- Fifty historical maps spanning the 16th to the 18th centuries illustrate Crete’s evolving identity, political shifts, and pivotal maritime position between East and West.
- The exhibition is co-curated by British School at Athens archaeologist Kostis Christakis and Technical University of Crete architecture professor Nikos Skoutelis.
- Running from September 29, 2026, through January 10, 2027, at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the showcase features lectures, film screenings, workshops, and guided tours.
- Opening night is set for September 29 at 18:30 in the temporary exhibition hall, with regular admission priced at €5 during standard museum hours.
Mapping Crete Through Three Centuries of European History
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is opening a profound new window into the past with its latest temporary exhibition, “In the Middle of the World: Crete in European Cartography from the 16th to the 18th Century. Representations and Identities.” Opening on September 29, 2026, and running through January 10, 2027, the showcase brings together fifty rare historical maps to narrate the island’s turbulent and fascinating chapters.
Rather than treating maps as sterile geographical tools, the exhibition explores how cartographers across three centuries used topography, myth, science, and political propaganda to define Crete. Visitors are guided through the high-water mark of Venetian rule and maritime trade, the brutal devastation of the Cretan War and the siege of Candia, and the island’s eventual cartographic absorption into the Ottoman Empire.
A Historic Venue with Deep Roots
The exhibition carries special symbolic weight because of its location within the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. The museum building occupies the historic site of the Venetian Church of Saint Francis—once a vital landmark for sailors navigating Mediterranean trade routes. Following the twenty-one-year siege of Candia, that same sacred space was converted into the Hünkar Mosque, where the Ottoman conquerors held their first thanksgiving prayer.
Co-curated by Kostis Christakis from the British School at Athens and Nikos Skoutelis from the Technical University of Crete, the exhibition goes beyond static displays. A rich supporting program of lectures, roundtable discussions, film screenings, specialized workshops, and guided tours will accompany the maps throughout autumn and winter.
Practical Information
- Venue: Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Temporary Exhibition Hall
- Dates: September 29, 2026 – January 10, 2027
- Opening Event: September 29, 2026, at 18:30
- Hours: Operating during standard Heraklion Archaeological Museum hours
- Admission: €5
