Culture is in the air: at the Benaki Museum
The Benaki Museum is one of the main shrines of culture in Athens. It is hosted in a building on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, right at the center of Athens, once home of a very wealthy and influential in both political and cultural life of Athens, the Benaki family. The building itself, a great example of what is termed "neoklassical" style, is situated very close to both Syntagma and Evangelismos metro stations and has excellent access for strollers and wheelchairs in all floors.
The museum hosts a very wide selection of exhibits from both ancient and modern times, with a special focus on folk art (which includes everyday utensils, dresses and clothes and embroidery). Here the visitor can get a very good idea of everyday life in ancient greece, the hellenistic years, the Byzantium as well as the modern era, which followed the Revolution of 1821 against the Ottoman Empire and marked the creation of the Modern Greek State. Moreover, in addition to the permanent collections, one can catch many different exhibitions ranging from photography and visual arts to music, dance and biographical themes.
I strongly advise to check out the museum store, where you can find replicas of many of the museum's exhibits as well as a huge selection of gifts.
On the top floor one can have a drink, a snack or lunch at the very elegant restaurant, which also serves a buffet menu on Thursday evenings, when the Museum remains open until midnight with free admission. The rest of the week, admission fee is 6 euro (3 for discounts); opening hours are from 9am to 5pm on Monday, Wednsday, Friday and Saturday and from 9am to 3pm on Sunday. Watch out, it's closed on Tuesdays!
The Benaki Foundation has two more spaces, the New Benaki Museum at Pireos Street and the Museum of Islamic Art (more on those on a future post!)
