Discover Chora

Chora is a destination for anyone interested in Mycenaean art and funerary architecture. The Archaeological Museum of Chora presents one of the most comprehensive collections of Mycenaean art in Greece. The Volimidia, with their excavated Mycenaean chamber tombs, lie very close to Chora. This combines a clear cultural focus with a second archaeological theme in the nearby area. If you choose a holiday destination based on specific cultural interests, Chora offers more than a general connection to a historical period: the collection and the tomb forms provide distinct points of interest.

Mycenaean art in the museum

The collection includes intricately decorated vessels, grave goods made of gold and semi-precious stones, bronze weapons, and everyday objects. The types of objects and materials represent a broad range within Mycenaean art. You can focus your interest on specific items: the design of the vessels, gold and semi-precious stones, or the contrast between weapons and objects used in daily life.

The museum’s construction history

The museum building also has its own construction history. Pátroklos Karantinós designed it in 1955; construction was completed in 1966–1967. The dates refer to two different stages: the design and the completion of construction. For travellers interested in architectural history as well as the collection, this timeframe offers an additional point of interest in Chora. A little over ten years passed between the design and the completion of construction.

Funerary architecture in nearby Volimidia

Thirty-three Mycenaean chamber tombs have been excavated in Volimidia, close to Chora. They are hewn into the soft rock and arranged in groups. Each tomb has a dromos, or entrance passage; the burial chamber is usually round and has a vaulted ceiling. Some tombs also have side chambers and niches. This makes it possible to see both recurring architectural features and differences between the structures.

The area was apparently already settled in the Middle Helladic period, in the 17th century BC. This dating adds a reference to the settlement history of the area to the description of the tomb forms. The two topics remain distinct: the date refers to the settlement of the area, while the number 33 refers to the chamber tombs that have been excavated.

Cultural interests as a guide to choosing a destination

The main points of interest can be clearly distinguished when choosing a holiday destination. The Mycenaean collection is the focus at the museum in Chora; nearby Volimidia is about the layout and forms of the chamber tombs. If you are considering a holiday apartment in Chora, you can weigh up whether you are most interested in the collection, the local funerary architecture, or both. This lets you base your choice of destination on specific cultural interests.

Discover more destinations: Rigklia, Agios Nikolaos, Vounária, Avlona, Aetos, Vasilitsi, Chrani, Ágrilos.

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