The most accessible underwater museum is only 100 meters away from the Kikynthos islet and 600 meters away from the Amaliapoli waterfront. The other two museums are located on the Nies cove, specifically at Cape Glaros and Cape Tilegrafos.
When you are tired of activities, just chill and hide – stay alone or with close people in not crowded space, we’ve got several to offer! All of them look like a lonely planet so you should enjoy them.
Underwater Museum Amaliapoli Magnesia
Cape Glaros (depth: 15–22 m).
The entire Cape Glaros, at the southwestern entrance to the Pagasitikos Gulf, was a dangerous passage for ships trying to enter the sheltered cove of the ancient town of Nies, wherefrom, according to tradition, the Achaean fleet set sail for Troy. At least four shipwrecks—one Hellenistic, one Roman and two Byzantine— can be found lying on the Glaros seabed, and there is evidence (including vases and anchors from other time periods) indicating the existence of more—although such items may have ended up there as ships attempted the challenging entrance into the Nies bay. More than ten iron Byzantine anchors, possibly associated with the 12–13th century amphorae scattered in the wider area, probably belonged to a large Byzantine merchant ship. Τhe Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology has been conducting systematic searches in the area since 2005, under the guidance of archaeologist Ilias Spondylis.
Kikynthos Island (depth: 3–11 m). The Kikynthos islet, located at the east side of the Amaliapoli bay, stretches out as a natural breakwater. A Byzantine merchant ship carrying pithoi (large ancient Greek storage containers) and amphorae sank at the entrance of Pagasitikos gulf, near the islet, between the 11th and the 13th century. Shattered pottery from the ship can now be seen as a 12×8 m pile formed on the seabed. The site was discovered by a team of the Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology as they conducted systematic research in the area in 2005 under the guidance of archaeologist Ilias Spondylis.
Tilegrafos Bay (depth: 17–23 m).
Three shipwrecks have been found at the bottom of Tilegrafos bay. The first one is a 4th century Roman ship loaded with commercial amphorae probably made in Corinth and Samos. The ship seems to have sunk after hitting some steep rocks. Centuries later (11–13th century), a Byzantine ship and a modern boat met the same fate. The shipwreck was discovered in 2000 by a team of the Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology as they conducted systematic research in the area, and was fully excavated from 2003 to 2008, also by the Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology, under the guidance of archaeologist Ilias Spondylis.