The Historical Museum of Crete has once again been awarded the prestigious “Travelers’ Choice” award from the popular travel site Tripadvisor. Citing a constant stream of positive reviews from visitors, and ranked as one of the best sights in Irakleio, the museum wins the award for an astonishing ninth year in a row.

Tripadvisor, founded in 2000, awards certificates of excellence to travel companies, attractions, hotels, restaurants and travel experiences based on millions of visitor reviews. This prestigious award places the museum in the top 10% worldwide, making the achievement all the more exceptional.

Founded in 1953 by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies, the museum showcases the rich cultural heritage of the island of Crete from the 4th century AD up to and including World War II.

Its oldest wing, a two-storey neoclassical mansion near Irakleio’s historic seafront, was formerly the home of the wealthy Kalokerinos family, constructed in 1903. Later expansions, including a new wing in the 1970s funded by the A. & M. Kalokerinos Foundation and another floor in 2004, has steadily increased exhibition space to 1,500 square meters, divided into 25 sections.

Among the many exhibits on permanent display include two famous works by the 16th-century artist Domenikos Theotokopoulos, better known as El Greco, who was born in Irakleio – the View of Mount Sinai and the Monastery (1570) and the Baptism of Christ (1569).

The museum’s permanent exhibitions, enhanced by a series of on-site educational programs and a constant flow of temporary exhibitions, make for a dynamic environment that continually engages visitors from all over the world. For those who cannot visit in person, the museum’s website boasts an impressive array of online resources, available in both English and Greek.