Chios Mastic Museum

Chios Mastic Museum: a unique, precious tribute to the product, Chios Island and its people

Surrounded by Chios Mastiha trees, in complete harmony with the environment, the Chios Mastic Museum is open and ready to welcome local and foreign visitors. The Museum was inaugurated by the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Procopis Pavlopoulos on Saturday 11 June 2016.

The Chios Mastic Museum is the most recent addition to the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation Museum Network. It is dedicated to Chios Mastiha (or gum mastic), the unique product that has shaped the natural and human environment of the Mastichochoria area of southern Chios, as well as the productive and economic history of the island. The importance of the mastiha cultivation was recently recognized by UNESCO, with its inscription to the list of intangible heritage.

The exhibition introduces us to the traditional mastiha cultivation techniques, the history and culture of mastiha through a multifaceted experience. The visitor can touch and smell the mastiha and learn about the architecture, history and social organization of the Mastichochoria area. Another section of the exhibition is dedicated to the cooperative of the mastiha producers, the productive history of mastiha, its uses and exports all over the world. A variety of media are used in the exhibition, such as multimedia applications, films, maquettes and machines from the first mastiha factory. The last section of the exhibition is outdoors, where the visitor can see the mastiha trees.

The Chios Mastic Museum was funded by the O.P. “Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship” (NSRF 2007 -2013) and was implemented by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation. The project was supported by the local community, especially the Mastiha Growers Association of Chios.

Useful information

Address

Locality of Rachi (Tepeki), in the Pyrgio region of the Municipality of Chios.
Telephone: (+30) 22710 72212

Opening hours:

From March 1st through to October 15th:
Daily (except Tuesdays) 10 am - 6 pm.
From October 16th through to February 28th:
Daily (except Tuesdays) 10 am - 5 pm.

Closed on: Tuesdays, January 1st, Good Friday (until 12 noon), (Greek Orthodox) Easter Sunday, May 1st, September 14th (local patronal feast), August 15th, December 25th and 26th.

Admission

Standard entrance fee: € 3,00
Concessionary ticket: € 1.50.
Days of free admission:
May 18th (International Museum Day)
June 5th (World Environment Day)
Last weekend in September (European Heritage Days)