Nikos Kazantzakis Museum

The museum was founded in 1983 by set and costume designer Giorgos Anemoyannis, with the aim of safeguarding Kazantzakis’ legacy and promoting his literary and philosophical work. Significant support for its establishment was also provided by Eleni Kazantzaki, the writer’s second wife.
The permanent exhibition is located in the village of Myrtia (formerly Varvari), in a complex of buildings situated in the village’s central square. The museum occupies a historically significant site connected to the Anemoyannis family, relatives of Kazantzakis’ father, and a place where the writer himself had visited and stayed during his lifetime.

The museum houses an extensive archive of over 50,000 items, including manuscripts, first editions, letters, photographs, personal belongings, press clippings, audio-visual material, theatre archives, and works of art. This rich collection forms one of the most important resources for the study of Kazantzakis’ life and intellectual legacy.

The main goal of the museum is to research, document, and promote Nikos Kazantzakis’ work, as well as to disseminate his ideas and philosophy to a wide audience. It also organizes educational programs, exhibitions, conferences, and cultural activities aimed at students, researchers, and visitors from around the world.

The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum also functions as a cultural and educational center, featuring a library, archives, exhibition spaces, and facilities for events and learning. The museum complex includes administrative offices, a lecture hall, a café, a gift shop, and visitor-friendly areas designed to enhance the overall experience.

Today, it stands as an important cultural landmark in Crete, preserving the memory and intellectual heritage of one of Greece’s most influential 20th-century writers and thinkers.