Chania Museum of Typography

The first Museum of Typography in Greece is located in Chania, Crete, in the heart of the Mediterranean sea. It is a private initiative by Yannis Garedakis, founder of the newspaper “Haniotika Nea”, with the support of his wife Eleni. For more than thirty years, he has been collecting machines and other exhibits that mark the evolution of European typography.

The Greek Museum of Typography welcomes you to Chania, Crete Island, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It was created as a private initiative by Yannis Garedakis, founder of the newspaper “Haniotika Nea” [also spelt as “Chaniotika Nea”], who has been collecting, for more than thirty years, machines and other exhibits that mark the evolution of typography in Europe.

The museum was inaugurated in 2005, with a view to highlighting the historical value of typography as a breakthrough in human history, and also to preserving printing machinery, tools, objects, and old publications that are closely connected to the evolution of typography and printing in the Old Continent.

The Museum of Typography is a specialized museum, which will provide you with a broad overview of the history of printing in Europe. Take part in the interactive tour on offer, watch the videos and learn about the stages in the evolution of typography from the Middle Ages up to the present time. You will also be encouraged to print using the 19th c. printing presses and in this way get a small idea of the amount of effort and human intelligence that are required for producing a printed document.

During your visit, you will discover the important role of Cretan scholars and printers in early European printing history, through the publications on display, the related research and the collaborations the museum has established to that end.

The museum grounds cover approximately a 1,200 m2 area. You are invited to explore the buildings which include two large wings, two exhibition rooms, a remarkable library, a museum shop, a coffee shop, and an amphitheatre with an 80-seat capacity, often used as a venue for cultural events.

The museum is a hub for culture and the arts. There are numerous events you can take part in, such as conferences, book presentations, theatrical plays, music events, and an annual international poster contest about typography. Tip: The winning posters remain on display for one year, in the poster exhibition at the amphitheatre of the museum.

It is a member of the Association of European Printing Museums (AEPM), of the International Association of Printing Museums (IAPM) and of the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH), a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.

Original Source of Article: Visit Greece