Interactive Museum of Technology to Open in Trikala, Thessaly

Photo source: Municipality of Trikala

A new interactive museum of technology, science, engineering, energy, and IT is planned to open in Trikala, a town in the Region of Thessaly of mainland Greece.

The museum will be located on the hill of Profitis Ilias, currently undergoing renovation, and will cover an area of approximately 600 square meters. According to the Municipality of Trikala, the project is funded by the European Recovery and Resilience Facility, with a budget over 1.2 million euros.

Museum themes & exhibits

The Interactive Museum of Technology will feature four main thematic sections: Energy, Communication, IT, and e-Trikala, showcasing Trikala’s adoption of modern technologies.

The exhibits will be structured around three key themes, each highlighting advancements in technology and their real-world applications:

– “From Hydropower to Renewable Energy Sources”: Tracing the evolution of energy production.
– “From the Mailman to Digital Networks”: Exploring the transformation of communication.
– “From the Abacus to Mobile Digital Gadgets”: Showcasing the evolution of computing and digital devices.

Visitors will also learn about historical technologies, including the telegraph, the Commodore 64 — a pioneering personal computer — and traditional flour mills.

Innovative features & Interactive experiences

The commodore 64. Photo source: Hellenic IT Museum

The museum will offer several interactive and digital experiences, allowing visitors to engage with technology firsthand:

– A multi-purpose interactive table – The museum’s central information hub, featuring images, maps, videos, 3D models, and digital applications.
– Four VR stations – Providing a three-to-five-minute virtual flight over Trikala, offering a unique perspective of the city.
– A digital archive – A collection of historic items related to technology, telecommunications, photography, energy, and digital printing, accessible via tablets and mobile applications.
– A digital visitor card – A QR-code-enabled platform granting access to additional content about the museum and the surrounding area.

Energy & Sustainability section

The museum will include an Energy & Sustainability section featuring:

– A video wall and showcase displaying renewable energy advancements.
– Two interactive stationary bicycles – Visitors can choose a virtual cycling route while experiencing real terrain conditions. The energy they generate will charge their mobile devices or power banks.
– A transportation and mobility video wall highlighting the evolution of vehicles and sustainable transport solutions.

Information technology & Smart applications

The IT section will showcase technological advancements, featuring:

– A videowall illustrating the evolution of IT over the last 50 years.
– Six interactive stations covering: Smart buildings, Telematics and medicine, Internet and digital networks, Gaming and entertainment, Wearable technology and IT applications in film and music industries.
This section will highlight the role of IT in education, business, and entertainment.

e-Trikala & Smart City technologies

The e-Trikala section will focus on the city’s smart infrastructure and digital governance initiatives, featuring:

– A video wall documenting Trikala’s technological advancements over the past 20 years.
– Six interactive stations covering topics such as: Smart city development, Green energy initiatives, Digital governance and Intelligent transportation systems
Visitors will gain insights into how Trikala has integrated technology into urban planning and daily life.

Outdoor interactive park

Beyond the indoor exhibits, the museum will feature an outdoor interactive park, where visitors can engage with hands-on mechanical and energy transformation exhibits. Key attractions include:

– Geographical orientation and GPS technology
– Archimedes’ mechanical innovations
– Sound and musical instrument experiments
– Water and hydrodynamics demonstrations
– Solar and wind energy applications
– Kinetic energy experiments

The museum will provide free Wi-Fi and feature an on-site café and museum shop, along with an interactive online store.

According to the Municipality of Trikala, construction of the museum’s building structure is already underway, with completion expected in the near future.