Trikala Attractions - Vassilis Tsitsanis Museum and the Old Prison

Vassilis Tsitsanis Museum & the Old Prison

In 2006 the prison were closed and the housing of the “Research and Creation Center – Tsitsanis Museum” was decided to open.

The Prison Band, near the Mosque, for more than a century is linked to the history of this town. In addition, except of criminal prisons, it was also used as a detention facility for political prisoners in several cases of our country’s political history, but also during the German occupation. In 2006 the prison were closed and the housing of the “Research and Creation Center – Tsitsanis Museum” was decided to open.Trikala is a city with a long tradition in music as it is the birthplace of many important greek musicians and performers such as Vasilis Tsitsanis, Apostolos Kaldaras, Kostas Virvos, George Samoladas, representatives of an urban folk music that was born the early 20th century by the working class of the country and was later labeled by the term “rebetika”. Therefore, in recent years, has arisen the need to honour these important people.In 2017, a new space becomes available to the public, which combines elements of different cultural and social paths. From hammam to prison and from joy to sorrow, music now comes to spread its own note and create a variety of emotions.While working this project, based on a comprehensive study of the whole site, with the Mosque and the adjoining church, next to the river, the archaeological excavation brought into light the old ottoman hamam. Therefore, with new studies, the implementation of two separate but one-shot subprojects was promoted.Upon completion of Tsitsanis Museum, the building turns into an archaeological site with an architectural and historical structure on the ground floor and an area with references to the local composers and songwriters on the upper floor. The two exhibitions will operate separately, but both contribute to the development of the local community.