First Greek Underwater Museum to Open in Alonissos
Greece’s first underwater museum, which features a fifth-century shipwreck and thousands of ancient wine jugs, called amphorae, will open to scuba divers Monday, August 3. It’s located near the Peristera islet off the coast of Alonnisos, which is part of the Northern Sporades archipelago of the Aegean Sea.
Divers visiting the museum will be able to see the Peristera shipwreck, a large commercial vessel that was transporting wine when it wrecked around 425 BC. The ship’s cargo — thousands of amphorae — are largely still in-tact.
While the ship is thought to have originated in Athens, the wine it was carrying was likely from two ancient cities: Mendi in Northern Greece and Peparithos, which is modern-day Skopelos island.
The ship now lies between 82 and 92 feet below sea level in the National Sea Park of Alonissos-Northern Sporades. It was first discovered by a fisherman in 1985. Greece’s Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture and Sports conducted an excavation of the site and is now coordinating the museum’s opening.
Non-divers traveling to Greece can experience the wreck virtually. The Knowledge Awareness Centre in the Chora village of Alonissos has created an exhibit on ancient wrecks that features virtual dives of the area.
Watch divers explore ancient amphorae in Greek waters:
Greece has reopened to tourists from countries that haven’t been severely impacted by COVID-19. U.S. citizens are not allowed into the country at the date of publishing. Refer to the U.S. Department of State's "COVID-19 Country Specific Information" center for up-to-date information on travel restrictions and coronavirus statistics.
To visit the underwater museum, which will be open on a trial basis until October 2, 2020, you can book a tour with Alonissos Seacolours Dive Center, Alonissos Triton Dive Center, or Ikion Diving Center Alonissos.
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