The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta
The Olive and Greek Olive Oil Museum is located in Sparta, housed in the old Sparta Power Company building, a characteristic industrial building of the Interwar period. The Museum is the first of its kind throughout Greece, and it was opened to the public at the end of 2002.
The Museum is a live journey to olive and olive production culture and history from Prehistoric Times to the early 20th century. The visitor may see the very first testimonies on the presence of the olive tree and the production of olive oil in Greece, such as the rare fossilised olive tree leaves, 50,000-60,000 years old, from the island of Santorini and the exact replicas of Linear B tablets dating back in the 14th century B.C.
In each historical period, the contribution of olive and olive oil to the economy and everyday life is presented, as well as their symbolic dimension in Greek mythology and religion. On the ground floor, the visitor may watch the technological evolution of the means used to produce olive oil from ancient times up to the first industrial period. More specifically, there are exact replicas of a Prehistoric, a Hellenistic and a Byzantine olive press, as well as models representing the function of engine-powered olive presses (hydrokinetic, steam-powered, diesel-powered, electrically driven). Another section is dedicated to the production of soap, both domestic and industrial.
The Museum organises educational programs with games and activities for schools and group visits. The exhibition also includes digital productions, while, in the Museum, the visitor may also find a canteen, a showroom, a shop, and a multipurpose hall. At the end of the visit, maps and information leaflets direct the visitor to archaeological sites where olive oil was produced and traditional olive presses in the Peloponnese and the rest of Greece.
| MONDAY | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| TUESDAY | CLOSED |
| WEDNESDAY | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| THURSDAY | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| FRIDAY | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| SATURDAY | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| SUNDAY | 10:00 - 17:00 |