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Archeological Museum
Monday to Friday 8am to 2.30pm, Saturday 10am to 2.30pm - free entry
Just up from the bus stop, round the corner from Vergouli car rental in Pera Gialos is the Archeological museum.
It is free entry and well worth investigating to extend your knowledge on the history of the island, as well as featuring some very interesting and well-preserved artifacts and old (& aeriel) photographs.
Roman period marble statue remains, one of a male in curiass and chlamys, one of a female (possible Aphrodite), a male head and several examples of inscribed stonework. There's a very well preserved headless statue of Asclepios in marble (Hellenistic period). Also various carved scenes such as an old and young man (in 'farewell to the deceased), a symposium scene with a young couple reclining on a bed, and another depicting a banquet.
From Mycenean chamber tombs at Armenochori (found by local shepherds in the soft rock as shown in the central picture) there are fabulous tools, weapons, obsidian blades and a wonderful assortment of vases with delicate designs and patterns, spindle-whorls, amphorae, jars and assorted vessels and funery urns. There's also a display of late 4th-century silver coins – tetradrachms of Ephesus and various designs with the faces of deer and bees.
There's a lovely bronze statuette of Aphrodite and part of a gold wreath, along with an extraordinary vase with a face on it shown above.
You can also see a pair of substantial early Christian Corinthian capitals (6th-century) and architectural sculptures.
The coats of arms of the Quirni family are on display (who
built the kastro and ruled the island as the 'Counts of Stampalia')
Each exhibit has an information board and you are free to spend as much time as you like.