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The Historic Museum is located at Markos Botsaris square at the old town hall (the mayor goes there only to welcome official visitors). The beautiful building was built in 1932. Don’t miss the change to visit this museum which is basically dedicated to the Greek Revolution. There is a nice collection of paintings about the Greek Revolution against Ottoman Empire.
The locals rebelled againsted the Ottomans in 1821 during the Greek war of Independence (1821-1829) and the city of Mesolongi became famous because of the heroic resistance against the Ottoman siege in 1822 and in 1825. The first one was easy and the greeks won but the second one is the reason that this town is also called the Sacred City of Mesolongi. It’s because the Ottomans tried for about a year (!) with 40.000 men of Kioutahis and Ibrahim Pasha. There were about 10.000 people inside and most of them died after the legendery “Exodus” after a betrayal (as usual) and facing starvation (the greeks couldn’t get supplies during the siege) and no further defense was possible.
This became a source of inspiration for many poets like Dionysios Solomos(1798-1857) who wrote “Elefteri Poliorkimeni”(The Free Besiegd) and “Hymn To Liberty” part of it became the national anthem of Greece. Here’s the translation by Rudyard Kipling:
“We knew thee of old
O, divinely restored
By the lights of thine eyes,
And the light of thy Sword
From the graves of our slain,
Shall thy valour prevail,
As we greet thee again,
Hail, Liberty! Hail!”
A big part of the museum is dedicated to Lord Byron and his life here with many paintings, portrais, maps, a statue and other memorabilia.
There is no entrance fee, photos aint allowed and the museum is opend 9:00-13:00 16:00-19:00
You can also see the Mayor’s room with the 5 paintings of the 5 prime ministers of Greece that Mesolongi produced like Harilaos Trikupis, Spiridon Trikupis, Epamindodas Diligiorgis etc..
Updated Aug 21, 2008
Address: Markou Botsari square
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Lord Byron (1788-1824) was an english poet that became very famous in Greece as a philellene that supported the Greek revolution against Ottoman Empire for independence. He lived in Genoa until 1823 but then he came in Greece to help in several occasions. He died in Mesolongi on April 19, 1824. You will see a statue of him at the garden of Heroes but in other places of Mesolongi too like at the historic museum (and many more info about him)
Lord Byron, in a letter to Thomas Moore, 5 July 1821:
"I can never get people to understand that poetry is the expression of excited passion, and that there is no such thing as a life of passion any more than a continuous earthquake, or an eternal fever. Besides, who would ever shave themselves in such a state?"
Written Aug 19, 2008
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Garden of Heroes is a nice park full of memorials and statues. Some of them are about unknown heroes, some others about famous people, philhellines of the 19th century like Lord Byron (his heart is buried there)etc It’s nice just to walk at the paths of the park under the shade of the big trees. I stayed there for half an hour and I didn’t see anyone else inside. The Garden of Heroes repressends the light moments of civilization as opposed to the dark moments of war and barbarism.
it is opened daily 9:00-20:00
Written Aug 19, 2008
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This garden was created in 1829 to honour the fallen in Messolongi's siege. Many greek heroes statues.
But maybe the main interest for a foreigner is the white statue of Lord Byron; under it they say that Byron's heart is buried, though his body is in Westminster Abbey (London), at the Poet's Corner
Written Sep 12, 2002
Address: Beyond the stone gate, to the right.
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The center of art and culture DIEXODOS is housed at the old hospital building and hosts several cultural events and other exhibitions but every time I go there is closed….
Written Aug 19, 2008
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The local Museum is dedicated to the revolution and houses many memorabilia about it in the 1st floor.
The main floor is dedicated to Byron's memory, some portraits, objects, and photos.
Written Sep 12, 2002
Address: Town Hall, Plateia Markou Botsari
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Reviews and photos of Mesolongion attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Mesolongion sightseeing.
The local Museum is dedicated to the revolution and houses many memorabilia about it in the 1st floor.The main floor is dedicated to Byron's memory, some...
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Mesolongi is a boring place to live but always nice to stroll around for a while and with a great history at the background so spend some hours here before moving on to the next destination of your......
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This is my Messolonghi page :-)
Messolonghi (or Messolongi or Missolonghi) is famous for being the place of one of the most famous sieges in the Greece Independent War against Otoman Empire (1826). For most foreigners, Messolonghi...
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I've got some interesting experiences in Mesolongion. I'd love to share with you the 2 tips I've written, the 3 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
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Apart from its great hystoricaly significance, the city holds the most famous Greek salt lake and also a lagoon ful of birds and wild animals such as pigs, horses, cows and so.
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