Thalassa museum is a major Cyprus attraction and is also one of the newest. The museum is dedicated to the marine heritage of Cyprus. It displays marine artefacts from prehistoric times to the present and also hosts cultural events but its main goal is to promote interest in Cyprus’ rich marine history. The main exhibit of the Thalassa museum is the ancient wreck of the “Kyrenia II” which was discovered in 1963. A replica was built in 1982 using traditional methods and after sailing the world it is now housed here.
Another main attraction is the replica of an ancient Mesolithic raft ( 9200 B.C. ) which would have been used to transport obsidians to the Greek Islands from the mainland. The museum also houses statues, idols and vases that stretch back into the long history of Cyprus. It is located in Ayia Napa and is also used as a venue for concerts, events, art exhibitions and educational programs where participation is encouraged.
Thalassa museum has been designed to be as interactive as possible. Laid over six levels, the first level gives the visitor an audio visual introduction to the history of Cyprus. The other levels display Cypriot antiquities, including a vase from the Bronze Age. The fifth level has fossils of fishes, shells, corals from the Cretaceous period ( 130 to 65 million years ago ). It also exhibits the marine fauna of the Mediterranean which is helping to record the natural history of this beautiful Island.
The museum is open in the summer from 9.00 hours to 13.00 hours and then again from 18.00 hours to 22.00 hours Tuesdays to Sunday. On Saturday it is open 9.00 hours to 13.00 hours. During winter the museum is closed on Sunday and Tuesday to Saturday it is open 9.00 hours to 17.00 hours and on Monday 9.00 hours to 13.00 hours.
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