Named after the Greek word for ‘sea’ – the Thalassa Museum was created to promote awareness of the marine heritage of Cyprus from prehistoric times to the present, and is a modern, interactive museum, housed in a multi­purpose cultural centre.

Pride of place among the exhibits is a life­size replica of the famous 4th century Greek trading ship ‘Keryneia II’ that sank off the coast of Keryneia around the year 300 BC. Due to the museum’s design, the ship can be viewed from different levels, including a birds­eye view – as can the other exhibits, that include pottery and other antiquities.

Housed in the basement is a marine life section with various exhibits, from fish and sea mammals to crustaceans, corals, shells and fossils – some dating back 130 million years ago.

The museum also functions as an arts exhibition centre, as well as a multipurpose hall for a variety of events and conferences.