Megaro Gyzi Cultural Center

Before turning left to climb the stairs, take a few steps down the alley in front of you and you’ll come to the entrance of the Megaro Gyzi Cultural Center. At first glance, it looks like a traditional mansion, with its inner courtyard and graceful arches, but it’s actually one of the few 17th-century houses in Santorini that survived the earthquake which destroyed so many others. This rare survivor has become a place of memory and culture.

Once owned by the Gyzi family, whose coat of arms still decorates the entrance, the house was later donated by the Catholic diocese and transformed into a cultural center. Since 1980, it has hosted exhibitions and concerts, honoring local heritage while opening its doors to the wider world. Inside, you’ll find permanent collections that include old maps and engravings showing how the Cyclades were imagined centuries ago, historical manuscripts, 19th-century paintings, vintage photographs of Santorini, and even volcanic strata that tell the island’s geological story.

Together, they create a journey through time, weaving art, history, and memory. But Megaro Gyzi is far from a static museum. Every August, it comes to life with a major cultural festival filled with concerts, exhibitions, performances, and encounters that bring together Greek and international artists.

Best of all, every event is free, making the center a true space of sharing—open, welcoming, and accessible to everyone.