6 Must Visit Museums In Athens
Exploring the renowned epicenter of art and history demands a stroll through various museums. Brimming with cultural treasures, Athens showcases captivating facets of Greek heritage through its exceptional exhibitions. Prepare for an exhilarating journey, and pay attention to these must-see destinations.
The New Acropolis Museum
This is one of Greece’s foremost museums. It spans an expansive 25,000 square meters and showcases archaeological marvels dating back to prehistoric eras. Organized into four primary galleries, the Museum allows visitors to explore archaeological artifacts and gain insight into the historic site of the Acropolis.
Goulandris Natural History Museum
The Goulandris Museum of Natural History is one of the museums frequently visited by schoolchildren year-round owing to its extensive educational initiatives. This Museum is dedicated to exploring, preserving, and safeguarding the natural world. Delve into captivating exhibitions to deepen your understanding of plant and animal kingdoms.
Explore departments such as botany, entomology, marine biology, and paleontology before immersing yourself in the Gaia Centre to comprehend the intricate workings of our planet over millions of years.
Museum of Cycladic Art
While renowned for its Cycladic Art exhibits, this hidden treasure offers much more. Prepare to be amazed by its extensive array of Ancient Greek and Cypriot artworks.
Discover the ancient Greeks’ artistic techniques and cultural customs in engaging and creative ways, and experience unique exhibitions where archaeology intersects with contemporary art.Be sure to visit the museum shop for exclusive gifts or the café for a delightful light snack and coffee.
National Archaeological Museum
Established in 1889, the National Archaeological Museum is an indisputable titan among the world’s archaeological institutions. It showcases the enduring allure of ancient history and artistry. The Museum commands the cityscape as its largest repository, housing over eleven thousand artifacts from vast periods and geographies.
Benaki Museum
Comprising three distinct museums, each with its specialized focus, it occupies the grandeur of a neoclassical edifice, marking it as the oldest and primary establishment. Renowned as one of the foremost institutions dedicated to ancient and modern Greece’s historical, artistic, and cultural narrative, the Benaki Museum offers a comprehensive journey through various epochs.
Moreover, it regularly curates captivating exhibitions showcasing contemporary artistic expressions. Essential for enthusiasts of art and history alike is a visit to the newly inaugurated sections housing Neohellenic architectural archives and collections of Islamic art, including artifacts amassed by the Benakis during their time in Egypt.
Byzantine and Christian Museum
The Byzantine and Christian Museum, based in Athens, is one of Greece’s national museums. Its areas of competency are centered on but not limited to religious artifacts of the Early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval, post-Byzantine, and later periods, which it exhibits but also acquires, receives, preserves, conserves, records, documents, researches, studies, publishes and raises awareness of.
The Museum has over 25,000 artifacts in its possession. The artifacts date between the 3rd and 20th century AD, and their provenance encompasses the entire Greek world and regions in which Hellenism flourished. The size and range of the collections and the value of the exhibits make the Museum a veritable treasury of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art and culture.
Exploring the renowned epicenter of art and history demands a stroll through various museums. Brimming with cultural treasures, Athens showcases captivating facets of Greek heritage through its exceptional exhibitions. Prepare for an exhilarating journey, and pay attention to these must-see destinations.