Heraklion • Museum
Nikos Kazantzakis Museum
The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum is a small but moving museum dedicated to Crete's most famous writer, author of Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ. Located in the village of Myrtia (Varvari), 20 km south of Heraklion, it occupies the renovated family home and showcases the author's personal effects, manuscripts, and letters.
Overview
The Nikos Kazantzakis Museum is a small but moving museum dedicated to Crete's most famous writer, author of Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ. Located in the village of Myrtia (Varvari), 20 km south of Heraklion, it occupies the renovated family home and showcases the author's personal effects, manuscripts, and letters.
Highlights
- Personal Manuscripts: Handwritten drafts of major novels, letters to friends including Albert Schweitzer and Thomas Mann.
- Theater Costumes: Original costumes from Greek stage adaptations of Kazantzakis's works.
- Nobel Nomination Documents: Papers related to his nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature (he lost to Albert Camus by one vote in 1957).
History
The museum was founded in 1983 in Kazantzakis's ancestral village. The building was the author's family home, restored and adapted as a museum. Kazantzakis (1883–1957) remains Crete's most internationally recognized literary figure, translated into more than 60 languages.
Visitor Tips
- Getting there: Accessible only by car or taxi — no reliable public transport.
- Combine with Archanes: The nearby village of Archanes makes a natural pairing for a half-day excursion.
- Duration: 45–60 minutes.