The Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC) offers the visitors a unique chance of a rich experience on the natural environment of Crete and its distinctiveness, as it reveals from the ecologically and culturally complex landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean.
In suitably arranged exhibition area of 800 sq.m., with realistic models of biotopes, animal and plant collections, as well as plenty of photo material, the visitor discovers the natural beauty of Crete and continental Greece. Forests, phryganic and maquis vegetation, marshes, caves, rocky and sandy beaches, mountain massifs as well as special presentations on threatened animals (sea mammals, birds, etc), are some of the topics of the permanent exhibition.
Even more, in the fossil, rock and mineral galleries, on the first floor, one can study the impressive geological past of Crete and Mediterranean, as well as its evolution in the future. On the same floor a special exhibition on the minoan environment with a reconstruction of a minoan cottage (in natural scale) and the everyday activities of the minoans, introduce the visitor to the difficult theme of the old civilization-natural environment interactions (paleoecology).
A separate space is devoted to the evolutionary routes of mankind. Through perfect replicas of original palaeoanthropological material, photographs and maps, the human evolution is given, from the early stages of Primates to the origins of civilizations, as well as the evolution of languages.
Finally the botanical garden with Cretan and Mediterranean endemic plants, the video and slide-show room, as well as the cozy cafe in the ground floor, are areas where the visitor will combine learning with recreation and relaxation.
The exhibition of NHMC is located on 157 Knossou Av., (the road leading to the antiquities). It is open from 9 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm. For further information you can communicate with the museum's staff during the working hours at the telephone number: +30 81 324 711.