Maritime Museum of Chios

The Chios Maritime Museum is the realization of a dream by its founders – all being among those who make up the Maritime wonder of Chios. It was their wish to establish a residence which would represent the contemporary Greek maritime spirit.

The Maritime Museum of Chios does so by being situated in one of the largest shipping centers of all the island, in the center of the City of Chios. The mansion belonged to the late Anastassios and Marouko Pateras, and was donated in 1991 by the inheritors of the estate to a public benefit foundation that bears their name.

The structure has two floors and was built in the beginning of the 20th century. Its style is of the traditional island architecture of Chios, with a neoclassical design and beautifully painted ceilings. In the last few years, the buildings interior and its gardens have been renovated to accommodate the display of its exhibits. The museum is an impressive landmark in the city center. The renovations and the operation of the museum were financed by the families of Ioannis D. Fafalios, Antoniou C. Los, Ioannis M. Psarros, Costas I. Lyras, Tassos Diamantaras, Popi Romanou, Demetrios Laimos – Botsaris, Nikos C. Los, Marika G. Nikolou and the request of Kalliroi D. Patera.

What is of particular interest is that the Chios Maritime Museum has covered a significant gap in the maritime history of the island, something that no other foundation in the city has done so far. Needless to say, the people of Chios have contributed a great deal throughout the centuries to shipping and commerce.

One of the essential goals of the Museum is to illustrate this significant social aspect of the island by collecting and classifying historical information of the maritime tradition of the area, as was the developments in shipping and in commercial ships. The museum also hosts a series of lectures and conferences on the subject of Chios and shipping in conjunction with other museums of the Greek Archipelago.

One of the main features of the Museum is a small, but significant collection of the Progressive Cultural Union of Vrontados (known locally as PEKEV), which consists of models, parts and instruments of ships, and most significantly of portraits of sailing ships and steamships belonging to owners of Chios painted by the famous native marine artist Aristedis Glycas (Vrontados, 1870-1940). These last items are impressive pieces of popular art and date to the late 19th century / beginning of the 20th century. Models of ships from different periods as well as rare photographs of maritime life complete the collection.

If you want to learn more about the history of maritime traveling or the sea in general, visit NauticalMuseum.com .