The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum is in the central square of the historical village of Varvari, now known as Myrtia, close to Heraklion city, Crete. It is less than 50 minutes by car through the national road from Petrokefalo and the traditional Cretan house “Agioklima”. The Exhibition is housed on a site formerly occupied by the Anemoyiannis family, which was related to Nikos Kazantzakis’ father, Kapetan Michalis.
The Museum was created in order to pay tribute to the author, thinker, philosopher and traveller Nikos Kazantzakis. It was founded by Yiorgos Anemoyiannis, a pioneer costume designer in Greek theatre. His main purpose was to preserve the author’s memory and promote his work. That would not have been possible without the important help and support of Eleni Kazantzaki, the author’s second wife.
Visitors arrive every day from all over the globe to the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum, proving once more how timeless his work, his thought and his spirit were.
The Museum holds manuscripts and notes by the author, some parts of his correspondence with major thinkers, politicians and authors of that time, first editions of his works in Greek and other languages, rare photographic material, souvenirs from his journeys, personal effects, models, costumes and other material from theatre productions of his works, portraits and sculptures of the author, dozens of foreign-language editions, all a legacy that promotes his work and personality.
The museum is open at the following times:
April – October:
Monday – Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm
November – March:
Only on Sundays from 10:00am to 3:00pm
