The Komboloi Museum was established in 1998 by Aris and Rallou Gromitsari to exhibit their lifelong collection of rare, old, handcrafted strings of beads (prayer beads and kombolois) from Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, India but also from Italy and Greece. Visitors can admire the remarkable collection of over 1000 pieces of Hinduistic, Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and Greek prayer beads and rosaries dated from 1550 to 1950 and discover how these mystical beads became the Greek komboloi.
The museum is housed in a privately owned,18th century building in the city of Nafplion. The exhibition is situated on the first floor and is reachable via a small wooden staircase. The ground floor hosts a workshop and a shop. Here, visitors can observe the unique handcrafting of kombolois either of contemporary design or true replicas of traditional pieces. There is a myriad of colourful beads such as those of red or black coral, sandalwood, Bakelite, ivory, mother of pearl, ebony and many more that make every komboloi a unique artefact.