The history of Volos unfolds in the showcases of its splendid museums and private collections.

 

The Kitsos Makris Folklore Museum, housed in the home of the great researcher, includes one of the most significant folk art collections in Greece. The library contains more than 4,000 volumes of rare books, whilst 4,000 photographs and 2,500 slides preserve memories of folk art treasures no longer in existence.

 

The Typographical Museum of the longest-running provincial newspaper “THESSALIA” is located in the Volos industrial zone. 19th century linotype machines, accessories and movable type, along with historic issues of the newspaper make up one of the most notable collections of the printing technique in Europe.

 

The Rooftile and Brickworks Museum N. & S. Tsalapatas provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about the city’s great industrial past. The old factory houses the museum where the conditions of production are accurately portrayed.

 

The Athanasios Koutroumpas Entomological Museum is the only one of its kind in Greece and one of the most important in the Balkans. Amongst the exhibits one can admire rare and unique samples, such as the largest moth in the world, Thysania agrippina from South America, with a wingspan of 37-40 centimetres.

 

The Theofilos Museum is located in the Kontos house in Anakasia, Pelion. It is a unique monument as the entire interior of the mansion was painted by Theofilos Chatzimichail, according to a specific iconographic programme.

 

The sculptor Nicolas’ Visual Arts Museum at Ai Giorgis in Pelion, the Pelion Museum of Folklore and History in Makrinitsa, and the Chrysoula Zioga Museum and Art Gallery in the wonderful red house in Volos known as “the house with the rose”, are all destinations that will fascinate visitors and broaden their knowledge of this great land that is endlessly recreating culture.

 

Athanasakio Archaeological Museum – exploring the roots of culture
The Athanasakio Archaeological Museum in Volos is one of the oldest in Greece and the main archaeological museum in Thessaly. The elegant neoclassical building houses a great wealth of findings, as its collections include exhibits from Thessaly’s entire history, from the prehistoric period up to Roman times.
At the same time periodical thematic exhibitions are often held, which enable the visitor to acquire deeper knowledge of some of the finds uncovered by the archaeologists’ picks.

 

The city of De Chirico
It is widely known that the great artist Giorgio de Chirico was born and raised in Volos. His works left their mark on world painting and he is an emblematic figure in visual arts, representing metaphysical art, with the visionary and dreamlike elements of surrealism.
Giorgio de Chirico was born in 1888 and passed away in 1978. De Chirico’s family was among the most prominent in Volos. His father, as an engineer, supervised the construction of the Thessalian railway and his mother was an opera singer.

 

Volos pays special tribute to this great artist, and indeed to his whole family. The picturesque station constructed by his father Evaristo de Chirico has remained unspoilt since 1882. The station building houses the Thessaly Railway Museum, containing unique exhibits, rare documents and personal items that belonged to Evaristo de Chirico.
The city’s Art Centre is named after Giorgio de Chirico, in honour of the artist. It houses Alexander Damtsas’ remarkable collection, which contains about 500 works by the greatest artists of the 20th century.