The old stone-built primary school of Zatouna, constructed in 1919, is an architectural gem of historical and cultural significance. The land for its construction was originally owned by the local church and was provided by the Zatouna church committee. The project was made possible through the generous funding of two prominent benefactors from Zatouna: Antonios Antonakopoulos, a successful shipowner, and Georgios Prapopoulos, a distinguished industrialist.
For over fifty years, the building served as a primary school, educating generations of local children until 1973. In 1995, it was entrusted to the Zatouna community through the initiative of the then Archbishop Theophilos, marking a new chapter in its history.
Since October 7, 2006, the building has taken on a new role. It now houses the Mikis Theodorakis Museum of Zatouna, dedicated to the great Greek composer, preserving and showcasing his cultural legacy.
The idea of establishing the Mikis Theodorakis Museum in Zatouna first emerged in 1997. Initially, the late Archbishop Theophilos refused to grant the historic primary school building, despite widespread belief that it was the ideal location for the museum.
The newspaper Zatouna, led by its publisher Nikolis Filis, promoted the concept. Through persistent articles, awareness campaigns, and ongoing discussions with Mikis Theodorakis himself, the local community demonstrated its strong commitment to creating a space dedicated to his cultural legacy.
After eight years, the building was finally granted in 2005, thanks in large part to the efforts of Dina Christouli, president of the Local Council. Her persistence and diplomatic approach ultimately won the trust of the Archbishop.
The museum was officially inaugurated on October 7, 2006, in a moving ceremony attended by Mikis Theodorakis and his family.
Since its founding, the museum’s management has been led by important individuals. From 2006 to 2010, Tasos Petropoulos served as president of the Board of Directors, with Dimitris Talaganis as vice president. The presidency then passed to Dimitris Repas (2010–2012), followed by Dimitris Petroutzis (2012–2018). Since 2019, Paraskevas Paraskevopoulos has held the position, with the Mayor of Gortynia, Efstathios Koulis, serving as vice president.
Today, the Mikis Theodorakis Museum in Zatouna stands as a vibrant cultural hub, preserving the great composer’s legacy and inspiring future generations.
