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Museum of Pikoulakis Tower

Museum of Pikoulakis Tower

Museum of Pikoulakis Tower

The historic Pikoulakis Tower, West of Areopolis, houses the homonym Museum hosting a permanent exhibition entitled “Stories of religious faith in Mani». Through various artistic creations and representative samples of religious temples of the area, the Museum attempts to promote the emergence and gradual spread of Christianity in the Mani peninsula. From the aspects of the artistic creation presented on the ground floor of the Tower, the marble sculptures of the Middle Byzantine period and the miniature items from the excavations in Tigani stand out. In the room of the 1st floor there are Church and functional objects, manuscripts codices, pictures and fragments of frescoes from temples in the area, aiming to initiate the visitor into the features and atmosphere of the Christian Church. The Museum has an opulent library while in the and multi-purpose hall there is a digital display of a documentary of the traditional life in Mani

The Museum of Pikoulakis Tower integrates into the Network of Mani Museums whose goal is to present the culture of the region during the Byzantine period, while referring to the numerous Byzantine monuments that dominate the landscape of Mani. It is open daily except Tuesdays, from 08.30 through 15.00.

The Tower of Pikoulakis in Aeropolis, a historical preservable monument, is a characteristic example of the Maniot fortress residence and it houses the homonym Museum hosting a permanent exhibition entitled “Stories of religious faith in Mani». The Museum, through two thematic sections, presents the ecclesiastical monuments and aspects of the ecclesiastical artistic creation.

In the first section, which develops in the Hall of the ground floor, there are exposed some characteristic sample sculptures, through which we observe the great development of marble sculpture during the Middle Byzantine period in Mani and the action of the branded marble sculptors of the region, such as Nikitas marmaras (sculptor). There are also miniature objects by the excavations of Nicholas Drandakis in Tigani, among which stands out a silver ring with gilding and enamel.

The second section, on the first floor of the Tower, includes religious and liturgical objects, including a Codex (4 Gospels) of the post-Byzantine era from the monastery of the Transformation (Metamorfosi tou Sotiros) of Kardamyli, a wooden candelabrum from the monastery of Ntekoulos, icons and frescoes detached from abandoned temples in the area.

The exhibition is part of the Network of Mani Museums, a wider museum intervention of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, complemented by another Museum in the Fort complex of Troupakides-Mourtzinoi in the old town of Kardamyli. The aim of both museums is to present the culture of Mani during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine period through findings that highlight the creativity of local residents, while referring to the numerous monuments which are scattered in the Mani peninsula.

The exhibition provides a bilingual catalogue; the visitors also enjoy the use of a newsletter about all network stations, as well as of the digital version presenting the material culture of Mani in connection with the topics of the exhibitions. The Museum also has a library with printed and electronic publications related to the area. In the Multipurpose room of the Museum, the visitor has the opportunity to watch a video documentary regarding the traditional life in Mani.

The Tower of Pikoulakis is located on the western side of the town of Areopolis, south of the 17th March Square and the Church of Archangels (Taksiarches).

The Museum is open daily, except Tuesdays, from 08.30 through 15.00.

Tel: 0030 27330 29531

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