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The Silversmithing Museum at Ioannina

Prefecture of Ioannina

The Silversmithing Museum is situated in the Castle of Ioannina, in the western bastion of the south-eastern citadel (Its Kale). It occupies two levels of the bastion, as well as the adjoining building that once housed the kitchens.

The main objective of the Silversmithing Museum is to preserve the knowledge of epirote silversmithing, to disseminate to the public information about the techniques used, and to provide links between this technology and the characteristics of the social environment in which silversmithing in Epirus developed and thrived.
This is a thematic museum of technology, since it deals with the subject of silversmithing technology during the preindustrial age, but it is also a museum of the periphery, since it focuses on the history of silversmithing in the area of Epirus. The chronological focus of the displays is mainly placed on the post-Byzantine period, from 15th century onwards, including references to the remote past, as silver production technology can often be traced back to earlier times.

The exhibition galleries are developed along the two levels of the bastion. The main part of the exhibition unfolds on level one, presenting the history and technology of silversmithing in Epirus. A diverse range of resources help visitors discover the traditional techniques used in the making and the decoration of silver objects, by encouraging them to explore the stages for each technique that lead to the final product. A collection of 18th to 20th century silver objects made in Epirus is displayed on level two. At the same time, visitors are asked to engage
with the properties, functionality and the symbolic power of silver objects.
The Silversmithing Museum was founded by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation which is also responsible for its operation. The project was incorporated into the Operational Programme ‘Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship’ OPCE II, as part of NSRF 2007-2013, and was co-financed by the Public Investments Programme and the European Regional Development Fund.

Silversmithing Museum-Information:
Acropolis of Its Kale, Castle of Ioannina, GR‑45221 Ioannina, www.piop.gr 
Τel.: (+30) 26510 64065 | Fax: (+30) 26510 32012

Opening Hours: 
From 1 March to 15 October: Daily (excluding Tuesdays) 10:00-18:00
From 16 October to 28 February: Daily (excluding Tuesdays) 10:00-17:00
Closed: 1 January, 17 January (feast day), Good Friday (until 12:00), Easter Sunday, 1 May,15 August, 25 and 26 December

Admission: General admission: 3 Euros & Reduced ticket: 1.5 Euros

Groups: It is advisable to contact the Museum in advance, in order to obtain better service.

Disabled persons: There is no admission fee for disabled persons. Groups should definitely contact the Museum in advance to make the necessary arrangements.

Photographing & Filming: Amateur photography and filming are permitted. For professional purposes a special permit should be obtained from the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation.

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