Outdoor Area – An Open-Air Museum

In the outdoor area of the Collection, the unique view over the vineyards and olive groves of Archanes blends harmoniously with the presence of Cretan flora, as aromatic plants and trees accompany visitors on an authentic encounter with the island’s natural landscape.
The open-air installations present traditional structures and mechanisms that were integral to local life: a windmill used for water pumping and wheat grinding, a watermill, kilns for producing lime, charcoal, and ceramics, as well as a carved wine press, wells, and the characteristic communal washhouses.

The space highlights the close relationship between people and the landscape, illuminating the traditional technical knowledge that sustained the agricultural and social life of Crete for centuries.