top of page

Nisyros is a complex layer-volcano, originally created on the seabed of the area. With the constant explosive and pouring activity, it emerged above the sea surface and created a beautiful island.

The island belongs to the recently active volcanic arc of the South Aegean and is one of its newest parts, which is due to the very good preservation of geological formations and an impressive thermal anomaly visible on the surface (superheated fumes, springs, craters, etc.).

The variety of volcanic structures and their simplicity make them understandable even to non-specialists: impressive four-kilometer-diameter caldera, large volcanic domes, supply veins, impressive lava flows ending in the sea, volcanic eruptions, fire-fighting products ash, mixed magmas, collapse flakes, clay formations and much more, create scientific and visual interest in landscape, colors and formations. For these reasons alone, Nisyros can attract more visitors and help anyone interested in understanding the processes of genesis and evolution of volcanoes.

The operation of a modern and well-equipped Volcanological Museum, with samples and images of the most impressive and characteristic rocks and formations, maps, sections, diagrams, volcanic patterns, photographs, computer simulations and interactive programs, has a decisive contribution to this goal. etc. The Museum also includes images and models of other Greek volcanoes as well as themes of the Aegean volcanic arc.

The visitor is informed about the structure of the lithospheric plates of the planet and the volcanic activity of the wider area. Modern digital technology allows the construction of impressive and didactic images for the Museum, with three-dimensional animations.

The Museum is located in Nikia, in a privileged position on the edges of the caldera, from where a panoramic view of the interior of the caldera and the volcano is offered. In this traditional settlement there was an abandoned school which was restored by the relevant program and now houses the Museum, after the appropriate renovations and arrangements in the building.

The Museum gives life to the settlement and contributes to the general development of tourism on the island by offering the infrastructure for the development of another new form of alternative tourism. The main premises of the Museum host the following thematic sections:

  • Genesis and structure of volcanoes

  • Volcanic processes and products

  • The volcanoes of Greece

  • The Volcano of Nisyros

  • The other active volcanoes of Greece

  • Volcanoes - Environment - Man

A section of the Museum hosts the Information, Observation and  Experiments. In this area there is a collection of all the rocks of Nisyros and other active volcanoes, which visitors can observe macroscopically and microscopically, as well as microscopes with appropriate relative sections of rocks are available. There is a library with a rich collection of books and articles of volcanic content and more. There are also devices for simulating volcanic eruptions on both PCs and experimental devices that work for young visitors.

The Volcanological Museum of Nisyros was created within the framework of the program "Emergence of the Volcano of Nisyros", a program coordinated by the Municipality of Nisyros and funded by the South Aegean Region with funding from the DG Community Support Framework.

Responsible for the project from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which had undertaken this subproject, was Prof. AUTH Michalis Fytikas, with research associate Dr. George Vougioukalaki, volcanologist of IGME.

The museographic study was done by the company TETRAGON, with the architect Eleni Vretzaki in charge.

The representations in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) of the data were made by Nikos Androulakakis, Informatics engineer of IGME.

The videos and the 3D illustrations in cartoons are by Christos Vrakotas, graphic designer.

Monday - Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
Closed on Sundays
Nikia
Tel. 0030 2242031400

bottom of page