Experience the Museum of Apoxyomenos

The Museum of Apoxyomenos is located in the Kvarner Palace in Mali Lošinj. This modern interpretation space, set within a classicist ambiance, became the home of Apoxyomenos in 2016. The museum is dedicated solely to one exhibit: the bronze statue of the young athlete Apoxyomenos, discovered in 1997 on the seabed off Lošinj, near Vele Orjule. Retrieved in April 1999, the statue had resided underwater for almost two millennia. It is almost entirely preserved, missing only its eyes and the little finger of the left hand. This Greek work dates back to the 2nd/1st century BC and is of exceptional preservation and artistic value. Inside the statue, remnants of a nest and food of an “ancient” mouse were found, aiding in determining its age.

The Museum’s exhibition consists of nine distinct and visually striking scenes, accompanied by corresponding audio backgrounds, allowing visitors to experience Apoxyomenos’ story through all their senses—from its discovery and restoration to its return to Lošinj. In 2019, the Museum received the European Museum of the Year Award for the most creative and innovative museum exhibition or sculpture presentation.