Lassithi Kritsotopoula Museum

Location: Kritsa
Don't miss: Museums guide (free admission dates and other useful info)

Located in the heart of Kritsa village in Lassithi lies the traditional house of Rhodanthe, also known as Kritsotopoula. Inside, the Folk Museum of Kritsotopoula is housed, which offers visitors a time-warping view into the world of 19th-century Crete and the everyday lives of the village’s inhabitants.

The story of Rhodanthe is a remarkable one. Born to the head priest of the village during the time of Ottoman rule, she was forced into marrying Hursit Pasha at an early age but managed to escape from him. From there, she headed towards the hills and disguised herself as a young man, joining the Cretan resistance fighters in their battles against the oppressive Ottoman Empire. Rhodanthe was slain at just nineteen years of age, during the 1823 battle of Kritsa, after heroically sacrificing herself to buy time for the rest of the village to flee Egyptian and Turkish forces.

Widely considered the original house of Rhodanthe, the museum aims to restore and replicate the living conditions of the time faithfully. Its well-preserved nature and variety of exhibits, showcasing authentic 19th-century architecture, furniture, and clothing, testify to that era's everyday life. Such exhibits include a traditional kitchen, Rhodanthe’s bedroom and a charming period piece designed to look like a traditional kafenion.

The Kritsotopoula Museum is open from from April to November, Monday through Saturday, from 11:00 to 16:00 and those interested in visiting should make sure to make an appointment in advance.