The water museum of Alonissos with the famous amphorae shipwreck of 5th century BC opens for amateur divers and free diving divers from August to September 2020. The water museum is located on the site of the ancient shipwreck off the islet of Peristera, off its rocky shore on the West. It is located at a depth of 28 meters.
The shipwreck was discovered by a fisherman in 1985.
The large merchant ship, probably an Athenian one, sank around 425 BC. It was loaded with wine amphorae from Mendi, an anicent city in HAlkidiki, and Peparithos, today’s Skopelos. Both regions were famous in the antiquity for their wines.
The pile of amphorae, which extends to a length of 25 meters at the bottom of the sea, gives the feeling of the contour and the large dimensions of the ship.
The shipwreck is one of the most important of classical antiquity.
Its excavation was carried out by archaeologists and the staff of the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture, who today take care of the opening of the shipwreck to the public. The impressive number of amphorae, the excellent condition of the wreck at -21 to -28 meters and the beauty of the exotic waters and the rich seabed of the area, located within the protected area of the National Marine Park Alonissos – Northern Sporades, make it Ancient shipwreck of Peristera is a destination that interests every experienced diver.
Its excavation was carried out by archaeologists and the staff of the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture.
The impressive number of amphorae, the excellent condition of the wreck at -21 to -28 meters and the beauty of the exotic waters and the rich seabed of the area, located within the protected area of the National Marine Park Alonissos – Northern Sporades -, make it the ancient shipwreck of Peristera is a destination that interests every experienced divers.
The pilot operation of the Peristera shipwreck as a visitable marine archeological site in the summer of 2020 is the result of cooperation with the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Region of Thessaly and the Municipality of Alonissos.
The project was prepared in the framework of the BLUEMED cross-border cooperation program and will continue with the funding of the Thessaly Regional Development Plan until 2023.
The project is expected to establish Greece on the “map” of world diving tourism.
