Museums of Athens

The Numismatic Museum is located in a building designed by Ernst Ziller. The building, Iliou Melathron or the Palace of Troy, was one of the most beautiful private residences in Athens in the late 19th century. It was situated on Panepistimiou Street (now Eleutherios Venizelou Avenue). The building is interesting also because it was the residence of Heinrich Schliemann, the "Discoverer of Troy."   The building had a beautiful garden, which now houses the museum's nice café. The information board mentions that Schliemann's gardener was nicknamed Priam. However, Schliemann himself enjoyed tending to his grapevines, peanuts, pomegranate trees, apricot trees, and peach trees when he was not away on a journey or excavation. The garden also featured palms, cypresses, acacias, and some other common trees in Athens at that time. Cats, poultry, and doves roamed freely in the garden, finding an ideal sanctuary in the heart of the city.   The garden and café of the Numismatic mu...

The Lyceum is a significant site related to ancient Greece, especially associated with Aristotle. As is often the case with archaeological sites, there is not much left to see on-site, and understanding the layout of the area is not the easiest task. Nevertheless, visiting the Lyceum is worthwhile, providing an opportunity to reflect on one's school days and contemplate the significance of Aristotle. The Lyceum is relatively easy to explore, and one can also combine the visit with a trip to the Byzantine History Museum, whose garden seamlessly connects with the greenery of the Lyceum. There are also other museums in the vicinity. Lyceum archeological site. Photo March 2022 by OI. The temple at the Lyceum was dedicated to Apollo Lyceus, the god of wolves. Nearby is the Lycabettus Hill, with one interpretation of its name being connected to wolves. Aristotle taught at the Lyceum in the 4th century BCE, and the Roman general Sulla destroyed the area, cutting down trees for the constru...

Lykabettus or Lykavittós rises to a height of 277 meters above sea level and is the highest hill in the center of Athens. Similar to the Acropolis, the hill is a prominent landmark in the cityscape of Athens.   Limestone shines through the vegetation, and at least in spring, when the plants begin to bloom, the hill becomes a charming natural destination. The hill is a splendid endpoint for views from the densely built city, but it also serves as a uniquely excellent vantage point to observe urban Athens. Particularly, there is a magnificent view of the Acropolis. Lykabettus photographed from the south, Tsimiski Street On a clear day in March, the views of Athens were excellent. In the photo, the Acropolis is in the center, with Pireus and the sea in the background. At the viewpoint, there is a small church of St. George and two restaurants. I ascended to the summit using the underground cable car. At the top, the station is directly at the viewpoint terrace and the restaurants. Cab...

In Athens, there is a world-class national museum focusing on the archaeological cultural heritage of classical Greece. Additionally, the old parliament building houses the National Historical Museum. Similar themes are explored by the Museum of Greek Culture, part of the Benaki Museums. The National Museum on Stadiou Street is comparable to European national museums established in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The construction of the National Museum in Finland began in 1905. The National Museum operates in the old parliament building (architects Francois Boulanger and Panagiotis Kalkos). The parliament was housed in the building from 1875 to 1935. The photo is from March 2022. Photo by OI The parliamentary chamber has been preserved and is used, among other things, as a conference space. The Athens museum was established in 1882. Like National Museums in general, its goal was to strengthen national identity. According to its website, the museum tells the story of modern Greek histor...

The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art presents the extensive collections of Antonis Benakis, who was born in Egypt and later moved to Greece. The museum is located relatively close to the Acropolis, and the Kerameikos neighborhood has other archaeological sites and a museum as well. Museum of Islamic Art. March 2022. Photo by OI   I visited the Museum of Islamic Art on Sunday. While transferring from Monastiraki metro station to the museum, one could walk through a vast and interesting antique market area. The museum building is an old neoclassical urban mansion, and the exhibition is spread across several floors. The historical layers of the area are illustrated by the preserved and exhibited part of Athens' old defense wall in the basement, built in preparation for the Macedonian invasion. Preserved defensive structures in the basement. Photo by OI The exhibition is aesthetically well-crafted. The collection appears to be somewhat fragmentary, as collector's collections often are....