Kastro (Castle) – Kimolos
Kastro is the Greek name for Castle and can be found in the most picturesque part of the capital of Kimolos, Chorio at the foothills of Xaplovouni. Until the end of the 19th century it was the most populated area of Kimolos when houses was built outside the walls of the castle. The houses are built with the hard rock of the area (sideropetra) and decorative details of limestone. There are also 123 two-storey houses and they hosted one family on the first floor (anogarides) and the other on the ground floor (katogarides).
Kastro of Kimolos consists of two quarters, Mesa and Exo Kastro, that communicate with special arched doors (portares). The external doors of the houses are united and create fortifying walls, that used to protect the village in times of invasions and pirate attacks.
The inner Castle is nowadays in ruins. The Outer Castle consist of houses and as a rule, the closer the house stands to the Castle the older it is. There are two gates at the Outer Castle: the Lower Gate on the south leading to the market and the Upper Gate on the eastern side next to the Folklore and Maritime Museum.
The Castle was set on fire in 1638 by pirates and restoration took place 1646 and 1650.
Kastro is still inhabited today, and it is located in the center of Chorio.
Folk and Maritime Museum
The Folk and Maritime Museum can be found in the Castle of Kastro in a two-storey private house. The museum preserves what is left of the old heritage and popular culture of Kimolos. There is also a personal collection of the local doctor Manolis Christoulakis.
On the ground floor you will find a big hall with a small room. In the hall most of the hand-made by house-wives can be found. In metallic showcases you will find ornate embroideries, weaving textiles and many more.
Other items are also on display that showcases what they used in their professions like tools from farmers, carpenters, shoemakers and tailors. You will also find glass jars, pottery, dishes, china ware and much more.
In the small room are two hand looms in “working condition” along with other tools.
On the top floor you will find authentic furniture pieces which would give you an idea what a typical Kimolos house would have looked like. There is also a corner in the corridor displaying photocopies and paintings of skippers boats and their nautical instruments.
There is also a historical drawing, presenting the victorious sea-battles of the Greek flag against the Turkish fleet (Sea-battles of “ELLIS” Dec 3rd 1912 and of “LIMOS” Jan 1st 1913).
Archeaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum can be found in Chorio, opposite the Metropolitan Church of Panangia Odigitria in a two-story building. This is one of Chorio’s oldest buildings and dates back to 1846. The Museuem was established in July 2006, while the official inauguration took place on 4th October 2008.
On the first floor of the Museum, which is about 65m2, you are presented with the history of Kimolos. There you will find exhibits from the oldest known settlement up till modern times. Most of the exhibits are placed on showcases on the walls or the floor, in historic order.
Impressive and worthy of mention is the crystal, transparent floor on which you can walk and underneath it see a reconstruction of an ancient burial, as it was found in the excavations.
Among the exhibits there are: a gravestone of a headless woman, carved on local rock, from the oldest in Greece (8th century BC), a headless female statue, 1.30 meters high (2nd century BC) and two copies of decrees (the original are kept in other museums). One is the decision about the owner of Polyaigos (4th century BC) and the second, among others, presents the structure and prosperity of the Demos of that time (3rd century BC).
There are lots of visual material with photos where the exhibits were found as well as drawings, explanations, maps, signs and texts.
The majority of the findings in the museum comes from excavations in the Ellinika area where there is a sunk city, as well as the small island Agios Andreas, Provarna , Acropolis of the ancient city and necropolis of the island. Findings from the Mycenaean, Geometric, Archiac, Classical and Hellenistic periods indicate the people lived at “Ellinika” for hundreds of years.
After we point out that the buildings were a donation of the family Vafea to the Municipality of Kimolos, we should note that the Ministry of Culture was responsible for the implementation of the project, and more specifically the 21st Ephorate of Prehistoric and Cultural Antiquities. The funding was done by the European Regional Development Fund by 75% and by the Greek State funds by 25%.
Archaeological Museum of KimolosChorio of Kimolos
tel. +30 22870 51291
fax. +30 22870 51719
Opening hours
Tuesday – Sunday 8:30 – 15:00
Monday Closed
