The Paleontological Museum of Rethymno is located in the city center of Rethymnon. It is housed at the reconstructed Veli Pasha Mosque (Mosque of Mastampa) and is an annex of the Goulandri Natural History Museum.
The paleontological collection presents an important part of the evolution of Crete and the geological and paleontological changes sustained during the past 300 million years. The exhibition includes riginal findings of endemic mammals in real-size representations and in anatomic arrangement. Stand mammalian animal fossils such as dwarf Cretan elephants, dwarf hippopotamuses and polymorphous Cretan deer (the most important is the Candiacervus ropalophorus, which is also the logo of the museum) who lived ten thousand years ago.
In appropriately landscaped garden of 2.5 acres, trees and plants that thrive in Crete were planted, such as plane trees, sour orange trees, Judas trees, olive trees, carobs, Cretan palms, oleanders and laurels and shrubs, such as wild roses, lavender, Cretan dittany, Monk’s Pepper and rosemary.
The Paleontological Museum organises events, guided tours, educational programs and activities for students, as well as special
tours to Greek and foreign visitors.
Access to the building is easy either on foot or by bus; the urban transport stop for the city buses is only 100m away.
Source: yallou.com