Natural History Museum of the Aegean and Paleontological museum of Mitilini

• Exhibits

The Exhibitions includes five departments, Paleontological, Zoological, Rocks and Minerals, marine life, Botanological,  which are further supported by similar laboratories.

Paleontological: The fossils exhibited at the Museum belong to animals that lived on the island and especially in the area of the village of Mitilinii, 8-10 million years ago. According to the geological terminology this era is known as Tourolio and is a stage of the Early Miocene.

Zoological : A significant number of animals and birds from Samos and the rest of Greece as well as from all over the world are displayed in this department. A special area in this hall is dedicated to the exhibition of some of the typical animals of Australia (Kangaroo, Koala, Emm), kindly donated by the Samian Brotherhood of Sydney. Also exhibited in this department is the historical “Kaplani”, a kind of feline who came to Samos 130 years ago, crossing the sea from the coast of Asia Minor.

Rocks and Minerals : In this department are exhibited nearly 300 rocks and minerals from Samos and the rest of Greece as well as from all over the world. Some of these pieces are rare.

Marine Life  : This department, which is still under development, exhibits nearly 150 shells from Greece and the world as well as some replicas of fishes. It also includes models of typical Aegean ships.

Botanological : The botanological department of the Museum has a collection of almost 3000 flora specimens from Samos and the Aegean in the form of a Herbarium.

• Museum History

The construction of the Museum was completed by funds from the “Konstantinos and Maria Zimali Foundation” and it opened in August 1994.

The building covers 1,600 m² (0,4 acres) and it rises to three levels which include exhibition halls, laboratories, offices and a library. The plan for the 20,000 m² (5 acres) of the surrounding area is for it to develop into a botanical garden. The Museum’s facilities include a library, a lecture hall of 100 people capacity with audiovisual equipment, a refreshment room and a guest room.

The Konstantinos and Maria Zimali Foundation was established in 1992. Its main purpose was the creation of a modern Natural History Museum in Samos as well as the housing and preserving of the small Paleontological Museum (118 exhibited findings) that already existed since 1967 in Mitilinii of Samos.

• Admission
  

• Tickets
  4 €
  free for kids till 12 years old 
  

[/lists]