ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND MUSEUM

One of Greece's most important archaeological sites, it's a must-see. French commentary is available on site as a bonus. The site of Eretria is also well known to Swiss visitors, since the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece has been carrying out most of the excavation campaigns here since the 1960s, at the request of the Athens government. Built in 1962 and renovated in the 1990s, it houses objects from several excavation sites in Evia: Eretria, Xeropolis, Skoumbri, Palea Perivolia, Lefkandi, Paliochora and Magoula. Many of the objects found on the island of Evia are on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, as well as in Basel, Rome and London, and above all at the Louvre in Paris.

The museum. The cool, half-lit atmosphere contrasts pleasantly with the dazzling sunshine outside. In the main hall, just beyond the entrance, are exhibits dating back to antiquity: statues, funerary offerings, urns, spearheads, vessels, tools, coins... One of the most beautiful objects is a terracotta centaur dating from the second half of the ^10th century BC. Most surprisingly, this statuette was found broken in two, each half placed in a different tomb. Another fine piece is this ^12th-century BC Mycenaean alabaster from the Lefkandi site. With its three handles, it is a pot used for storing oil. The decoration in white paint on a dark background depicts a figure whose shoulder and body are covered with animal designs. Like most of the works on display here, these pieces come from tombs in which funerary objects were buried. The second large room houses finds dating back to prehistoric times.

The archaeological site. Around the museum, part of the site is open to the public. Here, panels display various architectural reconstructions, lined up along the way. On the site of the "Mosaic House", a modern building ensures the conservation of the paving stones. This walk along the sections of rampart leading up to the acropolis is freely accessible. Beware: with children, the route can be difficult in places.

Mosaic house. Built in 370 BC, this magnificent building was inhabited for around a century and destroyed in 270 BC. The modern pavilion that now protects the mosaics is said to resemble what the house once looked like. In the middle of it, you can see the remains of a tomb built on the ruins of the original house. Under the awning, you can admire the mosaics (Nereids riding a seahorse) that enliven the floor of this residence. To the right of the tomb is the most beautiful mosaic panel in the house: in the vestibule, a sphinx and a panther confront each other, and before the entrance, a Nereid on a sea horse.

The ancient theater. First built in the^5th century, it was destroyed by the Romans in 198 BC. Nevertheless, it remains an impressive monument, reminiscent in many respects of the Theater of Dionysus in Athens. Excavations have been undertaken by the American Archaeological School and restoration work is still underway.