HISTORY

This museum is situated outdoors on the top of a hill overlooking Mykonos town, Chora, providing its visitors with one of the best views of both the sunset and the Aegean sea. The main structure is a stonework windmill of the 16th century, and it takes its name from the last owner-miller George Bonis.
It became part of the museum’s collection after being bought in 1962. The complete mechanism of the windmill, as well as all the miller’s tools and equipment are on display. Along with all the supporting buildings around the windmill, the site becomes an open-air museum, the only in the Aegean. The production of bread and wine, invaluable, cornerstone products of the pre-industrial era and everyday islandic life, can be experienced in full when visiting the museum.

 SUPPORTING STRUCTURES

The thresher, wood-fired oven, grape stomping tank, pigeon house and water well are all recent additions to the museum, under the direction of the founder of the collection. Among these, visitors can have a holistic experience of how a farmer’s household might have been arranged, what is locally referred to as a “horio”, a self-sufficient housing unit. The neighbouring twin churches of St Antonios and St Nicholaos help set the mood and complete the picture.