Archeological Museum of Chania

The Archeoplogical Museum of Chania housed in the Katholikon of the Venetian Monastery of St. Francis. It has been operating as an Archeological Museum since 1963.

Its exhibits give an overview f the cultural history of the Prefecture of Chania from the Neolithic times to the Roman times. The exhibition is divided in two large sectors:In the eastern sector finds of the late neolithic period and the bronze age are exhibited (Minoan times). In the western sector antiquities from the iron age are exhibited (historical times). The finds are presented in excavation sets and in thematic units. The collections include Minoan finds from the city of Chania, prehistoric finds from caves, Minoan finds from various areas of the prefecture, finds from tombs of the geometric times, finds of the historical times from the city of Chania and from various other cities of the prefecture, coins, jewels (of the prehistoric and historic times), sculptures, inscriptions, pillars, mosaics.

In the year 2000 was donatedto the Archeological Museum of Chania the interesting collection of Konstantinos, Marika and Kyriakos Mitsotakis. It occupies three small rooms in the north next to the church of St Francis. The exhibits are 1/3 of the Collection and their presentation follows the chronological order (end of the 4th millenium B.C. - 3rd century A.D.). It includes finds of minoan ceramics, pottery, stone-carving , seals, jewels and varia (various objects from various areas).

The Myseum has preservation laboratories for pottery, metallic objects, coins, frescoes, mosaics and a chemistry laboratory. There is also a shop of the Archeological Resources Fund in the specially developed belfry next to the main entrance.