Museums of Athens

If someone interested in ancient Greek civilization were to visit only one museum in Athens besides the Acropolis, the destination could be the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. NAM is the largest museum in Greece and one of the most significant museums in the world dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Mediterranean and antiquity.   Archaeological Museum, March 2022. Photo OI  The museum was founded in 1886, and the building was inaugurated in 1889. Designed by the German architect Ernst Ziller, the structure follows the tradition of Berlin’s Altes Museum and the grand neoclassical museums built thereafter, as well as the neoclassical architecture of Athens created by the Hansen brothers. Ziller (1837–1923) was a major figure in late 19th-century Greek architecture, with over 500 buildings to his name. He also designed an elegant private residence for Heinrich Schliemann, which now houses the Numismatic Museum. Photo from the museum brochure The Archaeological Mus...

The building of the Byzantine Museum was formerly an 19th-century urban villa called Villa Ilisia. The museum is associated with a beautiful garden featuring antiquarian elements, and the Lyceum archaeological site is right next to the garden. The museum in April 2022. Photo by OI   The museum is one of Greece's national museums, focusing on religious artifacts and cultural heritage from the early Christian, Byzantine, medieval, post-Byzantine, and later periods. The museum's collection includes over 25,000 items from Greece and the Hellenistic area of influence. It is a great destination for visitors interested in Byzantium and its legacy. Villa Ilisia was one of the newly constructed buildings in the capital. New buildings and infrastructure were needed - in 1834, the city had only about 7,000 residents. The palace was built by the Duchess of Piacenza, who had an interesting background. Sophie de Marbois was born in Philadelphia, USA, in 1785, the daughter of the French state...

The Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation collection is undoubtedly one of the most important private collections of fine art assembled in the second half of the 20th century. The museum showcasing the collection in Athens (Eratosthenous 13) is well worth a visit. After seeing the museum, it is worthwhile to go visit Athens' famous marble stadium. It was built on the site of an ancient stadium (originally built in 330 BC) to host the modern Olympic Games. The stadium is just a short walk from the museum.   In front of the Goulandris Art Museum and the adjacent church building, a staircase forms a small town square. Photo OI Floor plan of the museum as pictured in the third floor exit plan. The museum auditorium is seen on the left of the floor plan. Photo OI Floor guide Basil & Elise Goulandris selected the works in their collection based on their personal preferences and their own aesthetic values, as most collectors do. According to the museum, the Goulandrises bought art i...