| National
Archaeological Museum of Athens |
| This is one of the top
ten museums in the world! Construction on this large building was
completed in 1889 and it houses gold artifacts, statues, pottery,
household objects, frescoes and other relics from ancient times.
To absorb every exhibit, it would take about two weeks, but spend
at least a day to get an idea of civilization in Greece. This is
the most popular museum in Athens so it is best to arrive before
the doors open. This is certainly a must-see! |
| The
Byzantine Museum |
| This is the best collection of Byzantine
art you will find in Greece. Here you will find
icons, sculptures, mosaics, paintings, woodcarvings, prints and
bronze engravings. One of the highlights is a reproduction of two
churches with beautiful adornments. There are educational areas
and conservation laboratories, which are actively used to keep the
preservation process alive. You can step outside and have a look
at the open-air archaeological park. |
|
The Museum of Cycladic Art |
| Founded in 1986, this is the collection
belonging to Nicholas and Aikaterini Goulandris. You will see Cycladic
and Greek art covering over 5000 years of history. The Cycladic
Islands have their own style of art which is small and highly detailed
and constructed of white marble, gold or silver. There are both
permanent and temporary exhibits. This museum is not as crowded
as the National Museum, so it offers you a chance to study the exhibits
in a quieter atmosphere. |
| Acropolis
Museum |
| Here you will find displays of objects
from the Acropolis featuring sculptures of humans and animals. Some
of the sculptures date back to the 6th century BC. There are four
remaining caryatids from the Erechtheion and sculpture saved from
the Parthenon when burned by the Persians. The museum is located
behind the Parthenon. |
| Agora
Museum |
| Located in the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos,
this was originally an arcade of shops. This is a great way to gain
an understanding of the lifestyles of ancient times in addition
to the Agora itself. You will find over 65,000 artifacts from the
classical period. Most of the items are household and every day
objects used by the people at the time the Agora flourished. |
| Children's
Museum |
| Located on Kydathenaeon Street, this is a popular place
if you have children. In the "grandmother and grandfather room",
the kids can dress up in period costumes. There is a replica of
a worksite for the metro station (subway) where the children can
go into a tunnel wearing a construction worker's hardhat. The children
will also enjoy the library and the playground. This is a good example
of how history can be presented to children. |