A museum and a love story

Just outside of Rethymnon on the Spili road is the little village of Somatos. Here you will find a tiny war museum run by Vangelis Hatzispiros

Vangelis is now 85. When he and his wife Chrysa were 16 years old they eloped. Their families found them and after "a good hiding" they were married and their families helped them for a couple of years. They have now been married for 69 years.

Vangellis started collecting artefacts as a young lad on the way to and fro school. There had been partisans in the area during the war and many battles had left debris to be picked up

Now, due to his collecting and donations from friends over the years he has his own museum

Guns, shells, original newspaper cuttings, uniforms, gas masks, etc.

Helmets, shell cases, wheels.

Pictures, certificates,

Medals, coins,

An eclectic mix including old pots and pans from the Arkadi monastery

Old amphora and oil jugs

A raki still 140 years old

Cannon balls and shells

Hats, helmets

An old BMW motor bike from the war

.. and the best raki we have tasted in a long while. Call in and see them for a fascinating time.

To find it head out of Rethymnon and take the turning before the Minoan Graves.