaeological Museum of Patras was inaugurated in 2009. Its collections include finds from the broader district of Patras and Western Achaea, covering a wide chronological spectrum from 3000 BC until the 4th century AD. Via the exhibits, local population and students are encouraged to trace their ethnic identity and to familiarize themselves with local history but also with forms of art ranging from glassware to jewellery and mosaic. Moreover, the richness of the Museum permanent collections, with periodical exhibitions on archaeology and visual arts running in parallel, efficiently meets the quests and research interests of specialized scholars. Within the Museum holdings are masterpieces of sculpture, which attract visitors from all over the world. In this respect, the Museum is very much alive, crossing regional cultural borders and constantly in interactive relation with society.
Beside the many programs attended frequently and massively by groups of school-children, the frequent periodical exhibitions, the lectures and seminars, the concerts and poetry evenings organized by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaea on a regular basis and any given occasion, render the Museum an active cultural centre, not only serving educational purposes but also in tune with the city s pulse.
