Alonissos Underwater Museum to Reopen for 2021 Summer Season

Photo source: @Municipality of Alonissos

Greece’s first underwater museum, located off the coast of Alonissos, is ready to reopen for the summer season and guide visitors through its unique 5th century shipwreck.

Following an agreement recently signed between the Culture Ministry, the Thessaly Region and the Alonissos Municipality, the museum will resume operations on June 1.

Operating for a second year, the museum features one of the largest Classical-era shipwrecks, the 5th-century wreck off the islet of Peristera, with more than 3,000 amphorae intact.

It is believed that an Athenian cargo ship carrying thousands of amphorae sunk in the area in 425 BC.

The shipwreck’s depth ranges from 22 – 33 meters.

Photo source: @Municipality of Alonissos

To highlight the museum’s significance, the Municipality of Alonissos has launched an ongoing campaign promoting the site through a number of articles in tourism media in many countries including the US, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, Australia, Brazil, India and South Africa.

Furthermore, the municipality is operating a modern info center in Alonissos’ main town (Chora) that gives visitors the opportunity to virtually explore the ancient shipwreck through cameras installed on the seabed.

Aiming to turn the island into a global diving destination, the Municipality of Alonissos is also planning to create an underwater archaeological park – the first of its kind in Greece – with the opening of six more shipwrecks in the area, and possibly others that have not been explored yet.