Shadow Theatre Museum


This beautiful little studio-museum-shop is run by personable local artist Giorgos Hassanakos. The small upstairs gallery pays homage to traditional shadow puppets, and also has a range of the artist's own creations, including satirical puppets (Greek politicians). He's one of the few surviving creators who still make these puppets and will happily show you around. It's the first shop on the rising street at the northern end of town.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Folkloric Museum

0.14 MILES

It may be compact, but this museum does a wonderful job of bringing to life the past residents of Gythio and the surrounding Mani. Themed rooms exhibit…

2. Marathonisi Islet

0.51 MILES

According to mythology, tranquil, pine-shaded Marathonisi, connected to Gythio by a thin causeway, is ancient Cranae, where Paris (prince of Troy) and…

3. Church of Taxiarches

12.21 MILES

On the southern side of Plateia 17 Martiou is this 18th-century church. Its picturesque five-storey bell tower marks it as the most important of Areopoli…

4. Church of Agios Ioannis

12.22 MILES

The Church of Agios Ioannis, built by the Mavromichalis family on a tiny square west of the main square, contains a series of well-preserved frescoes…

5. Pikoulakis Tower House Museum

12.22 MILES

Housed in a restored tower, this museum displays exquisite Byzantine pieces from Mani churches. These include a 12th-century marble templon (chancel…

6. Diros Caves

13.23 MILES

These extraordinary flooded caves, inhabited since Neolithic times, lie 11km south of Areopoli and are signposted near the village of Pyrgos Dirou. The…

7. Kalogria

18.23 MILES

Pretty sandy beach north of the main beach in Stoupa. The water is beautiful and clear; sunbeds clog up the shore in summer.

8. Tigani

18.52 MILES

This spectacular peninsula juts out of the Mani coast like an upside-down saucepan and, indeed, its Greek name means 'frying pan'. The high point of…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "greece/the-peloponnese/gythio/attractions/shadow-theatre-museum/a/poi-sig/1402332/359507",
      "position": "superzone"
    }